Go Map!!/Map Editor Interface
This page describes the map editor interface of the Go Map!! application and how OSM data works and is manipulated via Go Map!!.
Map Editor Interface
About Nodes, Ways, and other objects
OpenStreetMap uses the terms:
- A
node is used to describe a simple point (typically: smaller objects e.g. a tree or small shops).
- A
way is used to represent linear features. (e.g. highways, walls, fence)
- Ways are also used for a
closed way (closed poly line) in which it can be used to describe barriers closed in from every side or round-a-bouts.
- Ways are also used for a
- Ways are also used for
areas in which it can be used to describe whole forests or bodies of water.
- Ways are also used for
- A multipolygon is a type of relation that is used to create “holes” in areas or to describe features that is separate from the entire area. A
relation is used to indicate that there is a relation between two elements. Relations can be used for many things but Go Map!! mainly uses it for multipolygons, so the guide will only focus on that.
- A multipolygon is a type of relation that is used to create “holes” in areas or to describe features that is separate from the entire area. A
In Go Map!! these elements are represented by:
- A node is displayed as an icon of what the node represents or a small square (☐).
- Ways are displayed as lines, polygons, or multi-polygons.
Create Notes, Nodes, Ways, and Polylines/Areas
Note
To create a new note tap the "+" button. A ? will drop indicating the position of your soon to be note. Next you will need to tap on New Note.
Note: You must have “Notes and Fixmes” turned on.
Node
To create a new node or point of interest tap the "+" button. A ? will drop indicating the position of your soon to be node. To actually turn it into a node add tags. If no tags are added it will be automatically discarded.
Way
To create a way simply press the "+" button twice. On the first press a pin will drop which you can position as desired, then tap "+" again to add a second, connected node. Repeat to create additional nodes. If you accidentally just create one node you can simply tap on it again and press the "+" button.
Polylines/Area
To create a poly line/area simply hover your final node on top of the first node of your way and release. A circle of dots will indicate where your final node will be attached to. You can also attach the node to existing ways by hovering over them and releasing it.
Method 1 of adding elements:
Use one finger to move the map around and use the other finger to tap the “+” button.
Method 2 of adding elements:
Use one finger to hold the “+” button and use the other finger to tap on the map to add a node.
Add a node to a way
Simply tap on any place on the way, then press the "+" button. (Adding extra curvature on a road or for adding detail to a building.)
Additionally, whenever you hover over a node that is in a way over an another way (doesn’t matter where) it will automatically be attached and a node would be created. (Connecting roads to other roads.)
Moving Elements
Nodes
To move a node, select the node then hold press and drag the grey box to the location you want.
Ways
To move a way, select the line part to move the way in its entirety then hold press and drag the grey box to the location you want.
If you move a node in a way it will simply move the node, not the entire way.
Selecting a Specific Element
You can long press on an area to select a specific node, way, or relation; a list of nearby objects will pop up. Useful for adding nodes into existing ways (after selecting your desired object, hit “+”).
Element Editing
Tags
Tags are used to describe a feature on elements in the OpenStreetMap database. Example: Indicating that the node is a sushi shop or that the closed way is a building.
To select an existing object (either a node or a way) simply tap it. In order to select a building, you must select the wall rather than the center.
Selected objects are highlighted in green and will display the title in a grey box and the “Tags, Paste, Delete and More…” buttons. In this section were focused on Tags.
The tag editing screen presented has three tabs of views. The first view (Common Tags) presents fields for adding common POI types:
The second tab screen allows advanced users to add arbitrary tags and values:
The third tab screen shows metadata about the object: who created it and when, and additional low-level details. From this screen you can also drill down to information stored on the OSM server about the user, change set, object history, and object details:
- Identifier → object page
- User → user page
- Version → object history page
- Changeset → changeset page
