Tracts user guide

Introduction

A tract in Farmapper is a named group of shapes on the map. Basically, it is the bucket that holds the individual polygon shapes. You can use it in any way you like. For example, you can separate owned ground, leased ground, pivot ground, dry ground etc. into different tracts. You can also have multiple farms in your project with a separate tract for each of them.

Tracts are minimal units used in KML or CropScape integrations, which means that you can select any tracts for these functions, but not individual shapes.

In order to use full Tracts editing functionality you will need to log into the system using a Google, Facebook or Twitter account. This will also allow saving of the project so that you can work in stages.

Tracts management
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The easiest way to create a tract is by adding a new shape, for example use the legal description dialog to add a qq section to a project. See Figure 1. That will create a new tract automatically, which will contain just this one shape.

Another way to create a new tract is to extract a shape from another existing tract. There is a "Take to new tract" button next to each shape in Tracts list. Basically, this will pull the shape into its own tract.

Creating a tract
Figure 1: Creating a tract - click to enlarge

Merging tracts
Figure 2: Merging tracts - click to enlarge
When you create a bunch of one shape tracts then you can start to merge the lots, legal description sections, custom shapes, Texas survey, etc. into farm and ranch tracts. To group shapes, you should select all tracts containing them and click the Merge tracts button - see Figure 2. You can also drag shapes among the tracts in the Tracts list.

When you hit the Merge tracts button you will see a dialog similar to Figure 3. It allows you to define the new tract name and colors. By default they are taken from the first merged tract, but you can easily use the name or color from any other one. You can also specify your own custom tract name and colors.
Merge tracts dialog
Figure 3: Merge tracts dialog - click to enlarge

Removing a tract or a shape
Figure 4: Removing a tract or a shape - click to enlarge
It is also possible to delete the whole tract or any individual shape. Just click the x icon next to the object. See Figure 4. If you remove the tract all its shapes and documents will be removed as well.

Tract and shape names
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Every time a new shape is added to the project it gets the default name assigned by the system. This name depends on the type of shape. For the rules determining these names you can read the PLSS guide or Allotment guide that show the default names given these shapes. There is an example of the legal description name including the, Township, Range, Meridian and Section or the name given the BLM range allotment. The shape name becomes the default name of the containing tract - see Figure 5.
Default tract and shape names
Figure 5: Default tract and shape names - click to enlarge

Change tract name
Figure 6: Change tract name - click to enlarge
It is possible to change the name of any tract. To customize, select the tract and click a Change link on the map view - see Figure 6

Tracts list
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All tracts added to a project are visible in the tracts list on the left side of the window. You can see an example on Figure 7. The list is really a two-level tree. The first level of the tree consists of the tracts. Every tract can then be expanded to show the shapes contained in the bucket. Next to each tract or shape there is information about its size and an icon to delete it. Shape elements contain an additional icon allowing the user to extract the shape from their tracts, into a new tract. They can also be dragged and dropped between the tracts.
Default tract and shape names
Figure 7: Default tract and shape names - click to enlarge

Tracts management
Show desktop version
The easiest way to create a tract is by adding a new shape, for example use the legal description dialog to add a qq section to a project. See Figure 1a. That will create a new tract automatically, which will contain just this one shape.
Creating a tract on the map
Figure 1a: Creating a tract on the map - click to enlarge

Another way to create a new tract is to extract a shape from another existing tract. There is a "Take to new tract" button next to each shape in Tracts list. See Figure 1b. Basically, this will pull the shape into its own tract.
Creating a tract from the tracts and shapes list in the dialog
Figure 1b: Creating a tract from the tracts and shapes list in the dialog - click to enlarge

When you create a bunch of one shape tracts then you can start to merge the lots, legal description sections, custom shapes, Texas survey, etc. into farm and ranch tracts. To group shapes, you should select all tracts containing them and click the Merge tracts button - see Figure 2. You can also drag shapes among the tracts in the Tracts list.
Merging tracts
Figure 2: Merging tracts - click to enlarge

When you hit the Merge tracts button you will see a dialog similar to Figure 3. It allows you to define the new tract name and colors. By default they are taken from the first merged tract, but you can easily use the name or color from any other one. You can also specify your own completely custom tract name and colors.
Merge tracts dialog
Figure 3: Merge tracts dialog - click to enlarge

It is also possible to delete the whole tract or any individual shape. Just click the x icon next to the object. See Figure 4. If you remove the tract all its shapes and documents will be removed as well.
Removing a tract or a shape
Figure 4: Removing a tract or a shape - click to enlarge

Tract and shape names
Show desktop version
Every time a new shape is added to the project it gets the default name assigned by the system. This name depends on the type of shape. For the rules determining these names you can read the PLSS guide or Allotment guide that show the default names given these shapes. There is an example of the legal description name including the, Township, Range, Meridian and Section or the name given the BLM range allotment. The shape name becomes the default name of the containing tract - see Figure 5.
Default tract and shape names
Figure 5: Default tract and shape names - click to enlarge

It is possible to change the name of any tract. You can make changes in two ways. The first, to customize, select the tract and click Edit tract button. See Figure 6a.
The first step for changing tract name in the dialog
Figure 6a: The first step for changing tract name in the dialog - click to enlarge

Then you will see a dialog similar to Figure 6b. Next click a Change link.
The second step for changing tract name in the dialog
Figure 6b: The second step for changing tract name in the dialog - click to enlarge

The second way to change the name of a tract is to select it on the map. See Figure 6c.
The first step for changing tract name on the map
Figure 6c: The first step for changing tract name on the map - click to enlarge

Next click a Change link on the map view - see Figure 6d
The second step for changing tract name on the map
Figure 6d: The second step for changing tract name on the map - click to enlarge

Tracts list
Show desktop version
All tracts added to a project are visible in the tracts list on the left side of the window. You can see an example on Figure 7. The list is really a two-level tree. The first level of the tree consists of the tracts. Every tract can then be expanded to show the shapes contained in the bucket. Next to each tract or shape there is information about its size and an icon to delete it. Shape elements contain an additional icon allowing the user to extract the shape from their tracts, into a new tract. They can also be dragged and dropped between the tracts.
Default tract and shape names
Figure 7: Default tract and shape names - click to enlarge