You can easily enter a new annotation at an offset from any place or an existing annotation using the 'Project New Annotation' tool.

To use the tool place the Bombsight or Drag Hand cursor near an existing annotation or at the point you want to project from, then right-mouse-click and choose 'Project New Annotation…' then 'From Annotation' or 'From Cursor'.

The 'Project New Annotation' tool will be shown:

The base location (click-point or base annotation) will be shown in the 'Project From' field.

Choose the projection (Great Circle, UTM or State Plane) you want the offset computed in. (Typically Lat/Lon or State Plane will be most appropriate.)

Enter the distance, distance units, bearing and North reference (True North, Magnetic North, UTM Grid North or State Plane North). As each value is entered the 'To' field will reflect the new (projected) annotation location.

When all the input fields are correct, press the 'Add WP' button to add a new annotation at the projected location, then edit the new annotation’s properties. All Topo will automatically add the base point, offset, and bearing information to the Notes field of the new annotation. (You can delete the information if you don't need it.)

Entering Metes and Bounds Survey Descriptions

All Topo Maps is not a substitute for a professional certified licensed surveyor. It is a violation of state law to survey property, for any purpose, without a valid state surveyor's license! You should always consult a licensed surveyor when interpreting or generating deed descriptions.

Often, parcels of land are described with 'metes and bounds' survey descriptions. These descriptions typically include a starting point (like the corner of a section or quarter section) and a series of bearings and distances:

From a true point of beginning, at the North East Corner of Section 2 Township 14 North Range 1 West Salt Lake Base Meridian; thence South 1 degrees 2 minutes 42.24 seconds East, a distance of 1,374.5 Feet to the South East property corner; thence North 89 degrees 33 minutes 21.47 seconds West, a distance of 2,609.5 Feet to the South West property corner; thence North 0 degrees 11 minutes 25.82 seconds West, a distance of 1,337.7 Feet to the North West property corner; thence to the true point of beginning. Containing 81.1 Acres, more or less.

First find the 'Point of Beginning' on the map. Since we know the true point of beginning as a township/range coordinate, it is easiest to use the PLS tab of the ‘Search by Location’ tool. Press the button; then select the PLS tab and enter the base coordinate's location:

Press the button to set a base coordinate at the true point of beginning:

Change the Description to ‘POB’, set the line style to ‘Connect Coordinates w/ Line Begin’ and press OK to save the base coordinate.

Right-click near the 'POB' base annotation and select 'Project New Annotation: From Annotation':

The ‘Project New Annotation’ menu is shown:

Call #1: S1.024222E 1374.5 Feet Desc ‘NE’ corner:
“thence South 1 degrees 2 minutes 42.24 seconds East, a distance of 1,374.5 Feet to the South East property corner”

Enter Call #1, then press the ‘Add WP’ button to add the second point:

Set the 2nd point’s annotation description to ‘SE’ and press OK.

Repeat this process for the remaining two deed description calls:

Call #2: N89.332147W 2,609.5 Feet Desc ‘SW’ corner
“thence North 89 degrees 33 minutes 21.47 seconds West, a distance of 2,609.5 Feet to the South West property corner”

Finally enter the third and final call:

Call #3: N0.112582W 1,337.7 Feet Desc ‘NW’ corner
“thence North 0 degrees 11 minutes 25.82 seconds West, a distance of 1,337.7 Feet to the North West property corner”

At the finally corner (NW) set the line style to “Close” and the description to ‘NW’:

Finally press ‘OK’ to display the completed property boundary:

It is worth noting that you can directly enter this survey in the the ‘Annotation Source Editor’ (shortcut key F8):

Syntax descriptions for .HWP files are described in Appendix E of this manual.

If you work with metes and bounds survey descriptions often, we highly recommend purchasing and learning to use 'Deed Plotter+' from Greenbrier Graphics. 'Deed Plotter+' automates the conversion of a text description to a series of vectors and writes an exchange file that All Topo uses to plot on the associated topographic map. Deed Plotter+ makes short work of curves and descriptions with errors.

More information about DeedPlotter+ is available from:

    http://www.igage.com/dp+.htm

    http://www.johnsonmapping.com/

Detailed information about using DeedPlotter+ with All Topo Maps can be found in chapter 8 of the User's Manual:

    [ download V7 User's Manual pdf ]