Map Element

Maps and Floor Plans can be easily added to the skin by selecting the Map Element in the Toolbar and clicking in the Canvas to add.

Rectangle

Border

The border or outline of the text field. Click the Toggle Single/Separate Values button next to each parameter to toggle between adjusting the entire border or adjusting each edge of the border separately.

  • Width – Defines how wide the border will be.

  • Radius – Increasing this number will round the corners of the rectangle. Could be used to create a circle.

  • Color – Choose a color for the border. ✭ Logic Block available.

Map

Map Type

Choose to add a Map or a Floor Plan. The settings will adjust to the type chosen.

Map

Map – Choose the type of Google Map, or a Map added in the Tour Map:

  • Google Roadmap

  • Google Hybrid

  • Google Satellite

  • Google Terrain

  • First Map in Project – Select this to show the first map in the project (added to the Tour Map.). Use this in a component or skin that will automatically use the first map in the project.

If a custom map has been added in the Tour Map, then you will also be able to choose it here.

API – This option will become available if a custom map or floor plan has been selected from the Maps menu. Choose from the following:

  • Auto – Choose Auto to have Pano2VR detect the type of Map the use appropriate API. For example, the Google API will be used for Google custom maps and Google Maps, while the Leaflet API will be used for everything else.

  • Google – If the Google API is chosen, an API key will be needed. See below.

  • Leaflet – No key is needed for this Map API, which is open source.

Google API Key – Enter your Google API key to authenticate Google Maps. In order for the map to work, you need to get an API key from Google. All the maps you want to show using the Google API require a key; not just for Google Maps. Learn how to create a key. ✭ When setting up this key, make sure to lock this key to your domain (HTTP referrers). ✭ Do not use the same key you use for the Tour Map (for adding Place IDs for Google Street View).

Initial Zoom – Set the map’s zoom level. The default is Marker Bounds which will automatically set the zoom level to the map pin’s boundaries. The level can also be defined between 0 and 23. 0 will show the whole world, while 23 is the maximum zoom.

Satellite Map – Visible only when Google Satellite is chosen as the Map. Select Disable 45º view to disable the changing to Google’s 45º view when zooming in.

UI – Settings for the map’s user interface.

  • Map Controls – Select to show the map controls (zoom in/out).
  • Fractional Zoom – Select to allow smaller zoom steps (between zoom levels). Fractional Zoom works with mouse control and pinch to zoom. The map controls will still change the zoom by a full level. ★ Available only for Leaflet API.

Node Change – Select, Center node, to keep the currently active node always centered in the map. This way, if the user is zoomed in and moves through the tour, the map will follow and always keep the current node centered in view.

Radar – Select Enabled to include a radar beam that shows the facing direction.

  • Color – Select the color of the radar beam.

  • Size – Adjust the size of the radar beam.

Marker Clustering – Select, Enable, to cluster many nodes in an area under a single marker. When the marker is clicked, the cluster is revealed.

Marker Clusters
Marker Clusters

Clone as Marker – Use this to select a custom image for a map marker.

Pin Order – Choose from the following to specify the order in which markers are added to the map. This helps to prevent overlapping pin elements (thumbnails, tooltips) by the pins themselves.

  • Tour Browser – The order of the pins will be in the order set in the Tour Browser.

  • Top to Bottom – Pin order will be from the top to the bottom.

  • Bottom to Top – Pin order will be from the bottom to the top.

  • Left to Right – Pin order will be from the left to the right.

  • Right to Left – Pin order will be from the right to the left.

Floor Plan Overlay – If you’ve added and geolocated floor plans, you can choose to overlay one of them onto the map.

  • Opacity – Define the floor plan image’s opacity.

LoadingUnload map on hide – Select to unload the map when it gets hidden through a skin action. This means that when selected, when the map is hidden and is shown again, the map resets and is centered around the tour pins. If this is not selected, the map will stay in the same position as it was when it was hidden.

Floor Plan

Floor Plan – Choose a floor plan that has been added to the Tour Map. Choose First Floor Plan in Project in a component or a skin to use the first floor plan rather than a specific floor plan.

  • Simple floor plan – When selected, the floor plan will not be able to be zoomed or panned, will not require internet access, and will be scaled to fit the map element. If deselected, the floor plan can be panned and zoomed but will require internet access.

  • Auto-switch floor plan – Select to have the floor plan automatically switch based on the current node. Zoom level and position within the floor plan are recalled.

