When a right-click context menu is invoked, the program sometimes presents two side-by-side options for examining locations: one to launch Google Earth and another to access a mapping site via your web browser. Choosing the latter can be more efficient when the goal is to quickly explore the geography near a single placemark. The dialog shown below, accessed by selecting Options... in the pop-up submenu (or Preferences | URL for web map navigation on the main menu), is where you specify the site's URL, an address string combined with map-related parameter settings:
One of six suggested URL templates, all of which are customizable, can be selected from the list. You might then modify the parameter values that determine initial zoom level and type of map. For example, the first four templates, if unedited, will request a street-labeled aerial (hybrid) map at zoom level 17. Here we've chosen the OpenStreetMap URL without editing it. At this point we can launch our browser with the selected URL. If the Save as Default... box is checked, the selected list item is saved as the default for future fly-to operations. During the program session the edits to that item will also be maintained.
If you choose to customize the list using the Update Item button, the list item itself, including your edits, is preserved as a program setting. Similarly, the Restore Original button will replace the selected item with the program's built-in default at that list position. Obviously the program's six built-in templates are subject to becoming obsolete. Note that when you use these buttons, the list customization takes effect immediately, whether or not the dialog is canceled.
Parameter Settings
If necessary, you can determine what URL parameters are supported by a mapping application by switching map views at the site and asking for a corresponding link. Below are the codes needed for specifying an initial map type at the suggested sites (at least when I last checked them). A recommended initial zoom level is also listed in some cases. If the map type or zoom level is not available for the location you're exploring, a map of the wrong type or an empty one might appear.
Acme Mapper, mapper.acme.com (my current preference)
&t=
M Street map from Google (&z=16)
S Satellite (aerial photo from Google) (&z=17)
H Hybrid (aerial plus streets) (&z=17)
R Terrain from Google (&z=14)
T Topographic map from MyTopo (&z=15)
O DOQ from USGS (&z=16)
N NEXTRAD (NWS Doppler weather radars) (&z=7)
K Mapnik (OpenStreetMap) (&z=16)
GMap4, www.mappingsupport.com
&t=
m Street map from Google
s Satellite (aerial photo from Google)
h Hybrid (aerial plus streets ) (&z=17)
t1 Terrain from Google (default)
t2 Topographic map from MyTopo (USA 1:24,000 & Canada 1:50,000)
t3 Topographic map from USGS & Microsoft (USA 1:24,000)
Google Maps, maps.google.com
&t=
m Street map from Google
k Satellite (aerial photo from Google)
h Hybrid (aerial plus streets) (&z=17)
p Terrain from Google (default)
e Google Earth plug-in
Bing Maps, www.bing.com/maps/
&style=
r Road view
a Aerial view
h Aerial view with labels (&lvl=17)
o Bird's eye (oblique) view (&lvl=1 or 2)
b Bird's eye (oblique) view with labels
u Automatic
OpenSteetMap (OSM), www.openstreetmap.org
This is a very attractive street and road map covering the world's countries in varying degrees. It's a fast-growing, open source project with many contributors. The URL will zoom to the location and attach an unlabeled placemark. The zoom level is specified with a #map parameter as shown in the above image.
TxDOT's Statewide Planning Map, www.txdot.gov
A panel on the web page lists several map types which, like "Highway", can appear as the next to last parameter in the URL. The last parameter is the zoom level, an integer 0-5. It centers the map at the specified coordinates without displaying a placemark. Depending on zoom level, one can choose from a variety of map overlays, but they must be selected from the panel.
Other Features of the Maps Worth Noting
Whereas Acme Mapper, Gmap4, and Google Maps all display Google's imagery, Bing Maps obtains its data from Microsoft's repository. At times you may want to check both offerings. Acme Mapper and Gmap4 can display the topographic maps available at www.myTopo.com, and both have interfaces convenient for assigning new point locations in WallsMap by way of a single cut-and-paste operation. At least Acme Mapper and Google Maps accept a placemark label embedded in the URL, with Acme Mapper supporting multiple labeled placemarks. (WallsMap uses just one for now.)
TxDOT's Statewide Planning Map can display eight kinds of environmental overlays, including major aquifers, watersheds, natural regions and sub regions. It's also a quick way to view and retrieve the coordinates of Texas mile post markers. In fact, I'm not aware of another practical way to get this info. (From the Map Overlays section of the panel, scroll down and select "Markers.")