Collar viewer user guide
Goals
The pass viewer is used to display the position of a pass on a map. It can also be used to display documents relating to the pass, such as photos or documents used to validate the pass with the Club des Cent Cols (signs, map extracts, atlas extracts or encyclopaedias).
Access
The main way of accessing the pass viewer is via the link that accompanies the passes in the computer version of a Club des Cent Cols catalogue. All recent catalogues contain a "documents" column with these links. Click on a link in this column to open the pass viewer. From the page of one pass, it is possible to jump to the page of another by entering a code in the box provided for this purpose, a code based on the following model FR-38-2100b, AT-2-1376 or SI-0610.
Cards available
In this viewer, the different card backgrounds are organised by families and decks of cards. You choose a map set by clicking on one of the buttons above the map displayed. The OpenStreetMap free maps and derivatives are the first set, the Google maps another. Both sets are available for all passes. There is also a Google StreetView panoramic viewer for passes located less than 50 m from a road photographed in this system.
- OpenStreetMap mapping
Three layers are available:- a map specifically for cyclists, with contour lines (OpenCycleMap, maximum zoom 13),
- a general road map (OpenStreetMap, maximum zoom 13),
- a topographical map with contour lines (OpenTopoMap, maximum zoom 10).
- Google Maps
Four layers are available:- a road map with little detail (maximum zoom 13),
- aerial photos without captions or other information (maximum zoom 13),
- aerial photos with captions and road network (maximum zoom 13),
- a map showing the relief (maximum zoom 10).
- Google StreetView
StreetView is not a map game as such, but a panoramic viewer. It is only available for locations that have been photographed by this system. If this is the case, the corresponding button will be displayed. - National or regional maps
Sets of national or regional maps are available, depending on the country and region. In most cases (but not always), such a deck includes- a topographical map (maximum zoom approx. 15),
- aerial photos (maximum zoom approx. 15).
Choice of map layers
Once you have chosen a pack of cards using the buttons above, you can choose the card itself using the [+] button in the top right-hand corner:
Clicking on this button opens a list of the cards available in the current game, for example:
This list is closed by clicking on the square [-] in the top right-hand corner.
Warnings
Map accuracy
Contour lines on maps, particularly free maps such as OpenCycleMap or OpenTopoMap, are based on elevation models that are not always very accurate. The position of a pass may therefore deviate from that indicated by contour lines. National maps are generally more accurate.
Loading limits
Some of the maps offered by this viewer are only available free of charge with a quantitative limitation.
- Switzerland: limitation on annual volume. When the annual quota is reached, no more SwissTopo maps will be available on the centcols.org website, and this will therefore affect all users. We therefore ask users not to use the viewer for anything other than locating specific passes. For any other consultation of the Swiss maps, we recommend that you go directly to the website of SwissTopo.
- France: there is a limitation of the same type, but less restrictive in quantitative terms. The same recommendations therefore apply, but less strictly. Of course, you can also go directly to the website Geoportal from IGN.
- Italy: the number of IGM tiles downloaded (256 x 256 pixel squares) is limited to 50 per 10 minutes. This limit does not apply to the server, but to the client. If you consult maps representing more than this limit, you risk being blocked on your computer (by your IP number). You will then not be able to download any IGM maps for several months!
- Outdoor Active: these cards (available for Germany and Austria) have similar limitations to those of the Italian IGM, with the notable difference that the block normally disappears within a day.
Navigation
Maps can be moved with the mouse by clicking and dragging, or by tapping and dragging on a touch screen. It is also possible (but normally less practical) to click on the arrows in the navigation tool at the top left of the map (image here on the right). Just below this navigation tool with its 4 little arrows is the zoom tool, which lets you zoom in [+] or out [-]. A scale is displayed at the bottom left of the map. You can also zoom in using the mouse wheel, but this does not work on all systems. On a touch screen, you can use a two-finger pinch or zoom gesture.
Document display
If a pass has images (photos, supporting documents), a link is displayed below the pass name. Once you click on this link, you can see the images below the map. Depending on the size of your screen, you may need to scroll down the page to actually see them. If there are no images or supporting documents, this might be a good time to provide some. See the Photos of passes!