[Request] Option to Toggle Off Key Map View By Default

[parkerotto]

Describe the feature or enhancement you're looking for
As somebody that spends a LOT of time in these georeferencers, I find that it's most helpful for me to view the basic map first (especially when georeferencing in an area that I'm familiar with. Additionally, for the Chicago dataset the key map is weirdly simplified and does not georeference correctly leading to a cluttered space that is not helpful at all for finding where my next map is going to go. As such, I have to toggle off the key map every time. I think that it would be most useful to have this set as the default option for convenience. That way people who aren't as familiar with the area can still see it, but those who are don't have to take the step to turn it off every time.

If this request is linked to a problem, please describe.
N/A

Describe alternatives you've considered
Alternatively, a preferences setting could solve this problem so that users can choose whether or not they want to see the key map, mosaic, or nothing at all (or even to default to the satellite map over OSM).

Additional context
N/A

[mradamcox]

Just to clarify, by "basic map" you mean the web map on the right (OSM in this case) without any overlay, correct? Assuming so, I like the idea of allowing users to set these preferences on their profile the most.

Having the key map there by default is (hopefully) still very helpful to new users, and at this point there are number of people who are probably pretty used to that behavior. Do note the keyboard shortcut "r" which will toggle the reference layers. Also, for what it's worth, I think that many key maps do actually match the road network better than that Chicago one does, so it is more useful in those cases.

At any rate, I'll start thinking about what else should be added to user profiles ("favoriting" maps, is something I've had in mind for a while, for example) and probably wrap a few more additions into what you propose here. Happy to hear any other suggestions for things that could be added to the user profile!

@rchampine, do you and your students have any thoughts on this?

[rchampine]

I think key maps are crucial for the initial step of getting the general location of a sheet and our students rely on them for that. But they are usually not used much after that and can be a bit of a nuisance when toggling over them repeatedly in the Reference stack.

I don't have a strong feeling about setting them off by default (as long is they can be toggled on easily). I like the idea of a user setting.

My idea for a new feature or change that addresses this (separate from a user setting) would be moving the key maps into their own layer stack (hotkey k?). I don't love having them grouped with Main Content because they are used in different stages of georeferencing (typically Key Map first, Main Content last — for refining positioning). Perhaps Main Content could have its own stack (hotkey m?) to keep with the convention of hotkeys indicating the first letter of the toggle item.

Thanks for bringing this up @parkerotto and for including me @mradamcox!

[mradamcox]

Interesting, I like that idea. I like the "k" and "m", but my inclination would be to make it more generic, in that all other LayerSets from the given map would have their own toggle. Typically this would be just key map and main content, but also "graphic map of volumes" and "skeleton maps" if present. Will think on it... Definitely makes sense to split these into different controls though.

Linking this to #177 .

Question, do you find the 1/2 transparency to be useful as a toggle option? I generally think it's much easier to deal with in this context than a slider, but also curious what y'all think.

[rchampine]

Half transparency is definitely useful a toggle. I use it with the hotkey constantly.

[parkerotto]

I definitely like half transparency. I don't find full transparency as useful, though.