Potlatch 2/Primer
Potlatch 2 is the OpenStreetMap editor you get when you click on the 'Edit' tab on the OpenStreetMap.org homepage. It runs directly in your web browser without installing anything (apart from a flash plugin, which you probably already have)
Before you begin editing, you need sign in to OpenStreetMap (or sign up if you don't already have an account) Having done that, let's take a look at what Potlatch 2 has to offer.
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Background Image
Changing the Background Image
Clicking the Background button will allow you to select one of the background layers such as aerial imagery to assist you with your editing. Aerial imagery is especially helpful if you're looking to trace over new features or edit existing ones.
Dimming the Background Image
After clicking the Background button, check the Dim Background box to toggle on/off the dim feature. Doing so can further help with editing, depending on what your current task is.
Realigning the Background Layer
With background images, sometimes you'll notice they are not aligned with the OSM data. If this is the case, hold down Space on your keyboard and drag the background image to its correct location in the map view.
Map Style
To further customize the look and feel of Potlatch, you can change the Map Style. Similar to changing the background image, some styles simply works better for the type of edit you're currently applying.
GPS data / My tracks
Selecting GPS data will display thin blue lines representing all gps tracks in the area. Selecting My tracks will enable display of your own tracks that you loaded into OSM via the GPS traces - upload a trace function (http://www.openstreetmap.org/trace/create) To switch gps traces off in the potlatch 2 editor, go to Background -> Vector file... and remove the tick from GPS
Editing Tools and Techniques
Before you begin editing, the first rule you need to know is the use of proprietary data. Data from copyrighted maps or any other proprietary data is strictly prohibited! Copying, tracing, or any act of reproduction of copyrighted work is not allowed! (Source: Copyright)
Please note: Linear features such as streets, footpaths, railways, and building outlines will hereby be referred to as ways.
Creating Features
Upon creating new features, be sure to tag them. See Tagging Features for more information.
To create a point (or node), first make sure there are no features selected and just drag and drop the appropriate icon from the sidebar onto the map. Alternatively, you can double-click on the map to create a Point of Interest. Then refer back to the sidebar and select the appropriate tag in order to display the correct feature and icon.
To create a way, begin by clicking on the map at its start point, then click at each successive point. Double-click to finish the line or press Enter.
To create a new way extending from an existing way, shift+click on one of the end points of the way. Then continue drawing as usual to create a new way with a new set of tags. If you were just looking to extend the existing way and keeping the same tags, see To extend a way below.
To create a polygon, begin by clicking on the map at its start point, then click at each successive point (similar to creating a linear way), and finish by clicking on the very first point to close the polygon. Hint: The cursor will change from the pen tool to a pen tool with a small black circle when hovering directly over the first point.
Basic Edits
To add a point to an existing way, select the way and shift+click at the desired location. Adding more points will help realign features and smooth curves.
To delete a point, select the point and click the Delete Item button in the bottom right corner or press Delete (Backspace) on your keyboard.
To delete a way, select the way and click the Delete Item button in the bottom right corner or press Shift+Delete (Backspace) on your keyboard.
To move a point, click and drag the point.
To move a way, click and drag the entire feature (hint: grab a segment where you won't accidentally move a node).
To extend a way, click on one of the end points of the way. Then continue drawing as usual.
Advanced Edits
To make a junction between two ways, draw as usual until you need to make a junction. Then as you move your mouse over another way, the points will light up in blue. Click on one of the blue points or any other desired location on the way. Junctions must be made if the features are connected. For example, if two roads are connected, creating a junction will allow the two to share a common node and proper routing can take place.
To disconnect a junction, select the point on the way you wish to alter. Then press - on the keyboard to remove the point.
To reverse the direction of a way, click the Reverse Direction button in the bottom right corner. The direction of a way is only a concern for those features with a "oneway" tag - oneway streets, coastlines, islands, and so on.
- NEW: The direction of the selected way is indicated by the arrow on the Reverse Direction button!
To split a way, select the point at which you want to cut, and click the Scissor tool (or press X on your keyboard). Splitting ways are obviously helpful for disconnecting ways but the main purpose of splitting is often to tag the split features differently. For example, an overpass should be split and tagged separately as a bridge, and roads should be split at county borders and tagged as being in different counties.
To straighten a way, select the way and click the Straighten Way button in the bottom right corner. This will straighten the way by removing all points that are not junctions.
To make a way circular, select the way (must be a closed polygon) and click the Make Circular button in the bottom right corner.
To make a way right-angled, select the way (must be a closed polygon) and click the Make Right-Angled button in the bottom right corner.
To create a way running parallel, select the way and click the Create Parallel Way button in the bottom right corner or press P on your keyboard. This is especially useful where a divided highway exists and only a single way is shown.
Tagging
Tagging is a major aspect of editing in OpenStreetMap. Fortunately, this process has been simplified over the years to reduce errors and unconventional tags from being used.
A great resource you should probably have bookmarked is Map_Features. It describes the differences between the various tags and what additional tags should probably be captured.
Tagging a Point via Drag/Drop
When creating a new point feature, dragging an icon from the sidebar to the map will automatically take care of some basic tagging. For example, when you drag an airport icon to the map, Potlatch has already tagged it as an airport.
Just as a side note, click the Advanced tab on the bottom. You will see the key=value pairs that make up the airport tag. aeroway=aerodrome is what's used to tag an airport in OpenStreetMap. It's not the most intuitive tag (at least in the United States), nor very memorable so we should feel quite fortunate that Potlatch has taken care of this for us. Now that you've seen how complex tags can get, click on the Simple tab to return to where you were.
With the feature still selected, refer to the sidebar again and begin typing in the airport's name in the Name field to add additional tags. Browse through all the fields and tabs, and fill out as much information as you can.
Once you're satisfied with the tags you have added, save, and move on to your next edit!
Tagging a Point via Double-Click
If you had already created a generic point by double-clicking on the map, you'll need to edit the tag manually or else no one will know what the point represents. Make sure this point feature is selected and choose the appropriate tag via the drop down menu in the sidebar currently labelled unknown.
Once you've chosen the correct POI type, browse through all the fields again and fill out as much information as you can.
Tagging a Way
Unlike tagging a point, you can't drag and drop a primary road onto the map. You'll need to first draw the way and manually edit the tag later. Begin by drawing your new way and with the feature still selected, choose the appropriate tag via the drop down menu in the sidebar currently labelled unknown.
There are a number of similar options here regarding the road types, transportation, etc, so please don't forget to refer back to the Map Features documentation.
Once you've chosen the correct way type, browse through all the fields again and fill out as much information as you can.
Importing (GPS, Shapefiles, etc.)
In the Background tab, click the Vector File button and choose between GPX, OSM or a Shapefile to assist you with your editing. Currently there is no way to import a local file (ex. a file from your own computer).
Undoing
Undo a Single Edit at a Time
If you make a mistake, you can always hit the Undo button or press Z on your keyboard.
Undo All Edits for the Feature
Pressing the Esc key will undo all your edits for the current feature.
Saving
Saving with a Comment
When all your edits are complete and look satisfactory, click the Save button and a small dialog box will prompt you to add comments on the edits you made. OpenStreetMap encourages users to leave a comment informing others of what changes were made and why.
Remember that any edits you save will not be immediately visible on OSM maps. This generally takes several hours so don't worry if you don't see your changes right away.
Note: If you want to close your changeset after saving, use the C shortcut.
