The map editor screen

Every part of the map editor at a glance, the toolbars, the buttons on the map and the menu, and where each one is explained.

When you open a project, the map editor fills the screen. The map is in the middle; the controls sit around its edges so they cover as little of it as possible. This article names each of them and links to where it is explained.

Around the map#

Top left: the top toolbar, and under it the measurements box.
Top centre: the project's name.
Top right: the map style button, and under it a column of round buttons.
Bottom left: the zoom buttons; under them, whether your last change is saved and how many shapes the project has; and under that, the bottom toolbar.
Bottom right: the magic button.

From left to right:

Button	What it does
Menu	Opens the menu: see the menu.
Search addresses, coordinates...	Finds an address, a place or coordinates. See moving around the map.
Go to my location	Moves the map to where you are. See moving around the map.
Geometries	Lists every shape and spot in the project. See display options.
Crosshair mode	Chooses what the crosshair draws: a Polygon, a Polyline or a Spot. Its icon shows the current choice. See the crosshair and pins.
Import	Opens your files to import one or more into the project. See importing files.
Export in different formats	Exports the project to PDF, CSV, KML and other formats. See exporting.
Share	The project's link, access level and members. See sharing projects.
Take a screenshot	Saves a picture of the map as it is on screen, as a JPG file. Comments are left out of it.
Notifications	Your notifications, with the number of new ones. Shown when you are signed in. See notifications.
Settings	Units, map type, coordinates, styles and other options. See settings.

On a phone, Import, Export in different formats and Share are not in the toolbar, to save room; you find them in the menu.

If you can only view the project, the toolbar has Geometries and Settings. When you are signed in, it also has Projects, to go back to your project list, Export in different formats and your notifications.

The measurements box#

Under the toolbar, a small box shows the numbers you need while you work:

a: and p:, the area and perimeter of the shape you are drawing. Areas are written in red and perimeters and lengths in blue, as on the shapes' labels.
3D a:, 3D p: and ∠, when the shape you are drawing lies on a slope, such as a roof plane or a hillside: its area and perimeter measured along the surface, and how steep it is. See measure in 3D.
Σa: and Σp:, the total area and perimeter of the project's polygons. Holes are not added to them.
Σd:, the total length of the project's lines.
The crosshair's coordinates, when Show crosshair coordinates is on.
h:, in the 3D view, the height of the surface you last clicked.
Estimate, the price of the project, when your shapes have products. Press it to see the breakdown. See estimates.

To hide the box, turn off Show total measurements box in settings.

The project name#

The project's name is shown at the top of the map, with a spinning circle while the project loads. If you can only look at the project, not change it, an eye shows next to the name, and the buttons for editing are not shown.

The buttons on the right#

The map style button and the column of round buttons on the right

Map style (the square with a picture): switches between the Satellite and Map view of the same place. It is not shown on phones. See map types.
3D / 2D: switches between the flat map and the 3D map. In 3D, the buttons to tilt and turn the view appear under it. See the 3D view.
When the flat map is rotated, a compass appears: press it to Face north.
Find in imagery: outlines buildings, fields and other things in the imagery. Shown when you can edit the project and are signed in to an account with an active plan. See finding things in the imagery.
Layers: cadastral parcels, building overlays, and the project's own layers. See the layers panel.
Comments: the project's comments, with their number. It is filled in while you are adding comments. See comments.

People working in the project at the same moment as you appear as small pictures at the bottom left of the map.

The bottom toolbar, the zoom buttons and the magic button

Button	What it does
Show/Hide elements	Shows or hides polygons, pins, labels, spots and comments across the whole map. See display options.
Map provider	Chooses where the map imagery comes from, such as Google Maps, Bing Maps or a national service. See map sources.
Clear Map	Removes everything from the map, or what you choose, after asking. Only for the project's members, not for visitors who opened it from a link. See clear the map.
Undo and Redo	Step back and forward through your changes. The tooltip shows the keyboard shortcut. See undo and redo.
Lock polygon	Finishes the shape you are drawing. Shown only while you draw. See finish and lock the polygon.

Above the toolbar, and zoom the map in and out.

If you can only view the project, the bottom toolbar is replaced by a single Show/Hide elements button.

The magic button#

The large round button at the bottom right chooses what a click with the crosshair does: add points, insert them between two others, move or delete them, draw a circle or a rectangle, or show information. Its icon shows the current tool. Its menu also holds Snap mode, the Help box, a hint above the button that explains the current tool, and, if you can comment on the project, Comment, which makes a click leave a comment. See the magic button.

Menu in the top toolbar opens a panel from the left with your name, company and email, a Profile button, and:

Item	What it does
Dashboard	Goes back to the dashboard.
Import file	Imports a file into the project. See importing files.
Projects	Goes to your list of projects.
Project overview	This project's figures, dates and members: the same overview as in your project list. See a project's overview.
Save	Downloads the whole project as a Measure Map file (.mmp) to your computer. Your work is saved online as you go; this is a copy to keep or send. See exporting.
Export	Exports the project. See exporting.
Share	The project's sharing settings. See sharing projects.
Pictures gallery	Every picture attached to the project. See pictures.
Project history	Earlier versions of the project, to restore. Only for the project's members. See project history.
Clear Map	The same as in the bottom toolbar.
Help	Opens this help centre.
Support	Writes to the support team. See contacting support.
About	The About page of the dashboard.
Logout	Signs you out, after asking.

Press or click the map to close the menu.

Saving#

You never need to save a project: every change is saved online as you make it. Just above the bottom toolbar, a line says Saving... while a change is being saved, then Saved with the time. If it says Save failed, check your internet connection; see troubleshooting.

Next to it, how many areas, lines and spots the project has; holes are not counted. The saving status and the counts are not shown on phones.

Dropping files on the map#

Drag a file from your computer onto the map to import it. While you drag, the map says Drop files here. See importing files.

Keyboard shortcuts#

Keys	What they do
Hold Shift	Shows the crosshair, to place points.
Right-click	Turns the crosshair on or off.
Shift+S (hold)	Pauses snapping.
Shift+X (hold)	Keeps the next line at 45° steps.
Ctrl+Z (⌘Z)	Undo.
Ctrl+Y or Ctrl+Shift+Z (⌘⇧Z)	Redo.
Esc	Lets go of a point picked with Move or Insert, cancels a split, a join, a subtract or an image being placed, and stops adding comments.

See the crosshair and pins for the first four.