LWX GeoCollaborate™ Help

Browser Requirements

In order for the LWX GeoCollaborate™ to work properly, there must be an internet connection. The collaborative LWX GeoCollaborate™ is best viewed on desktop and mobile devices using modern internet browsers that are up to date. If GeoCollaborate™ does not load, try a different browser or request the desktop site on your mobile device.

To Follow as a Participant:

1. Go to the LWX GeoCollaborate™ webpage and take the role of follower. This will open the viewer in a new tab.
2. Next, click the Off toggle button in the upper left corner. The toggle button will change to blue and say On when following as a participant.





3. You are now a participant in the collaboration session. When the collaboration session begins, the leader will move the map and load layers of interest. When actively following during collaboration, please refrain from making changes to the map viewer. Doing so can desynchronize you from the lead. If you wish to exit the collaboration, simply click the On toggle button to exit.

4. Layers shared during the collaboration session are available in the Collaboration Session Layers menu. After the follower has disengaged from the collaboration session, these layers can be accessed.

Messages Sent from Leader:

1. At anytime, the leader can send a message to the follower alerting them to an update.
2. The follower will see on their viewer the envelope to the left begin to pulse red.

3. Click the envelope to open and view the message(s) sent by the leader.

4. To close the message window, click the X in the upper right corner.

Key Points

1. Key Points is another feature the leader can share with the follower. The follower may notice a Key Points window pop up on their viewer with text highlighting the main topics or a take away for the collaboration.

2. The follower can move the window anywhere on the screen, and click X to close.
3. After closing, the follower can bring the window back up by opening the menu and clicking Key Points.

Troubleshooting:

To Lead the Collaboration:

1. Go to the LWX GeoCollaborate™ webpage and take the role of leader. This will open the viewer in a new tab.
2. Enter the username and password provided.
3. Click the Off toggle button to begin leading the collaboration. Enter your name in the space provided and press Login.

4. A new window will open that shows the leader name and timestamp for the last session. If the last session timestamp is close to the current time, please make sure there is NOT a current session occurring or verify that you may take leadership. Clicking Take the Lead will start a brand new collaboration session with you as the leader, or clicking Cancel will not allow you to take leadership, and stops the login process.

5. Next, click Start a New Session if you would like to begin a brand new collaboration session which is, essentially, a clean slate with no layers loaded from previous sessions, or click Continue with Previous Session to join the most recent session with the layers that were shared during that session. This choice would be optimal if the leader wishes to revisit previously shared layers or needs to present the data again to a different group of participants.

6. The button will change to blue and say On when leading a collaboration session.

Change Map Extent

1. Using the map viewer you are now able to move around the map, zoom in, and zoom out.
1. To change the extent using the mouse scroll wheel, press and drag your cursor to the desired area. The participant windows will follow your map extent on their systems. To zoom in or out, use the mouse scroll wheel or right click and drag. To rotate the view, middle click and drag or CTRL, left click and drag.
2. To zoom in or out, use the zoom + or - buttons on the lower right hand portion of the map. Another option to zoom out is to touch two points on the screen and then move your fingers toward each other, as if you're pinching them together. To zoom in, touch two points on the screen and then move your fingers away from each other, as if you're stretching them apart.

Display Layer

1. To share a layer collaboratively, select the menu button to open the left panel. Next, click the Collaboration Cache Layers to open the window with available layers to share collaboratively. Click the folder where the layer is located to open the folder. Click the layer's visibility toggle button from "off" to "on". This layer will be visible for all participants.





2. When a layer is turned on, the leader has the option to change the opacity of the layer collaboratively. Open the left panel and click Collaboration Session Layers. Click the folder where the layer is saved and use the slider to adjust to the desired level of opacity.

3. To turn off the layer's visibility, click the layer's visibility toggle button from "on" to "off" in the Collaboration Session Layers.

