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What map.army Does for Your Mission: Task Finder
You know the task; this page tells you where map.army does it. Each row starts from the military task in doctrine language, names the control as the app labels it, in bold, and links to the page that shows you how.
Hint: The app names things by what is on the screen, not by doctrine. A range fan or surface danger zone is a Safety Distance Zone in the app; an overlay is a MilX layer. If a search for your term finds nothing, look it up in the Glossary.
Plan and draw
| Your task | In the app | How |
|---|---|---|
| Draw an operation overlay: boundaries, phase lines, axis of advance, objective | tactical graphics from the MSS Symbol Search on a MilX layer | Draw an operation overlay |
| Find a unit, equipment or control-measure symbol | Symbol Gallery and Symbol Search | Symbol Gallery |
| Set echelon, affiliation, status, unique designation | MSS Symbol Editor | Symbol Editor |
| Place a symbol on an exact grid reference (MGRS, UTM, WGS84 …) | Point List | The Point List |
| Move a whole unit layout at once | select several graphics, then drag one of them: one undo step | Map controls |
| Show direction of movement or direction of fire | Direction in the Point List | The Point List |
| Range fan, surface danger zone (SDZ), sector of fire, ricochet | Safety Distance Zone | SDZ builder |
| Weapon or sensor reach | Weapons / Radar Range Fans, Circular | Range rings |
| Free lines, areas and text notes | Generic graphics | Generic graphics |
| Plan a route | Draw it as a route or axis tactical graphic from the Symbol Search, or bring it in from a KML file | Edit multi-point graphics, Route planning |
| Measure distance, area and bearing | Measurement | Measure distances and areas |
| Read bearings in NATO mils | Angular Unit: Milliradian (NATO) | General options |
| Grid north, magnetic north, declination | Display Magnetic North | Magnetic declination |
| Military grid on the map | Coordinate Grid (MGRS, UTM, WGS84 and more) | Coordinate grid |
| Go to a grid reference | Coordinates search on map | Coordinate search |
| Date-time groups in your time zone (default Z) | Time zone | General options |
| Look at the terrain | 3D view | 3D map view |
| Height of a point | Right-click, Coordinate: position and altitude | Map controls |
| Area of operations across the date line | Pacific View | Pacific view |
| National (Swiss) military symbols | Work Mode: Extended | Work modes |
| Undo a mistake | Ctrl + Z: works on what you draw (symbols, graphics, layers), not on view or settings | Keyboard shortcuts |
Brief and print
| Your task | In the app | How |
|---|---|---|
| A scaled PDF or image for the briefing or the order annex | Print & Export | Create an export |
| An overlay trace on transparent foil, to lay over a paper map | Print & Export without Background Map, with Reference Points | Create an export |
| A print-out at a fixed map scale | Print & Export, Scale | Print a project |
| A complete exercise map, start to finish | the whole workflow | Plan an exercise |
| Release an approved overlay, black and white | Approved layer setting | Edit a layer |
| Mark the classification on a printout | a text generic graphic placed inside the export area | Generic graphics |
| Send the map to someone without map.army | PDF or image export | Create an export |
Share and exchange
| Your task | In the app | How |
|---|---|---|
| Save the overlay with full fidelity | MilX layer, .milxlyz | Export a layer |
| Share a common operational picture (COP) | Share link: Read Only, Edit & Copy, Edit & Overwrite | Create a share |
| Exchange with NATO C2 systems | NVG (NATO Vector Graphics, ADatP-4778) | NVG, NVG interoperability |
| Show the situation in Google Earth or a GIS | KML export | KML export |
| Import an overlay received from another unit | MilX or NVG file | Import a layer, NVG |
| Bring in GIS data, routes or scanned maps | Vector Layers and Image Layers | Import a layer |
| Run a map exercise or wargame with several players | share pattern for turns | Wargaming |
| Embed the map in a web page or portal | iframe | Embed with an iframe |
Secure and closed networks
| Your task | In the app | How |
|---|---|---|
| Know what leaves your browser | data flow per feature | Data protection |
| Run it inside your own network | the installable map.army with its own services and maps | FAQ, Pro vs free |
| Install on a laptop | Install map.army as an app from the browser. It still needs the network: symbols are drawn and files converted by the map.army services | Install |
| Use your own map server | Map Type with your own WMS or WMTS | Connect your own map service |
Not in the app, and what to use instead
- Line of sight, viewshed, terrain masking: not available. Use the 3D view to judge the ground by eye.
- ORBAT builder: not available. Place the units as symbols on a layer, with their echelon and unique designation in the Symbol Editor.
- Offline in the field: not available in the online app; without a connection it shows an offline notice. For a closed network, use the installable map.army with its own services — see the FAQ.
- Classification banner field in the export: not available. Place the marking as a text generic graphic inside the export area; NVG export carries real confidentiality metadata.
- Live tracking of friendly forces, timeline: map.army pro only — see Pro vs free.
- CBRN hazard plume: not available. Draw the hazard area as a tactical graphic or a generic graphic.
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