Tour Map
The Tour Map is used to not only add location information to nodes and to view node location, but it is also a place to link nodes together to create a tour using maps and floor plans.
Map
Choose a map to add. World Map is the default map that is based on OpenStreetMap tiles. World Map Topo and Google Maps (Roadmap, Satellite, Hybrid, and Terrain) are also available. The default map can be changed in Pano2VR’s Settings > Images > Default Map.
If the selected map is multilayered, a second drop-down menu appears next to the maps list where you can choose which layer is displayed in the Tour Map.
Click the Add Map button (green plus) to add a map or floor plan. Once a map has been added, the Remove Map button appears. Use this to delete the selected map.
Add Map
This option creates a new map. New maps use OpenStreetMap as their initial map provider. The Properties panel opens and displays the settings for the map. Each map is given a unique ID (Map ID) that can be called for in a Map element.
Give the Map a Title for easier identification. In the list of maps, the Title is used instead of the Map ID. Also, if using a floor plans cloner, the title is used there.
Choose a map provider. The settings change depending on the provider chosen. Learn more about adding Maps.
Add Floor Plan
When adding a Floor Plan, you’ll be prompted to choose an image file (your
floor plan) in PNG, JPG, or TIFF format. It, too, is given a unique ID, like
FloorPlan01 and can be chosen as the map to use in the
Map element.
When the Floor Plan is added, the Properties panel opens and displays the settings for the floor plan.
To place a node on the selected map or floor plan, drag the node from the Tour Browser to the map, or double-click in the map to place the currently selected node. A 3D model with a GPS position is the exception on a floor plan placed with Geolocate Map: there a double-click moves the model’s camera instead, see Radar Beam.
Linking Options
Linking can be done either automatically or manually. To link manually, activate Link Mode by hovering over a node marker in the map and click the link icon.
Linking and the Linking Options button are available in Pano2VR Pro only.
Click the Linking Options button in the Tour Map for the following options:
Link Both Ways – Select to link nodes in both directions. A node linked both ways is indicated by arrows on both ends of the blue linking line and has a darker shade of blue. When not selected, only one direction is linked in Link Mode.
To remove a link, select the blue line and press Delete. In Link Mode, Option-click (macOS) or Alt+click (Windows) the connected node to remove the link. Both directions are removed if Link Both Ways is selected, otherwise only one.
Switch Node in Link Mode – Select this to switch to the linked node when creating a link in Link Mode. When not selected, the originating node stays active. Links can also be deleted in this mode by Option-clicking (macOS) or Alt+clicking (Windows) the blue link.
Show All Links – Select this option to show all the links between nodes. Links are the blue lines between map markers. If not selected, only links to and from the currently active node are shown.
Automatic Linking
The following options let you choose the automatic linking mode.
Images must be geotagged and their north directions correctly set for automatic linking to work. Learn how to add location data.
Sequential – The nodes are linked together in their order in the Tour Browser.
Closest Nodes – The nodes are linked to their closest neighbor based on GPS data, or when using a floor plan, their position on the floor plan. This is the suggested mode for uploading to Google Street View.
From Current Node – If a single node is selected, links are created to all other nodes in the project. If multiple nodes are selected, links are created from the active node to all other selected nodes.
Complete – This links each node to every other node in the tour. This can result in many hotspots in each node.
Remove All Links – Click to remove all links. When several nodes are selected, only the links between the selected nodes are removed.
To remove a single link, select the linking line and press Delete.
Tools
This button shows all modes available that help in setting a node’s location and orientation. You can also add a grid and change the color of the map’s radar.
Measure Distance – Use the Measure Distance mode to measure a floor plan’s size. This is needed if you’d like to integrate the map with the world map. This is useful for indoor tours.
Pick Landmark – Pick Landmark mode is used for finding a node’s North position. This mode is available when a world map is shown and the current node has GPS data. See: Set North with Pick Landmark
Geolocate Map – This mode allows for floor plan placement on the world map and then GPS data can be applied to the nodes. This is particularly useful for tours that are taken indoors where location data is not available.
Pick Place ID – Available while Google Maps is shown. Here, you can choose a specific place (POI) for Google Street View.
Set Map Limits – Limit how far one can move within a map. This helps prevent users from losing their spot in the map. To create a limit, first add a map. Click Set Map Limits and then drag the mouse to cover the area that should be visible. Once the limits have been drawn, you can drag the edges to refine the area.
The limits’ coordinates are shown in the Map properties. You can also activate Limits Mode here and reset them.
Toggle Grid – A grid can be added to help facilitate map pin placement as the pins snap to the grid. This is especially useful for Street View tours. To turn the grid off, click Toggle Grid again. The grid is visible when zoomed to about level 19, depending on the grid spacing.
- Grid Spacing – Change the grid size. Units can be measured in Meters, Feet, and Miles.
