[HPforGrownups] 3D Cartography

[Neil Ward]

No: HPFGUIDX 8200

Jim Flanagan said:

<<< Does anyone know how the Marauders' map shows all seven+ floors (plus
dungeons, sub-dungeons, etc.) simultaneously?  It must be a pretty complex,
multi-layered map.

I'd concluded that it shows the immediate vicinity of the viewer rather than
the whole castle in 3D, but I guess it must be possible choose to view any
area.

In PoA the map is described as showing "every detail of the castle and
grounds," but that doesn't necessarily mean it shows them simultaneously; if
it were to show plan views of every level alongside each other in sufficient
detail for names to be read against the moving dots it would have to be
huge.  Harry calls it a "ragged old bit of parchment," which sounds like
something about the size of an open magazine, at most.  Could it be that it
tracks across the areas of interest when they are selected?  In other words,
if someone points at "Fourth Floor, East Wing" that level fades into view,
but they can easily switch to viewing another area by pointing at it, or
saying its name.

In addition to the 'self-select' view and 'local' view, I think there must
be an 'alarm' view, which alerts the viewer to a preset danger or to the
location of something they seek.  It would be a bit like setting a search
engine to search for "Filch" or "Dementor" in comparison to using an on
screen menu to select floors/areas to view.

Neil
_____________________________________

Flying-Ford-Anglia

"Ron, full of turkey and cake and with nothing
mysterious to bother him, fell asleep almost
as soon as he'd drawn the curtains of his
four-poster."

[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]