Las estrategias metacognitivas

The functions inside the main menu do not belong to a specific cate- gory, but have always the possibility to be interesting to a user. There- fore, they can be always accessed and seen when using the program.

Figure 6.1:All side row menus in an overview.

First button: tile selection

The icon of the first button are the letters ‘2D/3D’ and opens the tile selection window, see figure6.2. These letters represent the function to go from a 2D landscape to a 3D landscape. One of three load types can be selected: (i) loading by manually selecting tiles, (ii) loading a specified number of tiles or (iii) loading tiles when reaching a specified camera location height. Choosing (i) allows users to select tiles from the tile overview. All tiles can also be selected or deselected at once. Tiles can be loaded after selecting them.

Second button: saving

The second button depicts a save icon and allows users to designate a saving location, see figure6.3. A new tab can be created with the plus button beneath the tab list, which opens a second window on the right where a tab name can be provided. Filling in the tab name cre- ates automatically a new tab in the tab list with the provided name. Adding a scenario to a tab can be achieved by pressing the plus button beneath the scenario list, which will open a third window where a sce- nario name can be given. It is also possible to save camera locations in this window by pressing the large plus icon.

Figure 6.2:Main tile selection window (left), providing a value for loading a specified number of tiles (upper right), providing values for distance loading (lower right).

Figure 6.4:Location window.

Figure 6.6:Data layer window.

The third button depicts a location icon. When clicked, a window is opened that details the x and y location of the camera, as well as its height, see figure6.4. The values change live with any camera move- ments.

Fourth button: map

The fourth button is represented by an icon of a map. The map win- dow is divided in two important sections: (i) a map section and (ii) an address search section, see figure6.5. The map section displays the satellite map, the position and direction of the camera and buttons for moving the map around and zooming in and out. A miniature map

Figure 6.5:Main map window (left), minimised map (right).

can be toggled on and off, which is placed in the top right corner of the screen. This map will remain on the screen when the map button becomes inactive, which will close the larger window. The miniature map can be closed by opening the larger map window again and tog- gling the miniature map off, or by simply pressing the ‘x’ icon in the top right corner of the miniature map. The entry field below the map can be used for searching an address or postal code. Search results are shown beneath the entry field.

Fifth button: data layers

The fifth button depicts an icon with three layers on top of each other. Layers can be toggled on and off and given different colours, see fig- ure6.6. Layers do not belong to a group by default, but can be ordered into groups. A new group is created by clicking the ‘+nieuwe groep’

button. This opens a new window to give the group a name and to cre- ate it. The newly added group can be edited, which opens a window with a list of all layers. Layers can be selected to add to the group or deselected to remove them.

Sixth button: income and overview

Figure 6.7:Windows of the overview function.

The fifth button depicts a calculator icon. This button leads to an overview of wind turbines and solar panels, see figure6.7. It can state per tab (i.e. the tabs from the saving menu) how many of these objects there are placed but it can also give an overview of all tabs combined. In- formation of each individual wind turbine or solar panel can also be examined.

Seventh button: settings

Figure 6.10:Quit window.

The seventh button is represented by a cogwheel icon, where the set- tings of the program can be found, see figure6.8. Resolutions, per- formance quality, window modus, anti aliasing, language and toggling the visibility of the frames per second counter, memory counter and device information on and off can be changed in this window.

The settings window also lets users adapt the interface. The necessecity to first select a tile before other functions work, can be toggled on and off. The guidance the GUI offers by making buttons that cannot per- form a function yet inactive, can also be toggled on and off. The pos- sibility to turn these function off are added for the benefit of the ex- perienced user, who already understands how the program works and knows what their limitiations within the program are.

Eight button: help

Figure 6.9:Help window.

The eight button depicts a question mark and opens the help window, see figure6.9. The help window displays the keyboard layout. Note that this is an example and that not all functions are represented.

Ninth button: quitting

The ninth button is denoted by an on/off icon and leads to a window where a user can make a choice; quit the program or continue work- ing, see figure6.10. A confirmation is needed to prevent users from accidentally closing the program.