> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://codifi-fdm.gitbook.io/codifi-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://codifi-fdm.gitbook.io/codifi-docs/web-app/map-setup-and-offline-areas/project-map-extent.md).

# Project Map Extent

The **Project Map Extent** is the polygon that loosely bounds your Project area — where field work will happen. Drawing one is a small task that pays back in several places.

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## Why It Matters

Drawing a Project Map Extent early matters more than it seems. The extent drives:

* **The default zoom and center** when a crew opens the Project on mobile. Without one, your team lands on a world view every morning and has to scroll to find the Project.
* **What's downloadable for offline use.** [Offline Areas](/codifi-docs/web-app/map-setup-and-offline-areas/offline-areas.md) draw their tile coverage from the Project's general region — set the extent first, then carve out offline areas inside it.
* **The default map extent for reports, exports, and overview screenshots.** Reports use the Project extent to frame map images automatically.
* **Spatial filters.** You can filter Records by whether they fall inside the Project extent — useful for QC reviews and exports.

Skip this step and the rest of map setup feels off. Spend two minutes here and the whole Project flows.

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## How to Draw It

1. Open your Project, then from the left navigation menu choose **Map Setup** → **Project Map Extent**.
2. Pan and zoom the map to your Project's general area.
3. Use the **Draw** tool to outline the area — typically a polygon that loosely encloses where field work will happen.
4. **Save**.

The extent doesn't have to be exact. It's a framing rectangle, not a survey boundary. If your Project has an existing GIS boundary (a Survey Block, a Site Polygon, an APE), you can paste in coordinates or import a GeoJSON instead of free-drawing.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Keep it generous.** Make the extent larger than the strict survey area — a 10–25% buffer around the actual work area is usually right. If your extent's edges line up with your survey edges, offline tiles at the boundary may be missing or low-resolution. A buffer prevents that.
{% endhint %}

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## Updating the Extent Later

If your Project area expands or shifts mid-Project, just re-open the **Project Map Extent** screen, edit the polygon, and save. Existing Records are unaffected. New offline areas will use the updated extent; previously downloaded offline areas keep their original tile coverage until you re-create them.

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## Project Extent vs. Project Area Overlay

There are two related but distinct ways to draw a Project area in Codifi:

| Use the **Project Map Extent** when…                                                            | Use a **Map Overlay** when…                                                                                   |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| You want to set the default map view, frame offline area downloads, and enable spatial filters. | You want field crews to see the Project boundary as a visible polygon on the map (with a configurable style). |
| You want one polygon, Project-wide, that drives default behavior.                               | You have multiple boundaries — APE, ROW, Survey Blocks, parcels, etc. — that all need to be visible.          |

The two are not mutually exclusive. Most Projects set a Project Map Extent for behavior, then add an overlay (or several) for visual reference. See [Map Overlays](/codifi-docs/web-app/map-setup-and-offline-areas/map-overlays.md).

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## See Also

* [Offline Areas](/codifi-docs/web-app/map-setup-and-offline-areas/offline-areas.md) — pre-download map tiles for the field
* [Map Overlays](/codifi-docs/web-app/map-setup-and-offline-areas/map-overlays.md) — add GIS layers to the Project map