Initial Zoom – Set the map’s zoom level. The default is Marker Bounds which will automatically set the zoom level to the map pin’s boundaries. The level can also be defined between 0 and 23. 0 will show the whole floor plan, while 23 is the maximum zoom. (Not available if Simple floor plan is selected.)

UI – Select to show the map controls (zoom in/out). (Not available if Simple floor plan is selected.)

Node Change – Select what should happen on a node change.

  • Center node – Select to keep a node’s map pin centered in the floor plan when the node changes. (Not available if Simple floor plan is selected.)

  • Auto-switch Floor Plan – When selected, and a user moves to a node that is not on the current floor plan, the map will automatically switch to the current node’s floor plan. When this option is not selected, the floor plan will not switch.

Radar – Select Enabled to include a radar beam that shows the facing direction.

  • Color – Select the color of the radar beam.

  • Size – Adjust the size of the radar beam.

Clone as Marker – Use this to select a custom image for a floor plan marker. Learn how.

Pin Order – Select which pins have priority over others. When there are many nodes and the pins are clustered, you can use the pin order to influence which pins get covered.

Alignment – Choose how the simple floor plan will be aligned within the map element.

LoadingUnload map on hide – Select to unload the floor plan when it gets hidden through a skin action. This means that when selected, when the floor plan is hidden and is shown again, it resets and is centered around the tour markers. If this is not selected, the floor plan will stay in the same position as it was when hidden.

Position

ID

Give the element a unique ID or name. An ID is given automatically and will be numerically ordered when more than one are added. If an ID is already used by another element, a warning symbol will appear next to the input field.

Point Hotspot Templates will have a menu that shows all the default template IDs as well as any template IDs used in the project.

★ Tip  Click the warning symbol to create a unique ID for that element.

Position

The X and Y coordinates for the element.

An element’s position is relative to its parent and to its anchored position (the Canvas is the parent to top level elements).

For example, a video that is anchored and placed in the middle of the Canvas will have its anchor set to center and X and Y set to 0. So, if the element is anchored to the horizontal center, the X coordinate is measured from the center of the parent to the horizontal center of the element. Likewise, if an element is anchored right, the x-coordinate is measured from the right side of the parent to the right side of the element as indicated by the arrows.

★ Tip  Double-click the arrows to set X and Y to 0. This makes it easier to precisely position elements, especially on the edges of the player. For example, to keep an element positioned on the bottom center of the player and a certain distance from the edge, set the anchor to center bottom and set the Y value to 20 pixels and X to 0.

X and Y:

  • Percentage – Unit to set the position of the element based on the player’s size/window.

  • Pixels – Unit to set the actual location of the element within the skin.

  • CSS – Select CSS as a unit to allow for changing units when a logic block has been added or to use calculations.

    • Example: Set the x position unit to CSS. Enter, 100px in the edit field. Add a logic block, choose a trigger and add 20% for the size, effectively switching units.

Anchor

Use this grid to “stick” the element to a section of the player window. See above, to learn how the Anchor influences Position.

Size

The Hotspot Template and Node Marker do not have a size parameter.

Adjust the element’s size (width and height) in pixels. Width and Height:

  • Percentage – Unit to set the size of the element based on the player’s size/window.

  • Pixels – Unit to sets the actual size of the element.

  • Lock Aspect Ratio – Click the link icon to lock the element’s size aspect ratio when resizing in the Canvas or changing size values in the properties panel. This button is reset to off when another element is selected.

  • CSS – Select CSS as a unit to allow for changing units when a logic block has been added or to use calculations.

    • Example: Position an element 50 pixels from the top and then set the height to calc(100% - 50px). The element will then always have the same distance of 50px from the top and will extend straight down to the bottom.
  • Reset Size – Available for Image, Button, and SVG elements. Click to return to the image’s original size.

  • Reset Size/2 – Available for Image, Button, and SVG elements. Use this when you want to add a PNG or JPG to your project but still want it looking sharp in Hi-DPI displays. For example, if the skin requires a 32px image, use a 64px image and then click, Reset Size/2. This will then make it 32px in the skin but will still have all the pixels for a high resolution display.

Appearance

Scaling

Scales the element along the x and y axes. Doubling the value on either axis, for instance, will double the size of the element. If a scaling modifier is enabled, this scaling setting is ignored.

Center

Use this grid to determine how the element scales. The default is set to the center so the element will scale in or out from its center. If you anchor the scaling to the upper left corner, for example, the scaling will center from this point.

