Tutorials

Pinmaps.net is a cloud based mapping software that allows you to pin multiple locations.
Once you understand the basics of how the system works it is a breeze to use the service.

The 'My Maps' section is where you save your maps and is private and can only be viewed by you and the people whom you share your maps with. This is where you can create maps and pins.

Before you can get the most benefit out of the service is important to understand the definition of the two main entities: Maps and Map Points.
They have a one-to-many relationship: a map can contain many map points.
The map is a container for your map points (pins)
A map is a large area such as a city, a state, or a country.
A map point is a location on the map such as an address, or a landmark that is physically represented by an icon or marker.
All the controls you need to create, edit, and delete maps and map points are located on the toolbar that is right above the map and on the map itself.

Located right above the map the toolbar contains the buttons to interact with the map. Some of the toolbar controls are hidden and visible upon user interaction with the map.

Before you can add map points you need to create a map first.

• Click the link 'New Map' on the toolbar.
• Enter a Name for your map.
• Set the Map Type. (Map, Satellite, Hybrid or Terrain)
• Click the Save button.

The number of maps you can create depends on your pricing plan.

You can edit your map only when the background color of the toolbar is gray.

• Click the link 'Edit Map' on the toolbar.
• Change the map's Name and other Settings if you need to.
• Click the Save button.

Deleting a map will also delete all the pins, notes, and any other data that is related to the map.

• Click the Refresh Map button on the map to enter map mode if needed.
• Click the link 'Delete Map' on the toolbar.
• Click the Yes button on the confirmation pop up window.
• After you click the yes button you cannot undo the operation.

sharing permissions

options modal

Map Sharing Features:

• Once you share your map a unique URL will be created for you.
• If the map is in readonly mode, the visitors to your map will not be allowed to add pins.
• Non Pinmaps.net registered users can add pins to your map if you select the option "Allow non-account holders to add pins" otherwise they would have to create a free Pinmaps.net account in order to add pins.
• You can password protect your map if you need to.
• Only the Pinmaps.net account holder can edit or delete the shared map.
• You can stop sharing the map at any time and the map will become private again.

This functionality is not available on the free version.

sample screenshot

• address * Field used for Geocoding the location
• city Any City in the world
• state Field used in the few Countries that have States
• country Any Country in the world
• postal_code Field used in the Countries that have Postal Codes
• name Map Point name. Minimum 3 characters. If name is not available address will be used instead
• icon An ID that will reference what icon will be used for the pin. See link to list below
• information about your pin. The text will be displayed on the info window
• website An external link related to the map point
• label A short text (25 chars max) that will be displayed under the pin
• label_visible TRUE or FALSE. Toggle the label's visibility
• * Required column

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• List of Icon IDs available
• Download the sample data file

sample screenshot

• address * Field used for Geocoding the location
• name Map Point name. Minimum 3 characters. If name is not available address will be used instead
• icon An ID that will reference what icon will be used for the pin. See link to list below
• information about your pin. The text will be displayed on the info window
• website An external link related to the map point
• label A short text (25 chars max) that will be displayed under the pin
• label_visible TRUE or FALSE. Toggle the label's visibility
• * Required column

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• List of Icon IDs available
• Download the sample data file

sample screenshot

• lat and lng * Field used for Geocoding the location
• name Map Point name. Minimum 3 characters. If name is not available lat,lng will be used instead
• icon An ID that will reference what icon will be used for the pin. See link to list below
• information about your pin. The text will be displayed on the info window
• website An external link related to the map point
• label A short text (25 chars max) that will be displayed under the pin
• label_visible TRUE or FALSE. Toggle the label's visibility
• * Required column

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• List of Icon IDs available
• Download the sample data file - With map points names
• Download the sample data file - Just Latitude and Longitude

map legend editor

map legend box

map legend toggle

button to open the map legend modal

Custom Map Features:

• The Legend title field is optional and can hold up to a maximum of 30 characters.
• On the editor you can add text in different colors, links and more. The text field can hold up to a maximum of 4000 characters.
• The display dimensions are: Small (w:250px - h:300px), Medium (w:275px - h:400px) and Large (w:300px - h:500px).
• The Show on Shared Map Only option means that if the box is selected it will only show the legend box for visitors to a shared map. Otherwise, it will be displayed all the time.
• You can toggle the visibility of the box from an icon button located to the right hand side of the map counter that is above the maps drop down box.
• NOTE: This functionality is only available from the Regular paid plan and up.

