How to use GPS Map

Get started

1. 1

   Open or create a drawing

   The app opens saved drawings. Open a drawing or create one to measure on the map by tapping or walking.

2. 2

   Save and reopen drawings

   Done saves your shapes as a drawing. The tool opens on your saved drawings, and the map's back arrow returns there; open, rename, delete or share them as GeoJSON for map apps or CSV for spreadsheets.

3. 3

   Choose the map appearance and planning tools

   On the map, Map Look sets how the map looks, dims it so the shapes stand out, and shows it full screen. A path's or a distance's Plan shows how long it takes on foot, by bike and by car, and in Quantities a roof's pitch also reads as a slope, such as ≈ 7.5/12 in feet or ≈ 62% in meters.

Measure

4. 4

   Place points for a measurement

   Tap New map, tap Measure and pick Distance, Path, Area, Angle, Label or Pin, then tap the map to place points and tap Done.

5. 5

   Edit a shape

   Tap a shape to edit it: drag its handles, hold it to move it, or change its color, labels and name.

6. 6

   Export a drawing or report

   Share on the map also makes a PDF report. The tool is still in beta: tap BETA beside its name to email us your feedback. Beside each Share, Save puts the PDF report, GeoJSON or CSV in the phone's Documents folder.

7. 7

   Follow the map’s guide cards

   The tips card asks what you are measuring and leads you through it; hide it with Hide tips or the Tips switch under ⋮ Map tools, where you can also turn on Crosshair placement.

8. 8

   Walk a boundary

   To measure on site, pick Walking it under Add points by, or tap Walk while drawing a path or an area, then walk the boundary: a point is added every few meters while the GPS is accurate.

Guided tour

Try these steps in the app. All tour instructions stay readable here.

1. 1

   Draw and edit a map measurement

   Tap New map, tap Measure and pick Distance, Path, Area, Angle, Label or Pin, then tap the map to place points and tap Done. Tap a shape to edit it: drag its handles, hold it to move it, or change its color, labels and name. The tips card asks what you are measuring and leads you through it; hide it with Hide tips or the Tips switch under ⋮ Map tools, where you can also turn on Crosshair placement.

2. 2

   Walk a boundary

   To measure on site, pick Walking it under Add points by, or tap Walk while drawing a path or an area, then walk the boundary: a point is added every few meters while the GPS is accurate.

3. 3

   Save drawings and export reports

   Done saves your shapes as a drawing. The tool opens on your saved drawings, and the map's back arrow returns there; open, rename, delete or share them as GeoJSON for map apps or CSV for spreadsheets. Share on the map also makes a PDF report. The tool is still in beta: tap BETA beside its name to email us your feedback. Beside each Share, Save puts the PDF report, GeoJSON or CSV in the phone's Documents folder.

4. 4

   Choose the map appearance and planning tools

   On the map, Map Look sets how the map looks, dims it so the shapes stand out, and shows it full screen. A path's or a distance's Plan shows how long it takes on foot, by bike and by car, and in Quantities a roof's pitch also reads as a slope, such as ≈ 7.5/12 in feet or ≈ 62% in meters.