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COINATLANTIC GEOCONTENT GENERATOR:
CGG TUTORIAL
This tutorial will guide you through the five step online CGG application. This tutorial is also available on the COINAtlantic
website: http://coinatlantic.ca/documents/coinatlantic/CGG_Tutorial.pdf
What is the CGG?
The CGG is a free online utility that allows users to generate and publish geospatial polygons that describe a publication
or data etc. online that will be found by the Google search engine. It is intended to be a simple-to-use tool that will allow
non-specialists to allow others to find and view ‘GeoContent’ - metadata about projects/data etc. that is tied to a
geographic area. The COINAtlantic GeoContent Generator (CGG) is available at: http://coinatlantic.ca/cgg.
How does the CGG work?
The CGG allows users to input a description of their organization, publication and/or data source for publication on the
internet. Included in the CGG is a function for defining the geographic area of interest. This can be done by selecting from
a number of existing geographic polygons, drawing your own area of interest on an interactive map or by importing
existing geographic information. Once completed, the file is saved on a server that is indexed by the internet search
engine, such as Google, so that others will be able to find your information and the geographical area of interest related to
your information.
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CGG BROWSER REQUIREMENTS
The CGG has been tested in the following browsers:
- Chrome
- Firefox
- Safari
- Internet Explorer > 8
*** JavaScript must be enabled on your computer.
 The application is divided vertically into two windows: the map window and the metadata window:
 The section above the map and metadata window can be collapsed using the small button in the top right corner:
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 The application consists of five steps. Each step is a tab in the metadata screen:
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Step 1: Generate feature: geospatial attribute selection or generation
Step 2: Enter attributes: add textual metadata
Step 3: Add image
Step 4: Finalize: review your inputs before publishing
Step 5: Confirmation
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HOW TO START
To begin open the COINAtlantic GeoContent Generator (CGG) at http://coinatlantic.ca/cgg in your web browser.
Step 1: Generate Feature:
Geospatial Feature Selection or Generation Tab
NOTES FOR STEP 1
 Users Have four options to create geospatial features:
 Option 1: load existing geospatial features using the COINAtlantic KML template directory. Selecting from the
template library of watershed, estuaries, coastalshed and jurisdictional unit geospatial polygons.
 Option 2: creating their own feature using tools in the map window
 Option 3: uploading an existing KML from your computer.
 Option 4: enter coordinates to create a point.
 To clear a feature and start over use the ‘Clear Features’ button at the top left hand corner of the map window.
 You can pan the map using your mouse to manipulate the map, as well as the keyboard arrow keys. The map can
be zoomed in and out using the “+” and “-” keys or the “+” and “-” buttons in the map window.
 If you chose to ‘restart’ the application at the end of Step 5, the feature chosen will already be loaded up. If you
wish to
Tutorial for Step 1
Choose one of the four options to create polygons that describe or relate to the area of interest for the: organization, project,
publication or data/information that you are creating.
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A. Option 1: load existing geospatial features using the COINAtlantic KML template directory.
 Access the template library by opening the ‘COINAtlantic KML Template Library’ and ‘published’ folders by clicking the ‘+’
button in front of the folder name. Navigate to available templates by further opening folders. A single click on the template
name, i.e. ‘watershed.kml’ will add the template to the map.
 Open folders in this order: >‘COINAtlantic KML Template Library’ > ‘Biophysical Units’ >’New Brunswick’ > ‘Watersheds’ and
then add the ‘MiramichiBayWatershed.kml’ to the map by clicking on the filename.
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B. Option 2: Click on Map to Create Feature
 Create a feature (polygon, line or point) using the tools in the top right corner of the map window.
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 Choose the ‘draw polygon’ tool and create a polygons that generally covers the Maritime Provinces. Click your mouse at
every turn of the polygon line; double click for the last point in the polygon to finish. If you are unhappy with your polygon
at any point use the ‘Clear Features’ button at the top left hand corner of the map window to start over.
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C. Option 3: Upload a KML file from your Computer
 Browse your computer for an existing .KML file. Files must be 2 MB or less and be include simple features, such as single
polygons and simple points (not clusters). Click the ‘Load to Map’ button.
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D. Option 4: Enter Coordinates to Create a Point
 Enter point coordinates in Decimal Degrees (X,Y or Longitude,Latitude), and then click the ‘Submit Point’ button. For this
tutorial enter: -64.25768, 44.35968 and click the ‘Submit Point’ button. Next, add a second point: -64.30585, 44.29343.
 After finishing Step 1, click ‘next step’ at the bottom of the metadata window to move to the Step 2.
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Step 2: Enter Attributes Tab
NOTES FOR STEP 2
 Some fields are mandatory; these are identified by a red asterisk.
 The default name for the generated file is taken from the ‘Title of GeoContent’ field from Step 2. Users have the option to
review and change the filename in Step 4 if they wish. These file names should be alphanumeric, do not use special
characters.
 The Description field should include any and all words that a user might search on to find your entry. Please feel free to cut
and paste from existing material such as an abstract.
 The user can go back to the Step 1 by clicking on ‘Previous Step’ at the bottom of the tab.