This functionality is only available from the Regular paid plan and up.

After you have created a map, you are ready to add map points to it.
You can add a map point by three different ways:

1. Using the mouse
2. Searching by address
3. Searching by latitude/longitude

1. Searching the map using the mouse:

• Drag the map with your mouse and zoom to the location using the Zoom Navigation Control or the Drag Zoom control.
• Then click the 'Add Pin' link and then click anywhere on the map (this will be the center of your map.)
• Click the 'Quick Save' link or the 'Save Map Point' link for advanced options on the message bubble.
• Customize your settings on the 'Add Map Point' pop up window.
• Click the Save button.

2. Searching the map by Address:

• Click the link 'Search by Address'.
• Type in the address you want to search.
• Click the link 'Save Map Point' on the (Info Window) bubble box.
• Customize your settings on the 'Add Map Point' pop up window.
• Click the Save button.

3. Searching the map by Latitude/Longitude:

• Click the link 'Show Search by Lat Lng'.
• If you know the Lat/Lng of the map point you are searching type them in the text boxes.
• Click the link 'Save Map Point' on bubble message.
• Customize your settings on the 'Add Map Point' pop up window.
• Click the Save button.

The number of pins you can add per map depends on your pricing plan.

You can edit a map point any time you want.
You can edit a map point by two different ways:

1. On 'My Maps' page
2. On the 'Settings' -> 'Map Points' page

1. Edit a map point on My Maps page:

• Select a map point from the list box on the right.
• Drag de icon or marker to its new location.
• Click the link 'Edit Map Point' on the toolbar.
• Change the settings you want on the 'Edit Map Point' pop up window.
• Click the Save button.

2. Edit a map point on the Settings -> Map Points page:

• Go to 'Settings'.
• Click the 'Map Points' link on the left menu.
• Click the 'Edit Map' link.
• Change the settings you want on the 'Edit Map Point' pop up window.
• Click the Save button.
• You can also use the 'Quick Edit' function to change some settings.

Map Points can only edit by the map owner or the pin owner.

You can delete a map point any time you want.
You can delete a map point by two different ways:

1. On 'My Maps' page
2. On the 'Dashboard' -> 'Map Points' page

1. Delete a map point on My Maps page:

• Select a map point from the list box on the right.
• Click the link 'Delete Map Point' on the toolbar.
• Click the Yes button on the confirmation pop up window.

2. Delete a map point on the Settings -> Map Points page:

• Go to 'Settings'
• Click the 'Map Points' link on the left menu.
• Click the 'Delete' link.
• Click the OK button on the confirmation pop up window.

Map Points can only deleted by the map owner or the pin owner.

lasso how to message

lasso on the map

Lasso Tool Features:

• Allows you to draw a custom free form selection outline overlay on the map

This functionality is not available on the free version.

waypoints how to message

waypoints editor

waypoints on the map

detailed directions on the side panel

Multipoint Directions Features:

• Easily sort the route waypoints using drag and drop
• Fetch directions for a route including waypoints
• The system will optimize the waypoints by rearranging them in a more efficient order.
• Show a segment summary for each leg of the route that includes distance and duration
• Display detailed directions on the side panel
• Save the directions in kilometers or miles

Waypoints limits:

• Regular paid plan: 10 waypoints
• Plus paid plan: 15 waypoints
• Premium paid plan: 20 waypoints

This functionality is NOT available in the Starter paid plan.

sample screenshot

PDF and Image Converter Features:

• 14 different page size to chose for the PDF converter.
• You can password protect the PDF file.
• Portrait and Landscape page orientation available.
• Image dimensions range from 1800px X 1200px to 4200px Width X 3300px Height.
• JPG and PNG image formats available.

This functionality is not available on the free version.

You can add shapes to the map to designate points, lines, areas, or collections of objects. these objects are also called overlays. Overlays are tied to latitude/longitude coordinates, so they move when you drag or zoom the map.

The number of overlays you can add to your map depends on your pricing plan.

There are several types of overlays such as: Polylines, Polygons, Rectangles and Circles.

NOTE: Only the Regular, Plus and Premium paid plans the drawing tools such as Polylines, Rectangles and Circles include distance.

sample screenshot

A Polylines is a linear overlay of connected line segments on the map. To draw a line on your map, use a polyline. The Polylines shape defines a linear overlay of connected line segments on the map.

