Java Applet Help

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To plot new nodes you select the "Add node" toolbar button () and then click on the map. Add nodes for individual features such as a pub or a post office. You also need nodes before you can create segments of a road that you want to map (next section).

Click where you want to add the node. You may need to click twice if the applet didn't have the focus. A navy blue dot, called a Node, should appear on the spot you clicked. You can also add nodes to existing segments by clicking near enough to them.

If you can't clearly see the black nodes (dots), you need to increase their size by pressing + repeatedly on your keyboard. As you do this, the black nodes and the green and white lines will both increase in size.

Keep adding nodes (black dots) along the route that your line will follow. Once you have drawn enough nodes to describe a section of line clearly, use the add segment toolbar button () to create segments joining the dots. This is fun: the node beneath your mouse pointer will turn red, drag from this node to the next one. The second node will now turn red, you can then release the mouse button and a green line will remain.

Mark further nodes along the road that you want to map. If the road is quite straight then the dots can be quite far apart (as a rough guide, 3 to 6 nodes per screenful is about right). If the road curves then the nodes will need to be closer together to get a nice smooth shape.

You may want to tidy up the line of the road by selecting the Move toolbar button () and dragging any of the nodes that are not nicely aligned.

If you're drawing a road that is a one-way street, it's helpful to draw the line in the direction of travel. If it's not a one-way street, you should draw it in a left-to-right, top-to-bottom direction where possible. Street names are rendered in the direction of the segments, so drawing segments right-to-left will result in upside down streetnames.

The next step is to create a 'way'.

To create a way click the "create way" toolbar button (), and then click on each line segment which forms part of the way. As you click on a segment it turns a brown colour, and the "new way properties" dialog box appears. Once you have selected every line segment which forms part of the way you may then enter the properties for that way. (The properties dialogue box may have moved under your main browser window as you selected more segments: minimise or move the main window to reveal the dialogue box again.)

Note, even if your street consists of just one segment, you should create a way consisting of just that one segment. Then information about that street should be added to the "way" not to the "segment".

In the "basic tab" you can enter the street name, and tag it as the most common types of roads.

If your chosen road type is not shown here you will need to use the Advanced tab. If you're not sure which tag to use, or need to see what other tags you could use, then see the map features page and the Tagging FAQ

If you are happy with the details you have entered then click the "OK" button.

If you wish to add more details for the way the click the "advanced tab" where you can add key / value pairs to define the way. For details of key / value pairs see the map features page. In the second image to the right, the advanced tab is selected, and a key / value pair of "Key - highway, Value - footway" has been entered to mark the way as a footway / footpath. Once you have entered all the details for the way then click the "OK" button. Note: tags are case-sensitive, most are all lower-case.

Adding or removing segments from an existing way can be done by bringing up "Way Properties" for the way by clicking "A" (property mode) and select one of the segments of the way. Now select the "Segments" tab and tick the "Change" checkbox. The segments currently associated with the way is colored red on the map and segments can now be added/removed by clicking them on the map. Be sure to find your way back to the "Way Properties" dialog and press "OK" after changing the segments or else you changes will be lost!

Please do not copy street names from an existing copyright-protected street map. These printed maps contain "gotcha's" to catch copiers and establish a basis for infringement of copyright. If you know the name of the street or road that’s fine, otherwise please verify it first.