Tutorial for Step 2
A. Choose the ‘type of GeoContent’ you are creating: organization, project, publication or data/information.
 In This case we will enter information for a fictitious organization, therefore click ‘organization'.
B. Enter attributes for the organization in the form:
 Contact name*: (enter your name here)
 Contact e-mail*: (enter your email here)
 Title of GeoContent*: Test Watershed Restoration Alliance of the Maritime Provinces
 Description*: Test entry: The fictitious Watershed Restoration Alliance of the Maritime Provinces works to align
and advance the goals of its many member organizations.
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 Contact mailing address: Weir St., Fish Passage, NS, F1I 2S3
 Geographic location: -64.02100, 44.32457
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Step 3: Add image
NOTES FOR STEP 3
 Step three gives you the option to add an image to your ‘GeoContent’ KML file. There are two options for going this.
 Option 1: Upload Image – browse your computer for an image file, click ‘upload’ and preview.
 Option 2: URL Link to Image – insert UL to an image, click ‘preview image’ and preview
 Only .png, .jpeg, .gif image files can be uploaded. The maximum file size is 2 MB.
 The image preview will not show the full size image if the image is large. If it is large it may be skewed in the preview but it will
not appear that way in the final KML file.
 The user can go back to the Step 2 by clicking on ‘Previous Step’ at the bottom of the tab.
 When the user clicks on ‘Preview’ in Step 3: The user moves to Step 4 where they can review the attributes they have chosen
before the GeoContent is finalized and the KML file is published.
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Tutorial for Step 3
A. Option 1: browse your computer for an image file, click ‘upload’ and preview.
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B. Option 2: Add this URL in option 2: http://coinatlantic.ca/images/stories/map160.jpg and click ‘preview image’.
C. Click ‘Next Step’ to move to step 4.
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Step 4: Finalize Tab
NOTES FOR STEP 4
 Choose a color: in Step 4 users can select the colour of the geospatial feature ie. polygon, line or point.
 Step 4 allows the user to review the information and make any final changes before publishing.
 The default filename shown in Step 4 is the ‘Title of GeoContent’ entered in Step 2. It is not necessary to modify the filename, this is
optional. If you do change the filename the title of the GeoContent will remain the same until you change it in Step two. Note: Do not
use special characters, spaces, or apostrophes in the filename; these will be automatically replaced with an underscore character in
your filename. Do not include a file extension in the filename.
 To modify the feature, click on the ‘ ’button in the top right of the map window, next click on the feature. If you want to create an
entirely new feature or if the feature you want to modify includes more than 200 nodes you must go back to Step 1, clear features
and generate a new feature.
 Test entries or errors can be deleted by contacting [email protected]
 Once the user has made final edits, they can publish their information by clicking on the “Publish” button at the bottom of the page.
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When the user clicks on ‘Publish’ in Step 4:
A geospatial file is created using the GoogleEarth KML format, from the information provided in the first three steps;
The file is uploaded to a web accessible folder that can be scanned by the Google Search engine;
The file name is added to a geositemap file that is submitted to the Google Web Master;
An e-mail is sent to the ‘Contact e-mail’ with a notice that the file has been created; and,
An e-mail is sent to the CGG administrator with a notice that the file has been added.
 The file will be found by the Google search engine by doing a search for the title of the GeoContent/KML file along with KML. For
example ‘watershed study KML’.
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Tutorial for Step 4
A. Change the color of the polygon to purple: #993366.
B. In the ‘Modify Features’ section of Step 4, use the ‘Go to Step 1’ button to go back to Step 1. Use the ‘Clear Features’
button to clear the features. Re-draw the polygon around the Maritime Provinces as in tutorial 1.B. Click the ‘next step’
buttons until you are back at step 4.
C. Use the ‘Go to Step 2’ button. Make a change or an addition to the information in the description in step 2. Click the ‘next
step’ buttons until you are back at step 4.
D. Change the color of the polygon one more time. Next click ‘publish’ at the bottom of the tab to publish the GeoContent /
KML to move to step 5.
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Step 5: Confirmation
NOTES FOR STEP FIVE
 The Confirmation Tab provides the creator with the file name and access to saving the file.
o You can save this file to your computer by right clicking on the file name, and saving as ‘.kml’. Once saved on your
computer you can open it in Google Earth, and/or open it with a text editor to view and/or edit the file.
 By clicking on ‘Restart’, the user is sent back to Screen 1 to create a new entry with the descriptive text already entered.
 By clicking on ‘End’ the user terminates the CGG, and sends the user to the http://COINAtlantic.ca website.
 Test entries or errors can be deleted by contacting [email protected].
 After finalizing in Step 4 the user will see the following confirmation in the Step 5 tab:
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Tutorial for Step 5
A. Save your GeoContent / KML to your computer by right clicking on the file name, save as ‘.kml’. Once saved on your computer
open it in Google Earth. Next open it with a text editor to view the structure of the code.
B. You will also be able to search for and view your GeoContent in the COINAtlantic Search Utility (it may take until the next day for
this to be found) at http://coinatlantic.ca/csu.
C. Click ‘Restart’ and make your own GeoContent.
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