Tutorial – How does StepMap work?

Welcome to the StepMap tutorial. We would like to give you a short overview on how StepMap works. Basically, there are two main areas. One is to create and design a personal map (which can also be exported to your website), the other one is the search for existing maps. To create a personal map, click on the orange-coloured area on our homepage. To search for a map, click on the green-coloured area.

Creating a map

You can create a map in four simple steps (step 1 to step 4). Moving back and forth between steps is possible at any time, as well as saving your map to reload and edit it at a later stage. The currently active step (1 to 4) during the editing proscess of a map is always marked with an orange-coloured frame The formating-area and other options are located in the right navigation panel. The four steps include the following main topics:

Step 1 – Choose a Map

You can select an area that suits your personal map best. It can be anything, from a continent, a country or a regional area. Also, you will find an option to change the graphical style of that map. Several default styles are available. While they change certain design elements of the map, they don't affect the actual map area. The option "Additional Style Options" enable you to further modify the graphical elements of the map. The selected region, the neighbouring regions, oceans, rivers and cities can all be individually modified. After you have finished the selection of the map area and design options click on "Continue with Step 2".

Step 2 – Add Points of Interest and Icons

You can add points of interest, titles and icons (graphical elements). Points of interest could be towns or cities, but also any other location that is important to your personal map. You can combine points of interest with titles and icons but you can also set them separately (for example an icon by itself to mark a certain part on the map or a title by itself to simply name an area). All towns and cities can be set to the geographically correct position using the "Find Location" button underneath the title box area. Also, all points can be connected via a line that can be edited (thickness and colour). Clicking on any point or icon within the map area, will open a menue with further formating options. When done, please click on "Continue with Stp 3".

Step 3 – Add Information and Media

Additional information can be added to each point of interest, title or icon. The information can include various formats such as texts, images, videos, audio files and even other formats such as PDF, Excel or Word files. Left-click on any icon on the map and then add the information via the navigantional panel on the right. The activated icon is always marked with an orange frame for your convenience. When done, please click on "Continue with Step 4".

Step 4 – Save Map

The final step requires you to add a map-title, a summary/description of the map and a few tags (keywords). If you haven't registered with StepMap before you will need to do so now in order to save your map. The registration is free. The finished map can then be viewed in what we call the "detail view". All your maps can be found via the "My Maps" link at the top.

Export a Map

Any public map can be embeded into another web site (for example your blog). The embed-guide can be found underneath the map, where it says "Embed this map into your web site or blog". You can also modify the quality and size of the exported map. Click on "Generate HTML Code" when done and copy/paste the code into your web site. If you need any help, please send an email to info@stepmap.com.