Hypercities

Unlike a regular object, a Rich Object isn’t just a specific region in space and time. A Rich Object is more useful for storytelling. It allows the creator to configure the viewport in a specific way to show the reader a particular configuration of maps and objects. Its real power emerges in narrative mode.

To understand the difference, let’s go through the features of a regular object. It has:

• A defined region on the map
• A specific timespan
• A title
• Descriptive text, images, video, etc.

To this, a rich object adds:

• A specific view in the viewport (center point and zoom level in 2D mode; tilt, pan, etc. in 3D mode).
• One or two historic maps, whose transparency can be set
• A specific base map (such as a satellite map or a blank map); you may also set it to open in Earth mode
• A set of objects or collections that are turned on
• The ability to set which object has a bubble on over it, and the state (minimized or maximized) of that bubble

Creating a rich object uses the same interface as creating a regular object; it just requires using more features. It can be any of the basic types of objects (point, line, polygon) or even a KML link. This tutorial will cover features common to creating all rich objects. Here’s how to do it.

First, without clicking the Add Media Button, use the Map List to select the maps you would like to have on in the background. You can change which maps you have on later, but you can’t change their transparency. As usual with HyperCities, you may select up to two maps. The maps will always show up with the last one you selected on top.

Once the map is on, set the transparency using the transparency slider, or leave it totally opaque.

Now, using the Collection List, you may also select the objects you want to turn on with your rich object. You have the option to change this later.

Now, click on the Add Media button as you would regularly to create a normal object. Once you draw the shape you would like to have, the Add Media panel will pop up. Fill in the fields as you would normally; if you’re creating a KML network link, paste the URL into the appropriate field.

In addition to the regular options, you will see the options “Select Base Map” and “Select Other Items” here (hover over the buttons if you’re unsure which is which). You can see both of these in the picture below. The “Select Base Map” button allows you to delete or add more map to your object; however, you can no longer set the transparency of the maps you choose from this point. This has to be done in the Map List.

The “Select Other Items” button lets you select more items you want to turn on with your rich object. You can also uncheck items that you have chosen earlier.

If you would like to have an object show up with its info bubble open, click on the object. You may also expand the info bubble.

Also, adjust the viewport as you would like your reader to see it, as you would normally with Google Maps or Google Earth. The view will be preserved exactly as you leave it. You may also choose whether the object will be viewed on Satellite, Map, Hybrid, Terrain, Earth, or even on a completely blank map; do this using the map type selector in the upper-right hand corner of the map (it says “Earth” in the picture below).

Once you’re finished making these adjustments, select one or more collections to put your new Rich Object inside, and click the “Save” button. When you click “Save”, the entire state of the object at that point — maps, viewport, objects, etc. — will be saved.

To view the rich object you have created, view the collection where it was saved in “Narrative Mode.” Each object should open the view exactly as you left it.

To edit the object, edit it as you would a regular object (find it in a collection, check it on, and click the edit button). The viewport will adjust to reflect the way you left it. Please note that any adjustments you make to the viewport will be saved at the moment you click “Save.”

On the upper left corner of Hypercities, click on the “Add Media” button. Clicking it shows the three types of objects that HyperCities allows: points, lines, and polygons.

A point is just a single place on a map, which can be represented by an (x,y) coordinate pair.

A line is used to trace a path. It can contain many vertices, and can be used to form shapes.

A polygon is a shape. Clicking inside a shape activates the polygon; this is the difference between a polygon and a line. Clicking inside a closed line does not activate the info bubble for that object. Clicking inside a polygon does.

Once you have chosen what kind of object you want to create and its location, you will see the “Add Media” frame on the right.

Here you can set the title of your object, timespan,  license, and description of the object.

Author name is automatically filled in from the nickname you supplied when you registered. The author name can be changed individually for any object.

To set the time, you can type the year, month and date by either clicking on the fields or tabbing between them. You can also use the arrow keys to change these numbers. Typing “-” (the minus sign) toggles between “BCE” and CE (when “BCE” is not displayed). The date on the right must always be later than the date on the left; HyperCities will prevent you from entering an end date earlier than the start date, and vice versa.

The description field allows rich formatted text. To edit the HTML source, click on the “HTML” icon.

A note: many users compose the descriptive text in another program and then copy and paste the text into HyperCities. If you do this, it’s best to use a plain text editor like Notepad (Windows) or TextEdit (Mac), and do your formatting in HyperCities itself, unless you know HTML. Avoid word processing programs like Microsoft Word; Word generates HTML that look stranges when it is displayed in HyperCities. HyperCities also edits out some formatting that Word puts in, so generally, it’s best to write the text in Notepad (or TextEdit), without formatting, and use HyperCities to do the formatting. The HyperCities text editor is WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get).

Add images by clicking the “Insert/Upload Image” icon. Videos, however, must be hosted on other video websites such as YouTube, Vimeo, etc., and they can be embedded on Hypercities by copying and pasting the embed code from the hosting service.

To display base maps with your object, click on the “Select Base Map” button. This shows a list of maps that are visible in the current viewport and timespan. To select a map, just click on it. Use the “x” near the map to remove it.

If you want other objects to show up with your object, click on the “Select Other Items” button. You can use this window just like the regular collection list. Just check the items on that you want to appear.

Once you’re done, save your object by clicking “SAVE” on the lower right corner.

Click here to see how to add your object in a collection.

This tutorial is about creating a new collection and editing an already existing collection or a new one.

 

• Creating a New Collection

Creating a new collection requires you to go to the add media interface.

At the bottom of the “add media” frame, click the “My Collection” box and click on “Create New.”

Type in the desired new collection name, and click OK.

Once you click OK, your collection will be inside “My Collections.”

• Editing a Collection

To add your collection into an already existing collection, edit your collection by viewing it in Narrative mode. To do this, click on the Narrative Mode Button.

In the Narrative Mode, you will see different options such as “Expanded View,” List View, ” “Edit Collection Info,” and “Delete Collection.” To edit the collection, click the “Edit Collection Info” button.

Click “My Collection” box at the bottom of the “Edit” frame. Then search for and select the name of the collection you want to put your new collection into.

Click SAVE and your new collection will be added automatically into the collection you just selected.