Tutorial: Quick start guide #1 - Create a map in a Free account

Note: The estimated time required to complete this procedure is 30 minutes.

What's the purpose of the map?

A real estate agent is creating a custom map for a client's family seeking to buy a house. The map will enable the client to visualize the requested information about 2 houses for sale in a neighbourhood. The client wants to know the walking distance from each of the houses to the local grocery store.

(Step 1) - Login or register a free account

(Step 2) - Manually move and zoom the map

For this example, we'll move and zoom the map over New York City located in the Northeast region of the United States.

To move the map:

1. Select the Hand Tool in the top toolbar.
    
2. In the center of the Map View, you will see the crosshair reticle.
    
3. In the Map View, click-and-drag the map so the chosen location is at the reticle.
   When you later zoom, you will see the map zooms to/from the location at the reticle.

To zoom-in/out, there are 2 options:

Option 1

In the top-right corner of the Map View, click the:

• Zoom-in button, "+".
• Zoom-out button, "-".

Option 2

Use the scroll wheel on your mouse.

For Windows

• Scroll forwards to zoom-in.
• Scroll backwards to zoom-out.

 

For Mac

• Scroll backwards to zoom-in.
• Scroll forwards to zoom-out.

 

(Step 3) - Change the base map style to satellite

1. In the bottom-right corner of the Map View, you will see the base map selector displays thumbnail image(s).
    
2. (Optional) If the flyout doesn't display Google's thumbnail images, there are two options for this step.

   Option 1
   If "Google" isn't selected, click the currently selected name of the map provider or category. In the flyout list, click to select: "Google".

   OR

   Option 2
   If "Google" is selected, click thumbnail image.

    
3. In the flyout, click to select: "SATELLITE".

(Step 4) - Automatically move and zoom the map by performing a search for the location

1. Find the "Search…" field in the top toolbar.
    
2. Type in the name of the location. For this example, we'll search for: "Bayside New York".
    
3. In the pop-up that appears, click the name of the location: "Bayside, Queens, NY, USA".
   
   You will see the map automatically move and zoom to the location.

    
4. In the Map View, you will see the info bubble for the location. Click the "X" button in the top-right corner to close the info bubble.
    
5. Manually zoom in so you can clearly see the roofs of individual houses.

(Step 5) - Add markers to represent the 2 houses

1. Select the Marker Tool in the top toolbar.
   The marker selector window will appear.
    
2. In the left menu pane, click on the folder/sub-folders, then a category.

   For the first marker, we’ll choose: Tabs > Numeric Tabs > Blue.

    
3. In the right pane, you will see the list of marker styles. Click on a marker style to select it. For the first marker, we’ll select: "1".
   In the Map View, you will see the mouse cursor is now the selected marker style.
    
4. In the Map View, click on one of the houses to choose where you want to place the marker.  
   The marker editor window will appear.
    
5. Under the "Title" heading, type in the title of the marker. For this example, we'll call the marker: "House 1".
    
6. In the marker editor window, click the "SAVE" button.
   In the Map View, you will see the marker is located where you chose.
    
7. Repeat steps 1-6 for a second marker. 

    

   • Select the colour: "blue".
   • Select the marker style: "2".
   • Type-in the title: "House 2".
   • Add the marker to a location a few blocks away from the first marker.
     (TIP) If necessary, select the Hand Tool in the top toolbar. Then click-and-drag the map.

    

(Step 6) - Add a marker to represent the grocery store

1. Select the Marker Tool in the top toolbar.
   The marker selector window will appear.
    
2. In the bottom-left corner of the marker selector window, you will see a search box displaying the message: "Search All Markers..."
    
3. Type in a keyword for the marker styles you want to find. For this example, we'll type-in: "grocery".
   In the right pane, you will see the marker styles that include the keyword "grocery" in the name.
    
4. Hover over and click on a marker style to select it. For this example, we'll select the style: "grocery.png".
   In the Map View, you will see the mouse cursor is now the selected marker style.
    
5. In the Map View, click to choose an intersection located somewhere between the 2 house markers you created.
   The marker editor window will appear.
    
6. Under the "Title" heading, type in the title of the marker. For this example, we'll call the marker: "Grocery Store".
    
7. In the marker editor window, click the "SAVE" button.
   In the Map View, you will see the marker is located where you chose.

(Step 7) - Automatically produce a directions line 

The route will be from "House 1" to the "Grocery Store".

1. Select the Edit/Measure Tool in the top toolbar.

   Or you can press the "Q" button on your keyboard.

    
2. In the Map View, click the "House 1" marker.
   The info bubble will appear.
    
3. Click the Car Icon.
   The "DRAW DIRECTIONS" window will appear.
    
4. In the "Search…" field, type in the name of the marker you are travelling to. So for this example, type in: "Grocery Store". While you type, suggestions will appear. Click on the appropriate marker.
    
