Last modified: 2015-07-28 by rob raeside
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Each country editor and the map page
coordinator will be in touch and communicate to each other when new maps
are added (so they can be linked in the country pages) and when new
geographic / administrative information is added to the pages (so it can
be linked from the map pages).
António Martins, 1999
Older pages are labelled geo-xx.html,
but newer ones follow the scheme xx(.html which emphasizes the
country part, not the map part, and frees valuable characters, needed for
country subdivisions. Map pages named in the older scheme will be renamed to
the new only if and when that can be made without bothering the
editors too much (i.e., when other changes have to be done anyway,
or when there is only one or two links involved).
António Martins, 1999
Editors of mapped countries (see list at
g_ix.html) should add a link to the map pages in the main country page (in
the "see also" section), with a title like «Clickable map of Xxxxx
subdivisions», OSLT. (This will also apply to country subdivision maps,
which should be linked at the main page of each subdivision. If appropriate
(and that’s a decision up to country editors), the map page may be
linked from other pages also.
António Martins, 1999
All country map pages will show at the beginning a "See also" link to the main country page — so that the visitor that clicked a country from the continent page may “visit” that country and not only be presented with the countries subdivisions map (let’s face it, most people that click a country in FOTW-ws want to see its flag, not its map). This "see also" section will then link to the main country page and to any page concerning those subdivisions at large or to that subdivision level (flag laws, historical notes, general remarks, text-only listing of subdivisions etc.) — there should also be a link to the “upper” map — “continent” or country (in the case of a subdivision map), and to alternative maps for the same territory (historical etc.). Fictional example, France:
Clickable map of France (departments)
See also:
- Clickable map of France (departments)
- France **
- Administrative stucture of France **
- Clickable map of France (regions)
- French regional “LOB” flags overview **
- Clickable map of France (historical provinces)
- History and Vexillology (France) **
- Clickable map of Europe
(** pages edited by the country editor)
António Martins, 1999
All regions should be clickable, even if they lead to a “No flag information (ed.)” page. (In order to evitate charging the site with empty pages and the visitor’s frustration of clicking on to them, maps will be added only when at least half of the mapped divisions have some flag info at FOTW-ws.)
Neighbouring countries should also be clickable, and linked to their main pages or to their own map pages if such exist; in some cases, neighbouring countries could be jontly linked to “continent” map pages. In the case of subnational maps, the neighbouring regions of the same country should be linked to their pages or to their own map pages if such exist.
António Martins, 1999
If the map has codes instead of names (often the case),
a legend key should be provided. In this case, the key should also be
clickable.
António Martins, 1999
A map page should only contain the map, and inversely a map
should always be located in a special map page. This enables easy
“navigating” through the maps, by clicking in the
“neighbours”. (This is
also because because the map images, ususally large files, and the HTML
code to produce the “clickableness” make the page very
“heavy”.)
António Martins, 1999
None, as all map pages can be easily reached via the
search.html page and other index
pages.
António Martins, 2007.06.26
To ensure a “clean” and homogenous look, Mark Sensen’s colors and
style will be always used. Some exceptions may be allowable, in cases of a
very complex geographic situation (ZA
bantustans, f.i.). The colors are:
R | G | B | |
---|---|---|---|
mapped area | 255 | 204 | 153 |
sea | 102 | 204 | 255 |
coast | 0 | 153 | 255 |
foreign country | 153 | 153 | 204 |
boundaries | 255 | 102 | 0 |
sea boundaries | 153 | 153 | 153 |
alt. boundaries (local) | 204 | 204 | 204 |
alt. boundaries (foreign) | 204 | 153 | 204 |
disputed territories | 255 | 153 | 204 |
other parts of the same country | 204 | 153 | 153 |
other parts of the same subdivision | 204 | 153 | 102 |
other parts of the same sub-subdivision | 255 | 153 | 102 |
Toponyms should be written in Arial (or other similar sans serif face), 12 px. X-height (to denote a special status, if needed, 10 px. is recommended). Country subdivision’s names should appear in black normal (or bold, if codes only), foreign toponyms in white bold italic, and names of other parts of the same country (for subnational maps) in black bold.
Non local (i.e., international or, for subnational maps, upper level subnational) boundaries should be thicker than domestic divisions. Exception is the continent maps, where all (national) boundaries should appear in minumum (1 px.) thickness.
No map should be higher or wider than 600 pixels.
António Martins, 1999 and 2004
If needed (e.g., too many small divisions), the same country can
be broken up into several maps, not necessarily in the same scale. In this
case, several pages will arise (see #4), but at any rate
the “main map page” will display a map of the whole country.
(See ru(.html, ae(.html or
my(.html as examples.)
António Martins, 1999
The map will show mainly the divisions whose flag pages it helps
locate. Any other elements (rivers, lakes, etc.) should be added only if
they convey some relevant information.
António Martins, 1999
Additional cartographic elements will be a graphical scale (in
kilometers), a numerical scale (relating 1 pixel to x km), a simplified
compass rose (showing N), and typically four small geographical coordinate
indications (two Lat.s and two Long.s) in the edges of the map. A small
FOTW flag will also be displayed in each map,
as a discrete copyright (or source) notice (thanks, Gvido!).
António Martins, 1999
If an area is too small for the toponym it should accommodate, let it
spread preferably over the sea or over a neighbouring country, better than
over a neighbouring division of the main country — if needed, the name
may lie completely outside the division and indicate it with a stroke
(slanted 0, 45 or 90 deg.), in the same color as the toponym itself. In
any case, the name should also be clickable.
António Martins, 1999
Some maps may be controversial. The same rules of neutrality,
scholarship and objectiveness used in flag pages apply here. (See
ar(.html (Falklands)
or jp(.html (Kurilles) as examples.)
António Martins, 1999
Should be "Clickable map of Xxxxx".
António Martins, 1999
Anything below this line was not added by the editor of this page.