Solve Web Soil Survey problems by refreshing the browser
If you receive an error message, retry the operation, or press the browser’s Refresh or Reload button. Many times this will correct the problem.
If not, contact the Hotline through the Contact Us link in the button bar.
Preferences
Web Soil Survey has a number of preference settings that can have a big effect on its usability. Open the Preferences panel by clicking the Preferences link on the main application navigation bar, and examine the options. The Preferences are all described in detail in the Preferences panel online help.
Start over after beginning to define a rectangle or polygon AOI
While drawing a rectangle AOI on the map, if you realize you started in the wrong place, you can start over by pressing the Escape key (Esc) without lifting the mouse button.
While drawing a polygon AOI on the map, if you draw a point in the wrong place, you can start over by pressing the Escape key (Esc) at any time before completing the polygon.
Finding the date of aerial photographs
Click the Identify tool on the map tool bar.
Open the Legend tab.
Set the Aerial Photography layer in the Background layer group as the active layer, by clicking the layer name.
Click the location on the map for which you want the date.
In the Identify Results panel below the map, you will see the date that the aerial image was photographed. The aerial photography date(s) are also included on the Legend page of printable maps.
Editing layer properties
You can turn road labels on and off, change the transparency level on ratings maps, and turn the AOI hashmarks on and off. Just right-click (on the Macintosh, option-click) the layer name in the Legend tab and click Edit Layer Properties.
Edit layer transparency step 1.
Edit layer transparency step 2.
Edit layer transparency step 3.
Finding the Ecological Site Assessment tab
Ecological site assessments are available only for the Rangeland and Forestland use categories. In the Soil Data Explorer, select Rangeland or Forestland from the “View Soil Information By Use” drop-down list, and the Ecological Site Assessment tab will be displayed.
Viewing maps against a topographic map background
In addition to viewing your maps against aerial photography, now you can view your maps against a topographic backdrop (scanned USGS topo maps). On the Legend tab, in the Background layer group, select Topographic Map.
Using folding panels
Much of the data displayed by Web Soil Survey is displayed in folding panels. A folding panel contains a “Close” button in its header. You can fold these panels in order to get them out of your way. To close a panel, click its Close button, or anywhere in its header. To open it, click the button or the header again.
Accessing archived soil surveys
Archived soil survey publications are now available from a link on the main application navigation bar instead of from a tab in the Soil Data Explorer.
Closing modal dialogs
Modal dialogs (Error, Warning, and Information dialogs) can be closed by pressing the Return (Enter) key.
Making already viewed content go away
When you run a Rating on the Suitabilities and Limitations for Use tab or the Soil Properties and Qualities tab, or a Soil Report on the Soil Reports tab, or you examine Ecological Site data on the Ecological Site Assessment tab, then change to a different tab, then return to the first tab, the Rating or Report will be re-run when you return.
If you don’t want to see it again, close the form, by clicking the form’s header, before changing tabs.