5. Click the button: "DRAW DIRECTIONS".
   When the processing is complete, the "Directions Plotted" message will appear.
    
6. Click "Ok".
    
7. In the top-right corner of the "DRAW DIRECTIONS" window, click the "X" button.
   In the Map View, you will see the directions line runs from "House 1" to the "Grocery Store".

(Step 8) - Draw a freeform directions line that snaps to roads

The route will be from "House 2" to the "Grocery Store".

 

To make drawing the freeform line easier, the line will snap to the nearest road while you draw.

1. Select the Draw Tool in the top toolbar.

   Or you can press the "D" button on your keyboard.

    
2. In the Map View, you will see a pop-up on the left side. Click the checkbox: "Road Snap".
   You will see the roads are highlighted on the map.
    
3. (Optional)
   Perform this step if a pop-up appears at the bottom of the map telling you how many levels you have to zoom in to use the road snap feature.
    
   Manually zoom in until the pop-up message disappears.
    
4. In the Map View, click and drag to draw the line along the highlighted roads. Start from "House 2" and continue to the "Grocery Store". 
   You will see the line snaps to the road.
    
5. (Optional) If you make a mistake and want to erase the line, select the "Delete Tool" in the top toolbar. Then click on the line.
   The Delete Tool is the Eraser Icon.

(Step 9) - Measure the distances of the 2 lines

1. At the bottom-left corner of the Map View footer, click the Gear Icon.
   The "SETTINGS" window will appear.
    
2. Under the "MEASUREMENT" heading, click the radio button to select the measurement system. For this example, we'll select: "Imperial". 
    
3. Under the "Length Unit" heading, click the drop-down list. Then select the length units. For this example: we'll select: "Feet".
    
4. In the top-right corner of the "SETTINGS" window, click the "X" button.
    
5. Select the Edit/Measure Tool in the top toolbar.
    
6. In the Map View, hover over the line drawn from "House 1" to the "Grocery Store".
    
7. Note the distance at the top of the bubble appearing when the line is hovered. For example; 1004 ft.
    
8. In the Map View, hover over the line drawn from "House 2" to the "Grocery Store".
    
9. Note the distance at the top of the bubble appearing when the line is hovered. For example; 1309 ft.

(Step 10) - Create labels for the 2 direction lines

1. Select the Label Tool in the top toolbar.

   Or you can press the "T" button on your keyboard.

    
2. In the Map View, you will see a pop-up on the left side. To create a regular label, select "Text".
    
3. In the Map View, click the location next to the line drawn between "House 1" and "Grocery Store".
   The label editor window will appear.
    
4. Under the "Title" heading, type in the name of the marker: "House 1".
    
5. Under the "Description" heading, type in the distance of the line. For example: "1004 ft."
    
6. Click "SAVE".
    
7. The label will appear on the map.
    
8. Repeat steps #3-7 for the line drawn between "House 2" to the "Grocery Store". The example distance is; 1309 ft.

(Step 11) - Save the map, and clear the map

1. In the top toolbar, click the "MENU" button.
    
2. Under the "Scribble Maps" heading, click "Save Map".
   The "SAVE MAP" window will appear.
    
3. Under the "Title" heading, type in the name of the map. For this example, we'll call the map: "Bayside houses for sale".
    
4. Under the "Description" heading, type in the description of the map. For this example, we'll describe the map as:
   "Locations of the 2 houses, including; distances to the grocery store"
    
5. Under the "Password" heading, type in a password.

   Note: When you create a password for a "Public" map, there are no limitations on who can view the map. To edit the map, a user must type-in the password.

    
6. Click the "SAVE MAP" button.
    
7. Click the "X" button in the top-right corner of the "Map Saved" window.
    
   Then click the "X" button in the top-right corner of the "SAVE MAP" window.
    
8. In the top toolbar, click the "MENU" button.
    
9. Under the "Scribble Maps" heading, click "New Map". Then click "Ok".
    
10. In the top-right corner of the "MENU" window, click the "X" button.
    In the Map View, you will see the overlays (markers, lines, labels) have been removed.

(Step 12) - Load the map

1. In the top toolbar, click the "MENU" button.
    
2. Under the "Scribble Maps" heading, click "Your Maps".
    
3. Click the title of the map you created: "Bayside houses for sale".
    
4. In the right pane, click the button: "LOAD MAP".
   In the Map View, you will see the overlays you created.

What's next?

To complete the next QSG, visit this link:
Quick start guide #2 - Create a map in a Pro account 

See also

For detailed instructions explaining how to perform the tasks in QSG#1, visit these links:

Create a marker - (Marker Tool)

Draw a freeform line - (Draw Tool)

Create a label - (Label Tool)

Create a new map - Clear the map

Load a map from the Your Maps window

Save a map