Angle

Use this parameter to adjust the angle of the element. It will use the Center grid (above) as its axis. For example, if the center is chosen, it will rotate around its center. If the bottom left corner is selected, the button will rotate around that corner.

Visible

Select or deselect to keep the element visible or invisible. Visibility or invisibility can be changed and toggled with actions.

Alpha

The transparency of the element. A setting of 1.000 is opaque. Lowering this number will increase the elements’s transparency.

Cursor

Choose which cursor shows when the mouse rolls over the element.

Inherit – The element will inherit the cursor from its parent element. This is the default for all elements except Button and Seekbar.

Hand – The hand cursor will show. This is the deafult for Button and Seekbar elements. When selected, the cursor is not inherited from its parent element.

Default – Choose this option to force the browser’s default cursor (usually an arrow). When selected, the cursor is not inherited from its parent element.

Accessibility

Tab Index

To make skin elements controllable via keyboard, they have to be added to the tab order of the web page. A tab index of -1 (the default) excludes the element from the tab order. A tab index of 0 includes the element in the tab order. Browsers will highlight the active element by putting a rectangle around them. Once a skin element is the active element, indicated by the highlight, hit the Enter/Return key to trigger its click action.

ARIA Label, Description, Details

These are attributes or propterties that are used to define the element and support the Role.

Label – Defines or names the element.

Description – Provide a brief description of the element.

Details – Provide an extended, detailed description of the element.

ARIA Roles

ARIA Roles are used to define UI elements (button, loading bar, etc.). Choose from the list which best defines the element.

Hidden

Select to hide all ARIA attributes.

Advanced

Z-Index

Set the CSS z-index property. Use numbers to set the stacking order or leave the setting at Default. Default will use the stacking order set in the Tree.

This is used to ensure that elements are displayed in the correct stacking order especially when close or overlapping.

Permeable

Select to make sure the element does not accept mouse clicks. This is useful for when you want to include an element in the skin but don’t want it to hinder the ability to interact with the panorama. For example, you could add a vignette or logo or border that when clicked on, will allow interaction with the panoramas.

Hotspot Proxy ID

Enter the corresponding ID. The ID comes from the hotspot’s ID field in the hotspot properties. Hotspot proxies give you the ability to link skin elements to specific hotspots. This means that the element will receive the same mouse and touch events as the hotspot (mouse click, mouse double-click, mouse enter, and mouse leave). You can also add {} to use node ID as hotspot proxies. Learn more.

CSS Classes

Enter the CSS class names for the selected element. You can enter more than one class separated by spaces. If you need more space, click the Edit button to the right of the field for a larger text field. No dot . needed.

CSS Styles

Enter the CSS style attributes for the selected element. You can enter more than one style separated by semi-colons. If you need more space, click the Edit button to the right of the field for a larger text field.

CSS Styles Inner Element

Enter CSS style attributes for the selected element’s inner element. (Some skin elements, like Image, Video and External Image, have an inner element nested inside the element’s main <div>.)

For example, an image element can have a border: border-radius: 20px; border: 5px solid red;. This can also be entered with a line break: border-radius: 20px; border: 5px solid red;

Image with added CSS border
Image with added CSS border

Keyboard Shortcut

Enter the preferred key to control the action defined to the element. For example, select the text field, hit the up key on the keyboard. Then add a Mouse Click action. The element, when clicked or when the up key is pressed, will perform the assigned action.

Exclude from Translation

Select this option to not include this element in the skin’s translation file.

Safe Area

Available for the Container Element.

Select Use Safe Area for Position and Size to keep child elements of the container inside the safe area of the device. This option makes sure that the elements are always 100% visible and the skin will automatically react to the device’s safe area.

Make sure Ignore Safe Area is not select in the HTML template settings in the Web Output.

Actions

Actions or a set of directions can be applied to any element added to the skin to create interactivity.

Double-click in the Actions area or click the plus sign to the right to open the Action Settings.

See Skin Actions, for details on all actions.

Modifiers

Adding modifiers allows you to make elements move, scale or rotate when the panorama is being panned, tilted, zoomed or loaded. A good example of a use of a modifier is for a loading bar that scales in relation to how much of the panorama has been loaded.

Double-click in the Modifiers area or hit the plus sign to the right to open the Modifier Settings.

See Skin Modifiers, for more details on all modifiers.

Notes

Use this section to add information about the element. This is especially useful if you have a component and want to explain the elements inside that component.

Notes will show up as tooltips in the Tree.

See also…

Last modified: May 4, 2022