diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/metamaps/Metamaps.JIT.js b/app/assets/javascripts/metamaps/Metamaps.JIT.js
index 8c6cb11e..41ff23ba 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/metamaps/Metamaps.JIT.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/metamaps/Metamaps.JIT.js
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@ Metamaps.JIT = {
         var self = Metamaps.JIT;
 
         self.prepareVizData();
+        $(".zoomIn").click(self.zoomIn);
+        $(".zoomOut").click(self.zoomOut);
+        $(".centerMap").click(self.centerMap);
+        $(".zoomExtents").click(self.zoomExtents);
     },
     /**
      * convert our topic JSON into something JIT can use
@@ -307,7 +311,7 @@ Metamaps.JIT = {
                     if (Metamaps.Mouse.boxStartCoordinates) {
                         Metamaps.Visualize.mGraph.busy = false;
                         Metamaps.Mouse.boxEndCoordinates = eventInfo.getPos();
-                        Metamaps.JIT.selectNodesWithBox(e);
+                        Metamaps.JIT.selectWithBox(e);
                         return;
                     }
 
@@ -331,7 +335,7 @@ Metamaps.JIT = {
                     if (Metamaps.Mouse.boxStartCoordinates) {
                         Metamaps.Visualize.mGraph.busy = false;
                         Metamaps.Mouse.boxEndCoordinates = eventInfo.getPos();
-                        Metamaps.JIT.selectNodesWithBox(e);
+                        Metamaps.JIT.selectWithBox(e);
                         return;
                     }
 
@@ -897,7 +901,7 @@ Metamaps.JIT = {
         }
         return 'nothing'; //case 4?
     }, //  handleSelectionBeforeDragging
-    selectNodesWithBox: function (e) {
+    selectWithBox: function (e) {
 
         var sX = Metamaps.Mouse.boxStartCoordinates.x,
             sY = Metamaps.Mouse.boxStartCoordinates.y,
@@ -1025,7 +1029,7 @@ Metamaps.JIT = {
         Metamaps.Mouse.boxStartCoordinates = false;
         Metamaps.Mouse.boxEndCoordinates = false;
         Metamaps.Visualize.mGraph.plot();
-    }, // selectNodesWithBox
+    }, // selectWithBox
     drawSelectBox: function (eventInfo, e) {
         var ctx = Metamaps.Visualize.mGraph.canvas.getCtx();
 
@@ -1425,5 +1429,91 @@ Metamaps.JIT = {
                 y: posChild.y
             }, 13, inv, canvas, 0.3);
         }
-    } //renderEdgeArrows
+    }, //renderEdgeArrows
+    zoomIn: function () {
+        Metamaps.Visualize.mGraph.canvas.scale(1.25,1.25);
+    },
+    zoomOut: function () {
+        Metamaps.Visualize.mGraph.canvas.scale(0.8,0.8);
+    },
+    centerMap: function () {
+        var canvas = Metamaps.Visualize.mGraph.canvas;
+        var offsetScale = canvas.scaleOffsetX;
+                
+        canvas.scale(1/offsetScale,1/offsetScale);
+
+        var offsetX = canvas.translateOffsetX;
+        var offsetY = canvas.translateOffsetY;
+
+        canvas.translate(-1*offsetX,-1*offsetY);
+    },
+    zoomExtents: function () {
+        Metamaps.JIT.centerMap();
+        var height = $(document).height(),
+            width = $(document).width(),
+            maxX, minX, maxY, minY, counter = 0;
+
+        var nodes = Metamaps.Visualize.mGraph.graph;
+
+        
+        if(Object.keys(nodes).length >1){
+
+
+            nodes.eachNode(function (n) {
+                var x = n.pos.x,
+                    y = n.pos.y;
+
+                if (counter == 0){
+                    maxX = x;
+                    minX = x; 
+                    maxY = y;
+                    minY = y; 
+                }
+
+                maxX = Math.max(x,maxX);
+                maxY = Math.max(y,maxY);
+                minX = Math.min(x,minX);
+                minY = Math.min(y,minY);
+
+                counter++;
+            });
+
+            var spanX = maxX - minX;
+            var spanY = maxY - minY;
+            var ratioX = spanX / width;
+            var ratioY = spanY / height;
+
+            var newRatio = Math.max(ratioX,ratioY);
+
+            var canvas = Metamaps.Visualize.mGraph.canvas;
+
+            canvas.scale(1/newRatio*0.9,1/newRatio*0.9);
+
+            counter = 0;
+
+            nodes.eachNode(function (n) {
+                var x = n.pos.x,
+                    y = n.pos.y;
+
+                if (counter == 0){
+                    maxX = x;
+                    minX = x; 
+                    maxY = y;
+                    minY = y; 
+                }
+
+                maxX = Math.max(x,maxX);
+                maxY = Math.max(y,maxY);
+                minX = Math.min(x,minX);
+                minY = Math.min(y,minY);
+
+                counter++;
+            });
+
+            var cogX = (maxX + minX)/2;
+            var cogY = (maxY + minY)/2;
+
+            canvas.translate(-1* cogX, -1* cogY);
+        }
+    }
 };
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/metamaps/Metamaps.js b/app/assets/javascripts/metamaps/Metamaps.js
index 61dd77f5..820c6395 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/metamaps/Metamaps.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/metamaps/Metamaps.js
@@ -2060,7 +2060,7 @@ Metamaps.Filter = {
         var addedSynapses = [];
         