• 

• Select the polyline shape from the 'Drawing Tools' located on the left top side of the map.
• Select a color from the "color palette".
• Click on the map where you want to start to draw the polyline and double-click the last dot where you want to end the polyline.
• The Polyline will be automatically saved.

• Click anywhere on an existing polyline and drag one of the dots to a new location.
• If you want to change the color, select a color from the "color palette".

• Click anywhere on an existing polyline.
• Click the Delete button on the toolbar.

A Polygon represents an area enclosed by a closed path. Polygon objects are similar to Polylines objects in that they consist of a series of coordinates in an ordered sequence. Polygons are drawn with a stroke and a fill.

• 

• Select the polygon shape from the 'Drawing Tools' located on the left top side of the map.
• Select a color from the "color palette".
• Click on the map where you want to start to draw the polygon and double-click the last dot where you want to end the polygon. If you have at least three dots then the last dot will automatically close the loop. You can also close the loop clicking on the first dot.
• The Polygon will be automatically saved.

• Click anywhere inside an existing polygon and drag any dot to a new location.
• If you want to change the color, select a color from the "color palette".

• Click anywhere inside an existing polygon.
• Click the Delete button on the toolbar.

A Rectangle is similar to a Polygon in that you can define custom colors, weights, and opacity for the edge of the rectangle. Unlike a Polygon, you do not define paths for a Rectangle. Instead, a rectangle has a bounds property which defines its shape.

• 

• Select the rectangle shape from the 'Drawing Tools' located on the left top side of the map.
• Select a color from the "color palette".
• Click anywhere on the map where you want to start to draw the rectangle. Click again where you want to end the rectangle.
• You can drag any dot in order to increase or decrease the size of the rectangle.
• The Rectangle will be automatically saved.

• Click anywhere inside an existing rectangle and drag any dot to a new location.
• If you want to change the color, select a color from the "color palette".
• You can drag any dot in order to increase or decrease the size of the rectangle.

• Click anywhere inside an existing rectangle.
• Click the Delete button on the toolbar.

Unlike a Polygon, you do not define paths for a Circle. Instead, a circle has two additional properties which define its shape: center specifies the Lat\Lng of the center of the circle. And the radius specifies the radius of the circle, in meters.

• 

• Select the circle shape from the 'Drawing Tools' located on the left top side of the map.
• Select a color from the "color palette".
• Click anywhere on the map where you want to start to draw the circle. Click again where you want to end the circle.
• You can drag any outer dot in order to increase or decrease the size of the circle.
• The Circle will be automatically saved.

• Click anywhere inside an existing circle and drag the dot in the center to a new location.
• If you want to change the color, select a color from the "color palette".
• You can drag any outer dot in order to increase or decrease the size of the circle.

• Click anywhere inside an existing circle.
• Click the Delete button on the toolbar.

Markers clusters are very useful to group several map pins into one icon.
Loading time will also improve specially when you have lots of map pins
and the map will look cleaner.

• Click the magenta 'cluster' icon located on top right side of the map point list panel.
• Switch the On/Off slider to group or un-group several nearby map pins.
• Click the Save button.

Adding a logo to your map has been a feature available for many months, but now we have made the process a little easier. Intuitive easy to use drag and drop interface.

• Click the logo icon located right above the map list drop down box.
• Drag an image to upload to the upload area.
• Crop the image to the required size. The dimensions of your logo cannot be larger than 260px width by 70px height.
• To save the logo, click Keep Logo or Start Again.
• If you need to delete the logo click the logo icon and then click the remove logo link.

This functionality is not available on the free version.

When the "Fit To Bounds" option is turned on, the map will center and zoom optimally so that all the pins are visible at once glance.

If you want to keep your map fixed or stick in the same area, turn off "Fit to Bounds". A button with the text "Stick Map" will be available at the top of the map.

If you would like to add more maps, but don't want to allow the visitors to the page where you display the map widget you can hide them from the list.

• Click the dashboard link from the menu with the blue background located at the top of the "my maps" page.
• Click the Maps on Widget link from the left menu.
• Drag the map title block to the "Hide" or "Show" column.
• That's all. The show/hide status is saved automatically.

This functionality is not available on the free version.

This functionality is specially useful for maps with lost of pins and labels.

• The button icon is located next for a group of icons on the right site of the map count.
• When the icon is green it means there are labels, but they are hidden. Click the icon to show the labels.
• When the icon is red it means there labels are visible on the map. Click the icon to hide the labels.
• If no icon is present it means there are no labels on any of the pins available on the map.