Overview

Note: You may not need to create your own Map Layer, your account will have many pre-built layers for you to use. See below.

Go to Pre-defined Layers to see what layers have already been created for you.

Creating your own Map Layer is the way to store themes of information in your account.

There are 3 steps needed to do this:

• Decide what you want to store in your account.
• Create a new blank Map Layer from the Admin Panel
• Use the Add Feature tool to store points, lines or polygons into that Map Layer.
  

Video

Step 1: Decide what to store

This can vary depending on your organisation's needs. In this example we'll take the case of a Parish Council creating a record of the Benches they own and maintain.

Before creating the Map Layer we need to decide how the data will be stored. We can choose from:

• Points. Each features is represented by a single position on the map.
• Lines. Each feature is a series of connected positions on the map.
• Polygons. Each features is a series of connected positions forming a perimeter.

In this example of Benches, a Point Layer is suitable as we only need to plot a single position on the map.

We also need to decide what Columns of information we're going to have for the Layer. When we add a feature to the Layer later on, this will define the extra information we can store along with the point itself. Typical uses for this include adding ID numbers, descriptions and dates. The number of columns added depends on how much information you want to store.

Step 2: Create your Map Layer

There are two places to create a Map Layer from:

From the Map View

1. Click CREATE then ADD LAYER from the top menu
2. Type a name for your Map Layer (it may prompt you to choose an existing layer), click Next
3. Choose a Geometry Type (Point, Line or Polygon)
4. Add a description (optional), click Next
5. Click the + button to add Columns to store information in
6. Optionally add "Allowed Values" to each column to restrict what can be entered. These can be typed in one-by-one or pasted in in bulk from a text file.
7. click Finish

From the Admin Panel

1. Click the Cog in the top right and click Administration
2. Select Layers from the Menu
3. Click the + button
4. Choose a Geometry Type (Point, Line or Polygon)
5. Give your new Layer a title
6. Add a description (optional)
7. Click the + button to add Columns to store information in
8. Optionally add "Allowed Values" to each column to restrict what can be entered. These can be typed in one-by-one or pasted in in bulk from a text file.
9. Click Save

You Map Layer is now ready to be used.

Step 3: Adding Features

With your Map Layer ready to use, you now need to add your features into it. This is covered in another article: Add, Edit and Delete Map Objects (Points, Lines and Polygons)