IMap Interface

Provides access to members that control the map.

Product Availability

When To Use

Use the IMap interface to display data from various data sources.

The IMap interface is a starting point for many of the tasks one does with a Map. For example, use IMap to add, delete, and access map layers containing data from various sources including feature layers and graphics layers; associate map surround objects (legends, scale bars, etc) with the Map; access the various properties of a Map including the area of interest, the current map units, and the spatial reference; select features and access the Map's current selection.

Members

	All Properties Methods	Description
	ActiveGraphicsLayer	The active graphics layer. If no graphic layers exist a basic memory graphics layer will be created.
	AddLayer	Adds a layer to the map.
	AddLayers	Adds multiple layers to the map, arranging them nicely if specified.
	AddMapSurround	Adds a map surround to the map.
	AnnotationEngine	The annotation (label) engine the map will use.
	AreaOfInterest	Area of interest for the map.
	Barriers	The list of barriers and their weight for labeling.
	BasicGraphicsLayer	The basic graphics layer.
	ClearLayers	Removes all layers from the map.
	ClearMapSurrounds	Removes all map surrounds from the map.
	ClearSelection	Clears the map selection.
	ClipBorder	An optional border drawn around ClipGeometry.
	ClipGeometry	A shape that layers in the map are clipped to.
	ComputeDistance	Computes the distance between two points on the map and returns the result.
	CreateMapSurround	Create and initialize a map surround. An optional style from the style gallery may be specified.
	DelayDrawing	Suspends drawing.
	DelayEvents	Used to batch operations together to minimize notifications.
	DeleteLayer	Deletes a layer from the map.
	DeleteMapSurround	Deletes a map surround from the map.
	Description	Description of the map.
	DistanceUnits	The distance units for the map.
	Expanded	Indicates if the Map is expanded.
	FeatureSelection	The feature selection for the map.
	GetPageSize	Gets the page size for the map.
	IsFramed	Indicates if map is drawn in a frame rather than on the whole window.
	Layer	The layer at the given index.
	LayerCount	Number of layers in the map.
	Layers	The layers in the map of the type specified in the uid. If recursive is true it will return layers in group layers.
	MapScale	The scale of the map as a representative fraction.
	MapSurround	The map surround at the given index.
	MapSurroundCount	Number of map surrounds associated with the map.
	MapUnits	The units for the map.
	MoveLayer	Moves a layer to another position.
	Name	Name of the map.
	RecalcFullExtent	Forces the full extent to be recalculated.
	ReferenceScale	The reference scale of the map as a representative fraction.
	SelectByShape	Selects features in the map given a shape and a selection environment (optional).
	SelectFeature	Selects a feature.
	SelectionCount	Number of selected features.
	SetPageSize	Sets the page size for the map (optional).
	SpatialReference	The spatial reference of the map.
	SpatialReferenceLocked	Indicates whether the spatial reference is prevented from being changed.
	UseSymbolLevels	Indicates if the Map draws using symbol levels.

CoClasses that implement IMap

Remarks

The IMap interface is a starting point for many of the tasks one does with a map. For example, you can use IMap to add, delete, and access map layers containing data from various sources, including feature layers and graphics layers; associate map surround objects (legends, scale bars, and so on) with the map; access the various properties of a map, including the area of interest, the current map units, and the spatial reference; select features and access the Map object’s current selection.

Every map document contains at least one Map object. Only one Map can have focus at a time, and this Map is called the focus map. IMxDocument provides access to all of the Map objects loaded in the document; IMxDocument::FocusMap returns a reference (IMap) to the Map currently with focus, and IMxDocument::Maps returns a reference (IMaps) to the entire collection of Map objects. A map document can contain any number of Map objects —the focus map always represents the data view.

The Map object, manages a collection of Layer objects. Each layer has a spatial reference. A spatial reference defines a resolution (1/precision) and a coordinate system. The map coordinate system is automatically set to the coordinate system of the first layer loaded in the map and the resolution (1/precision) is calculated based on the union of all the layers extents.

See Also

IMxDocument.FocusMap Property | IMxDocument.Maps Property | IMaps Interface