Directions (ha, get it?
) to build a Google map
1. Navigate to www.Google.com, click the Maps tab at the top of the screen.
2. Right below the Google|maps toolbar, click My Maps
3. Select Create new map
4. This is where you enter a title and description. The title should be in headline format,
with the description summarizing what the map is about.
When plotting points on a map
1. Enter the address, with numerals, or an intersection into the Google|maps toolbar.
2. Click Search Maps
3. Once the address has been found, click Save to… and choose your map. Once the map
has been found, click Save.
4. Continue plotting your points until you are finished.
5. Once you are finished, click on the View Map link, which will take you to your map
window.
6. You can choose to Edit the map or be Done.
When plotting directions on a map
1. The first option you can do is enter in the navigation points to the
Google|maps toolbar. Example: 1657 Broadway, Lorain, Ohio to
Middle Avenue, Elyria, Ohio
a. Click Search Maps
b. Once the directions pop up on the screen, you can “Save to my Maps” – choose the
map and click save.
c. Continue plotting your points in this fashion until you are finished
d. Once you are finished with this option, click on the View Map link, which will
take you to your map window.
e. You can choose the edit or done options
2. The second option is clicking the Get Directions link, located right
below the Google|maps toolbar
a. Enter in the (A) point, which is the
starting point
b. Enter in the (B) point, which is the
ending point
c. Click the Get Directions box
d. Scroll to the bottom of the directions list and click “Save to My Maps” link –
choose the map and click save.
e. Continue plotting your points in this fashion until you are finished.
f. Once you are finished with this option, click on the View Map link, which will
take you to your map window.
g. You can choose the edit or done options
To embed your beautifully created map
1. On the map, make sure no labels
are chosen except your map.
You can do this by scrolling
your mouse over the “Satellite”
and “Traffic” box, with the
checkmark next to your map.
This ensures your map will be
embeddable.
2. In the right corner above the map,
click the “Link” link – there will be
two options, a “Place link in email
or IM” and “Paste HTML to
embed in a website.”
3. Before you automatically paste the
HTML, click “customize and
preview embedded map”
4. Another window will appear with
the screen shot of your map and the
size options. This is where you
decide what the first view of the
map your readers will see, so this
is pretty important, if you ask me.
5. In most webpages, as long as the
diameters are within 600 width and
height, it’s OK. At TMJ, a large
map is a good option, so you don’t
have to customize it at this point.
6. Click the Large option, or
whatever size is best for your
particular need.
7. Once you click the size option, the
map image will resize itself in your
window. In the “2. Preview” you
can move around the image using
the zooming options and the arrows. Or you can use the hand tool to move it within the
screen.
8. During this time, while you have been resizing and moving the preview image around,
the embed code in the “3. Copy and paste this HTML to embed your website” portion,
the embed code is changing. Once you choose how you want your map to be sized and
look, copy the embed code.
9. Paste the embed code wherever it goes and VIOLA.
Other cool tips:
1. To change the placemarker
a. Go to your map, which you found
this when you clicked on the View
Map link, taking you to the map
window
b. Click the Edit option
c. Click on the direction point, on the
left hand side beneath your title
description
d. A box will appear on your map with
an enlarged window of your
direction point
e. Click on the placemarker in the top
right hand of the little box and the
default icons will appear
f. Choose your icon
g. Rinse and repeat until you save and
complete your Google map
Have questions? Did I miss something? Don’t hesitate to ask or tell.
