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Starting Off
Which Programs to Use
Best Program to Use The best program to use is Adobe Illustrator for editing the LibCal maps and the assumption of this guide is that you are using it.
Understanding Fundamentals
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/Helpful Links
https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/how-to/ai-basics-fundamentals.html
Look it Up!
If you are having trouble with anything, best way to progress is looking it up.
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Understanding How Layering Works and Why It is Important
https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/layers.html
Adding/Editing Spaces
How to add or edit a space
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Saving as AI
Saving as AI for further work
Save your work regularly! If you need to work more on it, saving it as an .ai file ensures that it is quick and easy to open up through Illustrator to start editing again. If the file is not already a .ai file, go to Save As, click Format, and choose Adobe Illustrator (.ai). Once you have done this, the file should be saved to your computer. I recommend also uploading/updating this file in whatever Cloud Service you use (e.g. Google Drive, Box, One Drive), just to have a backup or to more easily share with your team.
Saving as PDF
Saving as a PDF for regular use
Saving as a PDF is good practice as it is easy for others to look at and review. I recommend saving a copy of .ai as a .pdf as it does not require the Illustrator program to review. Starting from your .ai file, go to Save a Copy (found under Save As), click Format, and choose Adobe PDF (.pdf). Once you have done this, the file should be saved to your computer. I recommend also uploading/updating this file in whatever Cloud Service you use (e.g. Google Drive, Box, One Drive), just to have a backup or to more easily share with your team.
Saving as SVG
Learn how to save as SVG for use in LibCal
Updating LibCal
How to update Interactive Maps
How to upload new map
How to edit spaces in new map
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This step only needs to be done if you are ready to test your map in LibCal, otherwise you can skip it. An SVG file allows LibCal to display the interactive hotspots. Saving as an SVG is just as easy as saving as a PDF or AI, but it just requires one more step. Starting from your .ai file, go to Save a Copy (found under Save As), click Format, and choose SVG (.svg). After this, there should be another pop-up window. Ensure that Image Location is set to Embed, otherwise LibCal may have a hard time reading your map and glitch out. Once you have done this, the file should be saved to your computer. I recommend also uploading/updating this file in whatever Cloud Service you use (e.g. Google Drive, Box, One Drive), just to have a backup or to more easily share with your team.
Creating the Map
- Find proper floor map and download it as a .psd or a .ai file. If neither of those options are available, a .pdf file can also be downloaded. Open the file in Adobe Illustrator or other editing program (Illustrator would be best)..
- If map incudes a legend, cut it out. Drag mouse to select only the map. Copy the highlighted map using Ctrl C on Windows or Cmd C on Mac.
- Create a new file that has the appropriate width and height for the map and paste it into the new file using Ctrl V on Windows or Cmd V on Mac. Before doing anything, save this file and give it a new name.
- Create 3 layers (Layers 1-3). The top layer will be renamed to Text, the middle/second layer will be renamed Hotspots, and the final one should be the layer that you started with. The text layer (top) is the front most, or most surface layer. The Hotspots layer must be between layer 1 and the top layer. It is important that the Text layer is above the Hotspots layer because it allows the text to be seen in the interactive maps in Libcal.
- Separate text into the Text layer and everything else into the bottom layer (aka Layer 1). Do this by highlighting the text from Layer 1 and place it into the text layer. Do this for all of the text in the document.
- Click the Hotspots layer and use the rectangle tool to draw a box around the area that you want to be interactable in the map. In the properties tab, go to appearance and ensure that the stroke and fill of the rectangle are set to none, this way there isn't a random box that covers the map. Then rename the box to its appropriate location (4th Rotunda, West Classroom, 1862). Repeat for all needed hotspots.
- Save this as a .ai or .psd file. Then save it as .pdf file by clicking file, then save a copy, and choosing .pdf under Format Select .pdf. Finally, save it as an .svg by going to save a copy, and choosing .svg under Format Select .svg. Then under options make sure that the image location is set to embed, then click okay.OK.
Updating LibCal
- From the Interactive Maps section in LibCal, choose which the floor for which you have the updated map and click Edit Map option.
- Then go to Manage Map Image tab and click Select Image under the Manage SVG Image section. Then choose your Map that has the .svg file extension. Make sure you press save when finished.
- After the new map is uploaded, go to the Associations tab. Click the Hotspots dropdown and there will be a list of the Hotspots that you created. Then go to each Shape Name and label them to their corresponding areas. When you are naming them, there should be a purple area present on the map that is the hotspot area that you created, pictured below. If there is not a purple area, then there were problems with your .svg file. If the text disappears under the purple area, it means that you put the Text layer under the Hotspot layer in your file. This should be fixed so Patrons can still see the name of the space when hovering over it. Make sure you press save when finished.
- After naming each Hotspot, go to Association Type. For areas like Mole Hole or Learning Commons, use the Info/External URL Association Type so you can put more information in the description. For Study Rooms, use the LibCal Space Association Type as it links directly to the Study Rooms in LibCal, then choose the Study Room under Associated Resource. Make sure you press save when finished.
