Create an optimized route line for visiting a set of Stops - "Route > Optimized Route"

Note: To use the Add Group feature, you must be logged-in to a Pro account. To learn how to upgrade, visit this link: How to upgrade to a Pro account

Description

The optimized route feature solves a version of the travelling salesperson problem (TSP). The optimized route answers the question: What is the shortest possible route to visit a set of Stops when you input: 

• Start/Finish locations. 
• Up to 250 Stops.

Create the Start/Finish markers

1. In Map View, create markers for the Start and Finish locations.
   To learn how to create markers, see: Marker Tool—Create a marker.

Create the markers for the Stops

2. In Map View, create the markers for the Stops.

Add the Stop markers to a folder

3. In the Layers Panel, click on the Folder Icon displaying the tooltip: "Add Group".
   You will see the folder added to the Layers Panel.
    
4. Click and drag these overlay rows into the folder:
   • Start marker.
   • Finish marker.
   • Stop markers.

   The folder now holds a set of overlays, so the folder is considered a Group. To learn more about grouping overlays, see: Grouping markers/elements by using folders.

Select the Mode and Optimization

5. At the top of the Layers Panel, click on the Gear Icon displaying the tooltip: "Operations & Analysis".
    
6. Under the "Create" heading > "Route" subheading, click on the link: "Optimized Route".
    
7. Step 1: Pick Mode
   
   Select the type of travel for the Optimized Route.
   
    
8. Step 2: Pick Optimization
   
   Select the type of optimization for the Optimized Route.
   or

Select the Start/Finish markers and the Stops folder

9. Step 3: Pick Stops
   
   1. To set the Start, Finish, and Stops, click the "Select" button under their respective headings.
       
   2. Click on the markers you previously created to specify the start location and finish location.
       
   3. Click on the folder that contains the Stops you previously created, to add stops along the route.

   

(Optional) - Departure Time, Show Times On Map, and Style

10. Step 4: Options (Optional)
    
    1. If you want to add a departure time to your Optimized Route, select the "Departure Time" checkbox. Then enter the desired departure date, time, and time zone.
       
        
    2. To display the estimated travel times from Marker to Marker on your map, check the "Show Times On Map" option.
       
        
    3. Select your preferred colour for the optimized route by choosing the desired "Style" colour from the dropdown menu.
       
       
        
       

Create the route line

11. Click on the button: "CREATE ROUTE".
     
12. In the pop-up that appears, click "Ok".
     
13. In the top-right corner of the CREATE ROUTE window, click on the "X" button.

View, edit, and name the route line

In the Layers Panel, you will see the new folder’s title starts with; "Route". You can click on the Pencil Icon to change the folder's title.

You can also click the folder to see the list of overlays. The route’s line row will be at the bottom of the list.

In Map View, you may have to zoom in or out to see the route’s line. To find the line quickly, click the centring button on the route line’s row in the Layers Panel. The button is the outlined square with a dot at the center.

In Map View, you will see the route line reaches all of the Stops. Numbered markers will display the sequence of the route. Arrowheads will display the direction of the route line.

If you select the Edit/Measure Tool in the top toolbar, you can measure, edit, and move the route line.