> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.docusnap.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Understanding Maps

> What a map is, how you open it, move around it and export it – the same for Topology, IP Networks and IP Segments.

A **map** is a drawn view of the captured data. Under the *Maps* menu entry
you open three: *Topology*, *IP Networks* and *IP Segments*. What each one
shows is in [The Three Maps](/docs/en/documents/network-plans). Opening, moving,
selecting and exporting work the same in all three.

<Note>
  *Maps* is an area of its own in the main navigation, not a document list.
  For documents, see [Documents Fundamentals](/docs/en/documents/overview).
</Note>

## A map as a tab of its own

A map opens as a tab of its own. Switching to another tab only hides the map
you left; it is not torn down.

<Tip>
  Zoom level, viewport, filter, arrangement and selection therefore survive a
  tab switch. Only closing the tab or leaving the area resets a map; it is
  rebuilt the next time you open it.
</Tip>

## Navigating a map

These keyboard shortcuts apply in every map:

| Key | Effect |
| - | - |
| `F` | fit content to the visible area |
| `Ctrl`+`F` | jump to the search field and select its content |
| `+` / `-` | zoom in / out |

`F`, `+` and `-` have no effect while you type in an input field.
`Ctrl`+`F` always works.

A small *Overview* in the bottom right shows the whole picture, with its own
buttons for zooming in, zooming out and fitting. A map can also show a
*Legend* of the symbols, colors and lines it uses.

## The sidebar

What the sidebar shows for a node depends on the map (see [The Three Maps](/docs/en/documents/network-plans)); the
frame is the same:

* A **back arrow** appears when you jumped here from another entry.
* Field values can be copied individually.

## Exporting

Behind *Export* lie four formats — VSDX, PDF, SVG and PNG. VSDX opens in
Visio and carries the device data along as editable fields; PDF, SVG and PNG
are plain images.

<Warning>
  **Export forces the light color scheme.** If you work in the dark color
  scheme, the exported file looks different from the map on your screen. The
  fonts used are embedded in the file so that the labels stay in place on
  another machine too.
</Warning>

## Empty map versus failed load

An empty map and a failed load use the same surface but mean different
things:

| State | Meaning | Offer |
| - | - | - |
| empty | nothing has been captured yet | *Start Scan* |
| error | loading has failed | *Retry* |

An empty map carries **no** *Retry* button — loading did work. *Start Scan*
takes you to creating a scan job — that is where the missing data comes
from, see [Scanning Fundamentals](/docs/en/scan/understanding-scanning).

## Related

What *Topology*, *IP Networks* and *IP Segments* each show, and which
controls their toolbar carries, is in
[The Three Maps](/docs/en/documents/network-plans). The data for the maps is
produced by scanning, see
[Scanning Fundamentals](/docs/en/scan/understanding-scanning).


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