Key:fixme

From OpenStreetMap Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Public-images-osm logo.svg fixme
Description
Description of a (possible) error in the map. Edit this description in the wiki page. Edit this description in the data item.
Group: annotations
Used on these elements
may be used on nodesmay be used on waysmay be used on areas (and multipolygon relations)may be used on relations
Documented values: 3
Useful combination
Status: de factoPage for proposal

The fixme key allows contributors to mark objects and places that need further attention. These can be in the form of a "note to self" or request for additional mapping resources.

Its distinction from note=* is that fixme is only to express that the mapper thinks there is an error, while note might be information to other mappers. Alternate form with much less usage (and is not always correctly parsed by error detection tools) is FIXME=*.

You should not use it for errors that can be automatically detected by error detection tools.

After the fixme task has been completely solved, the fixme tag should be deleted, preferably in the same changeset as the fix. The changeset comment can document what happened "fixme task solved", potentially with more detail about the solution.

Related tags

  • comment=*for adding text describing the changeset to other mappers.
  • description=*for adding text that might be viewable to the end user.
  • note=*A note to yourself or to other mappers.
  • source=*For indicating the source of unconfirmed data

Examples

Use fixme=resurvey for objects with unconfirmed coordinates together with source=*.

Use fixme=continue for nodes that constitute the final known point in a way (some people also use fixme=stub for ways that end and have no noexit=* at their end node).


A way with

or just

A node or way in an interchange with

  • fixme=This interchange is complete with the exception of the SB to WB ramp to Highway ABCD. Would an OSM commuter who takes that ramp trace it please?

An otherwise untagged way surrounding some part of a town with

  • fixme=resurvey names in this area, entered from memory

An otherwise untagged node with

  • fixme=this area has some missing streets

when a surrounding way cannot be drawn (due to not knowing how far the problem extends)

Bad uses

Incorrect Explanation Correct
amenity=place_of_worship with fixme=yes It is unclear what the mapper should check. amenity=place_of_worship with fixme=check if evangelical or lutheran
tourism=museum with note=FIXME What are the problems? tourism=museum with fixme=check the name, I found two
A missing tag that is expected in a combination such as a name on a street, tracktype on a track, etc. I forgot to check name/tracktype/x can someone go there and check that ? Other mappers already know the tag x is missing because there is no tag x! If you desperately want to fix tag x, go back there! Spamming the fixmes with "please improve this place" will probably reach the opposite goal where mappers are going to get the alert tools spammed! If found, delete the fixme ;-)

This is not a tag for robots nor for any automated edits

This page says The fixme key allows contributors to mark objects (…). Here "contributors" means "human" contributors with "manual" contributions. We wouldn't want automatic bot editing and adding a mass of fixme everywhere to flood other interesting "fixme" requests of other mappers.

Automated data checks and error detections are useful, but are better presented as an overlay in a separate tool. We already have many Quality Assurance tools which do this, and many which handle a range of different classes of error. For example a new type of error can be added to Osmose or JOSM/Validator or perhaps set up as a new challenge in MapRoulette.

Some imports, for better or worse, were imported despite their data quality and marked for manual recheck. Following tags are effectively a special fixmes:

Tools showing those fixme-tags

See Also

Possible synonyms

If you know places with this tag, verify if it could be tagged with another tag.
Automated edits are strongly discouraged unless you really know what you are doing!
If you know places with this tag, verify if it could be tagged with another tag.
Automated edits are strongly discouraged unless you really know what you are doing!
If you know places with this tag, verify if it could be tagged with another tag.
Automated edits are strongly discouraged unless you really know what you are doing!
If you know places with this tag, verify if it could be tagged with another tag.
Automated edits are strongly discouraged unless you really know what you are doing!