Collaborative Draw

1. To draw on the map, the leader needs to click the menu button to open the left panel. Click the Collaborative Draw folder which will deploy drawing options.
2. The leader has the following choices for drawing:

1. To place a point, click Point then click the desired location on the map.
2. To draw a polyline, click Polyline then click once on the map, move the mouse then click to make second point, move the mouse then click to make third point, etc. When finished, double click to complete a polyline.
3. To draw a polygon, click Polygon icon then click once on the map, move the mouse then click to make the second point, move the mouse then click to make third point, etc. When finished, double click to complete a polygon.
4. To draw multipoint, click Multipoint icon then click once on the map, move the mouse then click to make the second point, move the mouse again to make the third point, etc. When finished, double click to complete the multipoint.
5. To draw freehand polyline, click Freehand Polyline, press and hold the mouse button and move the mouse to create line or shape. Release mouse button when finished.
6. To draw freehand polygon, click Freehand Polygon, press and hold the mouse button and move the mouse to create shape. Release the mouse button when finished.
7. To draw a triangle, click Triangle, press and drag mouse to create triangle extent. Release mouse button to finish.
8. To draw a rectangle, click Rectangle press and drag mouse to create rectangle extent. Release mouse button to finish
3. To clear the drawings, click Clear Drawings.

Add a Layer to Cache

1. To add a layer, click the menu button to open the left panel. Next, click Add Layer to Cache.
2. A new window will open to enter the layer's information.

3. First, enter the name (title) of the layer that is to be added in the Name box. For example, QPF Day 1. Next, enter the full layer URL in the Layer URL box.
4. Then select the Layer Type from the drop down menu. Choices are Dynamic, WMS, and KML.
1. When adding a WMS Layer, please make sure the URL in the link box contains the full link up the ?, so that the layer will be displayed properly. For example: http://webservices.nationalatlas.gov/wms/agriculture?
2. In order for the WMS layer to be displayed properly, you must enter the Visible WMS Layer Names. For example: crop_1
5. Next, select the Layer Transparency for the layer from the drop down menu. 0% is set as the default.
6. Select the group (folder) that will hold this new layer from the Choose Existing Group menu, or you may create a new group by entering the name in the Create a New Group box.
7. Click Add Layer to add the layer to the session.
8. To add a local file from your computer, click the Choose File button.
9. A window will open for you to select the layer. Once the file is selected, click Open.
10. A window will pop up saying the layer has been uploaded, click OK. The layer url information will be entered in the Layer URL box when the file has been uploaded. Follow the steps above to enter the remaining layer information. Finally, click Add Layer.
11. The recently added layer will be available in the Collaboration Session Layers under the corresponding folder.

Editing a Layer

1. Layers that have been previously saved can be edited at any time. To edit a layer, click the menu to open the left panel. Next click Collaboration Cache Layers.
2. Next, open the folder where the layer is stored. Click the layer's name to open the editor.
3. In the editor window, the leader can change the layer's name, URL, layer type, Visible Layer, Transparency, and Group.

4. When the changes have been made, click Update.
5. If at anytime you need to cancel with out saving the changes, click the X in the upper right corner of the editor window.

Deleting a Layer

1. To delete a layer that has been saved click the menu button to open the left panel and click Collaboration Cache Layers.
2. Next, open the folder where the layer is stored. Click the layer's name to open the editor.
3. At the bottom of the editor, click Delete to delete the layer.
4. A window will open asking you if you are sure you want to delete this layer. Click Yes.

Sending a Message

1. To send a message to followers, click the menu button to open the left panel.
2. Next, click Send Message to open the message editor.

3. Type the message in the message box, and enter the time when the message will expire in hours 1 or greater.
4. Click Send Message to send to followers.
5. To clear messages before they expire, open the message editor and click Clear Messages.
6. To review messages that have been sent, open the message editor and click Review Messages.

Key Points

1. To send key points or a take away message to the follower, click the menu button to open the left panel.
2. Next, click the Key Points folder to open the editor.

3. First, click the box that says "Click here to edit Key Points".

4. Enter your text. Options for the text editor include font size, bold, italics, and bullet points. There is no character limit, however it is encouraged to keep the text as concise as possible.

5. Next, click Save.
6. Lastly, click the toggle button next to Display from No to Yes. This will send the Key Points to the followers.

Ending a Collaboration

1. When the collaboration is finished, exit out of the collaboration session by clicking the On toggle button.