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How to make a collaborative Google Map
These steps allow you to add a Google Map with interactive map pins to a web
page that others can additional map pins to.
To make a collaborative map using EditGrid:
- Obtain an EditGrid account (www.editgrid.com).
EditGrid is an online collaborative spreadsheet site that provides
accounts and spreadsheets at no cost. After setting up the collaborative
spreadsheet, it will be available for anyone to open and edit.
- The first time you open your account there will be a spreadsheet workbook
waiting. Give the spreadsheet a name. Notice that the site provides you with
three spreadsheets in your “workbook” accessed by the three tabs at the
bottom. It is best to set up your collaborative mapping spreadsheet on the
first sheet. Any sheet can be used, but when visitors come to the site to add
information they will always see the first sheet displayed and some users
might get confused by having to go to another sheet to enter their data.
- Publish your spreadsheet to read and write, and then save your
spreadsheet.
- Add titles to your columns to inform visitors about what they should add.
It is possible to have up to five columns for information uses that the system
will understand, but I would suggest just four: Place Name; Location
Description; Latitude; and Longitude.
- It is a good idea now to add at least one set of data that can serve as an
example for others to see how the data is entered. For a location you will
need to find its latitude and longitude in the decimal format, not in degrees,
minutes, and seconds. See the steps for
using Maporama to find this data. For example, UNF’s decimal
latitude is 30.27 and its longitude is -81.58.
- Once you have that information add it to your spreadsheet, give the
location a name and a description of the location. The sheet will
automatically save your data after each entry.
- Currently EditGrid is restructuring it's interface and is redesigning
it's plugin framework. To access the ability to take your data and place it
on a map you will need to do one of the following:
- New method: Open a new tab in your browser and go to
http://www.editgrid.com/legacy/workspace/apps/run/1
| The old method was in “My workspace” use the “Add-ons” tab to select
Grid2Map. |
From the menus, choose your spreadsheet file, the sheet on which
you are adding data. The spreadsheet column you select for Title is the one
that will appear with the map pin on the Google Map, and the column you
select for Description will be added to the map pin. In one map I used
Name and Description for these columns. You need to choose Latitude and
Longitude columns, too.
After clicking the View Map button, copy the HTML code from the
Post to Blog box to add to your web page or Blackboard item. The code
includes the link back to your spreadsheet from the map. Include instructions
on your website or course item for the users to help them add to the map.
After following these steps once, you will not need to work with this
procedure again for the same map. All changes to the map can be made by clicking
the Online Spreadsheet link shown with the map.
Users adding to your map will only have to select the link above the map to
the Online Spreadsheet that will take them to the table where they can
added the details for the next
map point . Remember to tell them how to find the latitude and longitude in
decimal form.
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