Right-click Menu
The right click menu is always available as long as the cursor is somewhere in the chart area. The content of this menu is context sensitive. If you are dealing with routes, clicking on a leg or waypoint for example, your menu contains more entries than just clicking at a random position. Below, the basic entries are explained. Single chart mode is assumed. In quilting mode the top three entries are not displayed. The context specific entries are dealt with as the concerned feature is explained.
The "Create Route" tool works in a similar way, but you can't use the two tools at the same time.
Is not a basic entry, but is displayed in this case as an ais port is entered. More here.
The difference compared to the raster chart is that the three first entries has been replaced with...
Clicking the "Light" in the left part of the dialog tells all the details about the light on the buoy. Much more about his on the vector chart page.
The basic raster chart right-click menu
Max Detail Here
Displays the largest scale, most detailed chart, available in the position of the cursor.Scale In
Displays the next larger scale chart.Scale Out
Displays the next smaller scale chart.Drop Mark Here
Drops a mark in the position of the cursor. Further explained on this page: opencpn.org/routes_and_marksMove Boat Here
Moves own boats position to the position pointed at. This item is only visble in the right click-menu if the GPS isn't connected.Go to Here
Creates an instant active route from own boat to the position clicked. More about routes here.Jump to Position...
Activates a small dialog where latitude and longitude can be entered. Pressing "OK" centers the display on this position, keeping the same scale. The values entered is kept during a session, but goes when restarting OpenCPN.Set North Up Mode
Is shown because we are in Course Up Mode. Clicking this entry changes the display to "North Up" mode. It is a toggle switch between "North Up" and "Course Up". Read more about display orientation.Measure
Activates a "pencil". Move the pencil with the cursor. Put the tip of the pencil on a position that you want to measure from. Left-click, a dot with a circle around is created. Move the pencil with the mouse and see the distance and bearing from the point to the pencil-tip in "real time". Left-clicking again creates a temporary waypoint. When moving the "pencil" again, distance and bearing, once again are shown from the temporary waypoint. The total distance from the original measure point, via the temporary wapoint(s) are also shown as "Route Distance". Right click and mark "Measure Off" to stop measuring.The "Create Route" tool works in a similar way, but you can't use the two tools at the same time.
AIS target list
Is not a basic entry, but is displayed in this case as an ais port is entered. More here.The basic vector chart right-click menu
The difference compared to the raster chart is that the three first entries has been replaced with...
Object Query
Every point on a vector-chart has certain attributes, or information. This can vary from just the depth in mid ocean to much more. Here is an example from a lateral buoy in the entrance channel to a medium sized port.Clicking the "Light" in the left part of the dialog tells all the details about the light on the buoy. Much more about his on the vector chart page.