Want to create a map but don't have access to a GIS programme? Don't worry, we've got you covered with the Create a map function. It allows you to create maps with points, lines, areas or grids.
Create a map with points, lines or areas/shapes (polygons)
- In the survey editor, go to Map and layout > Map overlay > New > Create a map. You can also access the map creator mode in Materials > New > Create a map.
- Choose the type of feature (points, lines or polygons) that you want to create.
- Zoom the map to the location.
- Place points by clicking their places on the map. To draw lines and polygons, click and drag your cursor to draw; double click to finish. To correct, select the Edit tab and then click the feature on the map. You can drag it to a different place or adjust any of its lines. You can remove features by clicking it and then the Delete button.
- When you are ready, go to the Label and ID tab. Click any of the features on the map and write its title or name under Label. Each feature is automatically given an ID according to the order in which they were added to the file.
- Finally, click Save and give the map layer a name and a short description.
- In the editing window that opens, you can for example switch on showing the feature names, and adjust the size and color of each feature. For more instructions, see this article. Remember to click Save when you're done. If you need to edit the placement of the features, click the Edit button.
Create a grid map
In the survey editor, go to Map and layout > Map overlay > New > Create a map. You can also access the map creator mode in Materials > New > Create a map.
- Select Grid as the drawing type.
- Select the area for the grid from the map by drawing a rectangular shape over it (click and drag with your cursor to do this). Make sure that the shape covers the entire area you want the grid to cover, even if you don't want the grid to be this exact shape.
- Choose the shape the cells in the grid should be.
- Define the size of the cells (in kilometres or miles).
- Click Draw map to create the grid. If you want to delete some of the cells, click the Delete button and then select the cells you want to remove from the map.
- Finally, save the map (click Save and give it a name).
- A new editing view opens. There you can adjust the color, width and opacity of the grid cells. Remember to click Save when you're done.
Each cell is automatically given an ID, but if you want to also label/name them, click Label and ID. Then click a cell on the map to write its label.
Pay attention to how large a grid you create so that it does not become too slow to load.