What is Google Maps Engine Lite
This is a spider spider web application to permit yous "Create powerful custom maps", as good as it has to a greater extent than features than the electrical menstruation "My Maps" custom-map editor inward Google Maps, which I've used until at i fourth dimension to put certain as shooting maps into i of my blogs.
You tin laissez passer on the sack open fire access it at: https://mapsengine.google.com/
Once yous pick out signed inward to a Google account, yous tin laissez passer on the sack open fire either view/edit an existing map that yous pick out build with Maps Engine Lite or which has been shared with yous inward MEL, or practise a new one.
How to practise a custom map using Maps Engine Lite
Click on the New Map button from the front end screen, or the New map link from the manage-files folder (top left side of the screen).Use the arrow beside Base Map to select the mode that yous wishing applied: this covers both what is shown, as good as the colouring fabric scheme. At the infinitesimal the options are:
- Map (ie ordinary - similar regular Google maps)
- Satellite
- Terrain
- Light Political
- Mono City
- Simple Atlas
- Light Landmass
- Dark Landmass
- Whitewater
Add places to the map by:
Drawing them - You add together together things to the map with the Placemark as good as problem or shape-drawing tools. These are similar to those for Google Custom Maps, though they're at i fourth dimension split into ii items.
or
Importing them - from either CSV/Excel files or yous existing Google Custom Maps - catch http://support.google.com/mapsengine/?p=lite_addplaces for details approximately what is possible.
You tin laissez passer on the sack open fire split the map into multiple layers, as good as yous pick out access to Google Maps regular search feature: search-results are placed on non-permanent "search" layer, as good as yous tin laissez passer on the sack open fire select a result, right click on it as good as Save it to the map yous are currently editing.
While editing the map, yous pick out these options
- Style - lets yous select whether to exhibit somebody markers, or a sequence of letters/colours
- Table - Edit the listing of placemarkers as good as lines - giving each a refer or description
- Labels - lets yous select whether to exhibit marking labels on the map or not - as good as whether to role the refer or description field.
Sharing maps yous pick out made
The map tin laissez passer on the sack open fire jibe upwards shared using the light-green Share force clitoris inward the live yesteryear right corner, via gmail, G+, Facebook, Twitter or anything else which lets yous role a link similar this:
Putting Custom Maps on your website or blog
In Maps Engine Lite, the "embed on my website" pick is available under the Save icon (currently at the live yesteryear left, with options New map, Open as good as Embed).However it solitary industrial flora if yous pick out origin clicked the light-green Share button, as good as cook the map-visibility to Public (ie not precisely "anyone with the link").
This gives yous a elementary iframe controversy similar this:
<iframe height="480" src="http://mapsengine.google.com/map/view?mid=zV9FBQ3J7L1o.kzRGlAso0tmU" width="640"></iframe>You tin laissez passer on the sack open fire easily alter the size via the superlative as good as width options, but at that topographic betoken is no zoom bird pick - as good as I assume that the centre of the displayed map is represented inward the coding (this doesn't e'er piece of employment so adept for Custom Maps - I unremarkably recommend that people role the customization option).
And i fourth dimension yous pick out the code, yous tin laissez passer on the sack open fire put it into your blog inward the same way yous would add together together whatever other 3rd political political party HTML. The code to a higher menage gives a map similar this:
Notice that the map itself tells yous that it was made with Maps Engine, as good as that it says it is for non-commercial use: commercial users tin laissez passer on the sack open fire buy access to a far to a greater extent than powerful version of the Maps Engine.
Advantages as good as disadvantages of Maps Engine Lite
So far I've solitary done a quick test, but initial impressions are:
Advantages:
Richer interface than custom maps - yous tin laissez passer on the sack open fire practise to a greater extent than things.Layers are a peculiarly skilful plus - it would jibe upwards neat if somebody layers could jibe upwards turned on/off from embedded version of the map.
Alternative colouring fabric organisation - testament acquire inwards easier to practise maps that are to a greater extent than suitable sure enough as shooting circumstances, eg with a faded background.
Sequential markers - I don't pick out to role my ain cook of custom markers whatever more.
Uses the same base of operations of operations information as regular Google Maps - so the Follow Your World service tin laissez passer on the sack open fire jibe upwards used to acquire yous updates approximately changes to the image-data.
Disadvantages:
No access to Google Streetview patch yous are editing the map.Currently if yous select sequential markers, the labels as good as colours inward the telephone exchange on the left are not e'er the same as the ones used inside the map.
No Snap-to-roads pick for lines
No custom map markers: if yous import a map from My Maps (aka Google Custom Maps), as good as so whatever custom markers that yous pick out are retained, as good as yous tin laissez passer on the sack open fire select to role them again, but at that topographic betoken is no way to add together together new custom markers.
What else pick out yous found?
Related Articles:
Creating a Google Custom Map
Adding a Google Custom Map to your blog
Adding 3rd political political party HTML to your blog