System and method for converting digital map information using displayable map information as an intermediary

A system for converting digital map information using displayable map information as an intermediary, comprising:

• a set of map data that corresponds to a digital map, and having a first map format associated therewith;
• a first map legend that is associated with the first map format and that links displayable map item types in the first map format to a universal display format;
• a second map legend that is associated with a second map format and that links displayable map item types in the second map format to a universal display format;
• a legend index that links map item types defined by the first map legend with map item types defined by the second map legend;
• a display device including a graphical window that can be optionally used to display the digital map in a universal display format;
• and
• a user interface that allows an operator to retrieve and display a digital map having the first map format into the system, and specify the second map format as an output format for some or all of the map data, wherein the system interprets the digital map displayed on the display device in the universal display format, uses the first map legend to select all or a portion of the map as currently displayed on the display device, and uses the second map legend to output that portion of the map in the second map format.