- Angle – Adjust the angle of the grid lines.
- Color – Choose the color of the grid lines.
Move the grid with keyboard shortcuts:
- Option-drag (macOS) or Alt+drag (Windows) to move the grid.
- Option-Command-drag (macOS) or Ctrl+Alt+drag (Windows) to rotate the grid around the point where you start dragging.
The grid is stored in the project file.
Set Radar Color – Change the color of the radar beam. This is useful if the default color of the beam is hard to see. This change is not seen on output. To change the radar beam’s color in the skin, adjust the color setting in the Map Element Settings.
See Radar Beam for what the beam shows and how to use it.
Derive
The Derive button (satellite icon) next to the Tools button is available when the current node is a 3D model. It derives GPS positions between the model and the tour nodes linked to its camera points:
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Derive GPS Position – Calculates the model’s GPS position and heading from at least 2 linked tour nodes with GPS positions.
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Derive GPS Cameras – Calculates GPS positions for the linked tour nodes that do not have one yet. The model needs a GPS position first.
See Derived From in the User Data properties for the full workflow.
Radar Beam
The active node’s pin carries a radar beam that shows the direction and the field of view of the current view in the Viewer. It turns as you look around, so you can see where you are looking on the map or floor plan.
Drag the beam to turn the view in the Viewer. Press and hold N while you drag the beam to set the node’s North instead: the view stays, and the node’s North turns with the beam. N is the Set North shortcut, which you can change in the Keyboard Shortcuts settings.
On a 3D model that has a GPS position, the beam starts where the 3D camera stands rather than at the model’s own marker, so it shows the place in the model you are actually looking at. Move through the model and the beam follows. This works on floor plans too, once they are placed on the world map with Geolocate Map – even when the model has no pin on the floor plan, as long as the model’s location falls on it. Set the floor plan’s Map Width so that distances in the model match the plan.
On such a floor plan, double-click to move the 3D camera to that spot. The camera keeps its height and the direction it looks in, and the model doesn’t get a pin on the floor plan. On a floor plan the model isn’t on, a double-click does nothing.
On a 3D model, dragging the beam turns the camera where it stands, so it works in the Panorama, Walk and Fly camera modes. In Orbit and Fly Over the camera circles around a point in front of it, and dragging on the beam moves the map instead.
Position Map
Center Current Node – Centers the currently selected node on the map or floor plan. Option-click (macOS) or Alt+click (Windows) the button to lock it, so that the node you switch to is centered in the Tour Map as well.
Fit Nodes in Window / Fit Floor Plan in Window – Fits all nodes within the window, or in floor plan mode, fits the floor plan image within the window.
Zoom – Use this slider or the plus and minus buttons to zoom in and out of the map or floor plan. Hovering over the slider reveals the current zoom level. This is useful for setting zoom levels in a custom map. When zooming past the highest level the map provider offers, a warning icon appears in the top-right corner of the map; tiles of a lower zoom level are then enlarged and appear pixelated.
Address – When a world map is displayed, an address search field appears below the map. Enter an address and press Return, or click the search button. The map zooms to the found location and marks it with a flag. Hover over the flag to see the full address.
Move Map Pins
Hover over a pin to see the node’s title and a thumbnail. Right-click a pin to open its shortcut menu:
- GPS from Map – Available when the map or floor plan is georeferenced. Select to calculate the node’s GPS coordinates from its position on the map. When the node’s Geoposition is locked, its GPS coordinates stay as they are and the pin moves to them instead.
- Activate Link Mode – Available for the active node in Pano2VR Pro.
- Remove Node from Map – Remove the node (or all selected nodes) from the map.
Hovering over the active pin also reveals buttons for Link Mode (Pro only) and GPS from Map.
To move a single pin, drag it to its new location.
To move a pin that is not the active one, Option-drag (macOS) or Alt+drag (Windows) it. With the active pin selected, you can also nudge it with the arrow keys, or with Shift and the arrow keys for bigger steps.
The pin of a node whose Geoposition is locked in the User Data cannot be moved on a map, or on a georeferenced floor plan when the node’s GPS position is calculated from the floor plan (GPS from Map).
To move a selection of pins, Shift-drag over the pins to select them. Then press and hold Command (macOS) or Ctrl (Windows) to show the selected area, and drag the selection to move the pins at the same time.
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While pressing Command (macOS) or Ctrl (Windows), drag the corner handles to reposition the pins. The pins move relative to the box; their distances change based on the box’s aspect ratio.
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Press Shift-Command (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift (Windows) and drag the box’s handles to keep the box’s aspect ratio fixed.
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While pressing Command (macOS) or Ctrl (Windows), drag the outer ring of the center control to rotate the selection.
List of Keyboard Shortcuts available for tasks in the Tour Map