On Sun, 31 December 2000, "Neil Ward" wrote:

> 
> 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


While it is refered to as a ragged old bit of parchment it is also descirbed to be large when Fred and George first give it to Harry and i know that because i just re-read that chapter yesterday.  I think that it shows the entire grounds with the side by side views of each level but only puts the moving around in the halls people on the map and not ones in class or in their dorm areas with some exceptions of important people like Doumbledoor and Snape and Filch sense you'd want to know where they were at all times.
It would be interesting to ask J.K. about this sometime in a chat or letter b/c it might prompt her to be more specific about the map in up coming books.


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