         Metamaps.Synapses.each(function(synapse) {
-            if (newSynapsesList.indexOf(synapse.get('desc')) === -1) {
+            if (synapse.get('desc') && newSynapsesList.indexOf(synapse.get('desc')) === -1) {
                 newSynapsesList.push(synapse.get('desc').toString());
             }
         });
diff --git a/app/assets/stylesheets/application.css b/app/assets/stylesheets/application.css
index 9d17ce88..d7b824bb 100644
--- a/app/assets/stylesheets/application.css
+++ b/app/assets/stylesheets/application.css
@@ -791,6 +791,47 @@ li.accountInvite span {
     width: 35px;
     height: 35px;
 }
+
+.zoomIn {
+    position: absolute;
+    bottom: 100px;
+    right: 20px;
+    z-index: 200;
+    width: 35px;
+    height: 35px;
+    background: blue;
+}
+
+.zoomOut {
+    position: absolute;
+    bottom: 60px;
+    right: 20px;
+    z-index: 200;
+    width: 35px;
+    height: 35px;
+    background: blue;
+}
+
+.centerMap {
+    position: absolute;
+    bottom: 140px;
+    right: 20px;
+    z-index: 200;
+    width: 35px;
+    height: 35px;
+    background: blue;
+}
+
+.zoomExtents {
+    position: absolute;
+    bottom: 180px;
+    right: 20px;
+    z-index: 200;
+    width: 35px;
+    height: 35px;
+    background: blue;
+}
+
 .sidebarFilter.loggedout {
     right: 35px;
 }
diff --git a/app/views/maps/show.html.erb b/app/views/maps/show.html.erb
index 19924710..77cb06f9 100644
--- a/app/views/maps/show.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/maps/show.html.erb
@@ -42,6 +42,11 @@
     </div>
 </div>
 
