Data structure

There are four types of objects: areas, movies, labels and lines.

Areas are movie clips which are already in map file. In world map areas would be the same as countries, if we take some country map, areas would be regions. Areas can contain all other objects, except other areas.

Movies are swf, jpg, gif or png files which are loaded on top of the map. Movies can contain other movies, lines or labels.

Labels are texts which are positioned on top of the map. Labels can contain other labels, movies or lines.

Lines are drawn on top of the map. Lines can not contain other objects.

All the objects in the following example below are on top level - they all are visible right after the map is initialized.

<map map_file="maps/world.swf">
  <areas>
    <area mc_name="UK" color="#FF0000"></area>
    <area mc_name="US" color="#00FF00"></area>
  </areas>
  <movies>
    <movie file="icons/pin.swf" x="100" y="100"></movie>
    <movie file="icons/car.swf" x="40%" y="40%"></movie>
  </movies>
  <labels>
    <label x="200" y="200">
      <text><![CDATA[This is sample text]]></text>
    </label>
  </labels>
  <lines>
    <line x="100,300" y="100,100"></line>
  </lines>
</map>

In this example objects reside in two levels. There is one area in top level, and it contains a movie clip. This means that this movie clip will be visible only after your site visitors will click on "US" area.

<map map_file="maps/world.swf">
  <areas>
    <area mc_name="US" color="#00FF00" zoom="385.7143%" zoom_x="-35.96%" zoom_y="-137.07%">
      <movies>
        <movie file="icons/pin.swf" long="-78.3868" lat="7.4726"></movie>
      </movies>
    </area>
  </areas>
</map>

There can be any number of levels in your structure.