+<div class="zoomIn">+</div>
+<div class="zoomOut">-</div>
+<div class="centerMap">C</div>
+<div class="zoomExtents">E</div>
+
 <div class="index">
     <div class="openCheatsheet openLightbox" data-open="cheatsheet"></div>
     <span class="mapInfo"></span>
diff --git a/db/schema.rb b/db/schema.rb
index ec86b421..c3fce2b2 100644
--- a/db/schema.rb
+++ b/db/schema.rb
@@ -1,129 +1,129 @@
-# encoding: UTF-8
-# This file is auto-generated from the current state of the database. Instead
-# of editing this file, please use the migrations feature of Active Record to
-# incrementally modify your database, and then regenerate this schema definition.
-#
-# Note that this schema.rb definition is the authoritative source for your
-# database schema. If you need to create the application database on another
-# system, you should be using db:schema:load, not running all the migrations
-# from scratch. The latter is a flawed and unsustainable approach (the more migrations
-# you'll amass, the slower it'll run and the greater likelihood for issues).
-#
-# It's strongly recommended to check this file into your version control system.
-
-ActiveRecord::Schema.define(:version => 20140707161810) do
-
-  create_table "in_metacode_sets", :force => true do |t|
-    t.integer  "metacode_id"
-    t.integer  "metacode_set_id"
-    t.datetime "created_at",      :null => false
-    t.datetime "updated_at",      :null => false
-  end
-
-  add_index "in_metacode_sets", ["metacode_id"], :name => "index_in_metacode_sets_on_metacode_id"
-  add_index "in_metacode_sets", ["metacode_set_id"], :name => "index_in_metacode_sets_on_metacode_set_id"
-
-  create_table "mappings", :force => true do |t|
-    t.text     "category"
-    t.integer  "xloc"
-    t.integer  "yloc"
-    t.integer  "topic_id"
-    t.integer  "synapse_id"
-    t.integer  "map_id"
-    t.integer  "user_id"
-    t.datetime "created_at", :null => false
-    t.datetime "updated_at", :null => false
-  end
-
-  create_table "maps", :force => true do |t|
-    t.text     "name"
-    t.boolean  "arranged"
-    t.text     "desc"
-    t.text     "permission"
-    t.integer  "user_id"
-    t.datetime "created_at", :null => false
-    t.datetime "updated_at", :null => false
-    t.boolean  "featured"
-  end
-
-  create_table "metacode_sets", :force => true do |t|
-    t.string   "name"
-    t.text     "desc"
-    t.integer  "user_id"
-    t.boolean  "mapperContributed"
-    t.datetime "created_at",        :null => false
-    t.datetime "updated_at",        :null => false
-  end
-
-  add_index "metacode_sets", ["user_id"], :name => "index_metacode_sets_on_user_id"
-
-  create_table "metacodes", :force => true do |t|
-    t.text     "name"
-    t.string   "icon"
-    t.datetime "created_at", :null => false
-    t.datetime "updated_at", :null => false
-  end
-
-  create_table "synapses", :force => true do |t|
-    t.text     "desc"
-    t.text     "category"
-    t.text     "weight"
-    t.text     "permission"
-    t.integer  "node1_id"
-    t.integer  "node2_id"
-    t.integer  "user_id"
-    t.datetime "created_at", :null => false
-    t.datetime "updated_at", :null => false
-  end
-
-  create_table "topics", :force => true do |t|
-    t.text     "name"
-    t.text     "desc"
-    t.text     "link"
-    t.text     "permission"
-    t.integer  "user_id"
-    t.integer  "metacode_id"
-    t.datetime "created_at",         :null => false
-    t.datetime "updated_at",         :null => false
-    t.string   "image_file_name"
-    t.string   "image_content_type"
-    t.integer  "image_file_size"
-    t.datetime "image_updated_at"
-    t.string   "audio_file_name"
-    t.string   "audio_content_type"
-    t.integer  "audio_file_size"
-    t.datetime "audio_updated_at"
-  end
-
-  create_table "users", :force => true do |t|
-    t.string   "name"
-    t.string   "email"
-    t.text     "settings"
-    t.string   "code",                   :limit => 8
-    t.string   "joinedwithcode",         :limit => 8
-    t.string   "crypted_password"
-    t.string   "password_salt"
-    t.string   "persistence_token"
-    t.string   "perishable_token"
-    t.datetime "created_at",                                            :null => false
-    t.datetime "updated_at",                                            :null => false
-    t.string   "encrypted_password",     :limit => 128, :default => ""
-    t.string   "remember_token"
-    t.datetime "remember_created_at"
-    t.string   "reset_password_token"
-    t.datetime "last_sign_in_at"
-    t.string   "last_sign_in_ip"
-    t.integer  "sign_in_count",                         :default => 0
-    t.datetime "current_sign_in_at"
-    t.string   "current_sign_in_ip"
-    t.datetime "reset_password_sent_at"
-    t.boolean  "admin"
-    t.string   "image_file_name"
-    t.string   "image_content_type"
-    t.integer  "image_file_size"
-    t.datetime "image_updated_at"
-  end
-
-  add_index "users", ["reset_password_token"], :name => "index_users_on_reset_password_token", :unique => true
-
-end
+# encoding: UTF-8
+# This file is auto-generated from the current state of the database. Instead
+# of editing this file, please use the migrations feature of Active Record to
+# incrementally modify your database, and then regenerate this schema definition.
+#
+# Note that this schema.rb definition is the authoritative source for your
+# database schema. If you need to create the application database on another
+# system, you should be using db:schema:load, not running all the migrations
+# from scratch. The latter is a flawed and unsustainable approach (the more migrations
+# you'll amass, the slower it'll run and the greater likelihood for issues).
+#
+# It's strongly recommended to check this file into your version control system.
+
+ActiveRecord::Schema.define(:version => 20140707161810) do
+
+  create_table "in_metacode_sets", :force => true do |t|
+    t.integer  "metacode_id"
+    t.integer  "metacode_set_id"
+    t.datetime "created_at",      :null => false
+    t.datetime "updated_at",      :null => false
+  end
+
+  add_index "in_metacode_sets", ["metacode_id"], :name => "index_in_metacode_sets_on_metacode_id"
+  add_index "in_metacode_sets", ["metacode_set_id"], :name => "index_in_metacode_sets_on_metacode_set_id"
+
+  create_table "mappings", :force => true do |t|
+    t.text     "category"
+    t.integer  "xloc"
+    t.integer  "yloc"
+    t.integer  "topic_id"
+    t.integer  "synapse_id"
+    t.integer  "map_id"
+    t.integer  "user_id"
+    t.datetime "created_at", :null => false
+    t.datetime "updated_at", :null => false
+  end
+
+  create_table "maps", :force => true do |t|
+    t.text     "name"
+    t.boolean  "arranged"
+    t.text     "desc"
+    t.text     "permission"
+    t.integer  "user_id"
+    t.datetime "created_at", :null => false
+    t.datetime "updated_at", :null => false
+    t.boolean  "featured"
+  end
+
+  create_table "metacode_sets", :force => true do |t|
+    t.string   "name"
+    t.text     "desc"
+    t.integer  "user_id"
+    t.boolean  "mapperContributed"
+    t.datetime "created_at",        :null => false
+    t.datetime "updated_at",        :null => false
+  end
+
+  add_index "metacode_sets", ["user_id"], :name => "index_metacode_sets_on_user_id"
+
+  create_table "metacodes", :force => true do |t|
+    t.text     "name"
+    t.string   "icon"
+    t.datetime "created_at", :null => false
+    t.datetime "updated_at", :null => false
+  end
+
+  create_table "synapses", :force => true do |t|
+    t.text     "desc"
+    t.text     "category"
+    t.text     "weight"
+    t.text     "permission"
+    t.integer  "node1_id"
+    t.integer  "node2_id"
+    t.integer  "user_id"
+    t.datetime "created_at", :null => false
+    t.datetime "updated_at", :null => false
+  end
+
+  create_table "topics", :force => true do |t|
+    t.text     "name"
+    t.text     "desc"
+    t.text     "link"
+    t.text     "permission"
+    t.integer  "user_id"
+    t.integer  "metacode_id"
+    t.datetime "created_at",         :null => false
+    t.datetime "updated_at",         :null => false
+    t.string   "image_file_name"
+    t.string   "image_content_type"
+    t.integer  "image_file_size"
+    t.datetime "image_updated_at"
+    t.string   "audio_file_name"
+    t.string   "audio_content_type"
+    t.integer  "audio_file_size"
+    t.datetime "audio_updated_at"
+  end
+
+  create_table "users", :force => true do |t|
+    t.string   "name"
+    t.string   "email"
+    t.text     "settings"
+    t.string   "code",                   :limit => 8
+    t.string   "joinedwithcode",         :limit => 8
+    t.string   "crypted_password"
+    t.string   "password_salt"
+    t.string   "persistence_token"
+    t.string   "perishable_token"
+    t.datetime "created_at",                                            :null => false
+    t.datetime "updated_at",                                            :null => false
+    t.string   "encrypted_password",     :limit => 128, :default => ""
+    t.string   "remember_token"
+    t.datetime "remember_created_at"
+    t.string   "reset_password_token"
+    t.datetime "last_sign_in_at"
+    t.string   "last_sign_in_ip"
+    t.integer  "sign_in_count",                         :default => 0
+    t.datetime "current_sign_in_at"
+    t.string   "current_sign_in_ip"
+    t.datetime "reset_password_sent_at"
+    t.boolean  "admin"
+    t.string   "image_file_name"
+    t.string   "image_content_type"
+    t.integer  "image_file_size"
+    t.datetime "image_updated_at"
+  end
+
+  add_index "users", ["reset_password_token"], :name => "index_users_on_reset_password_token", :unique => true
+
+end