Share on facebook
Save on delicious
RSS Feed
How to use MapTube and GMap Cutter
Purpose: GMapCreator lets you create a Google Map from a set of Geographic Data. MapTube lets you mash up and share this map
You will need:
-A MapTube account
-Java
-To ensure that no older versions of the GMapCreator software are already on your computer
-A Shapefile you want to create a Google Map from
Don't worry about these now...we'll show you how to deal with these as they arise.
Part 1 Create an account
Part 2 Download the GMapCutter Software
Part 3 Use the GMapCutter software
Part 4 Upload your saved file to a web server
Part 5 Add your map to MapTube
Part1 Create an account at MapTube
Creating an account at MapTube is very straightforward.
1.1 Point your browser at www.maptube.org
1.2 Click the ‘login’ link on the top menu bar
Fig 1.2 The Login link on MapTube
1.3 Click ‘Create New Account’
1.4 Complete your details
1.5 Click register (It might be a bit tricky to spot – it is on the right hand side of the screen, at the bottom:
Success
! You have registered an account, now you need to download the software
Part 2. Download the Software
After you login on MapTube, you will see the option to download the GMapCreator software:
2.1 Click on the link
2.2 Read and agree to the licence:
! Clicking “Accept” will bring up a page with download options:
2.4 Unpack the file, and install it.
Part 3. Using the Software
3.1 Run the installed file.
! If you need Java, you will see an option to install the relevant file from the GMapCutter options in the Windows Start Menu
! When you first run it, it will present you with a set of Terms and Conditions, to which you must agree.
3.2 Read and accept these terms and conditions.
! The software will open.
What’s what on GMap Creator ?
3.3 Open the shapefile by following File>Open
3.4 Use the options to customise the shapefile to your liking
3.5 Click File>Save to save your settings (This might take a while)
Part 4 Upload your saved file to a web server
4.1 With the tile directory and settings file on the local disk, copy both to a web server where they will be accessible to the public.
The image above shows the files for the London Tube Map created using the Google Map Creator and copied to a web server
The example map above is made up of three parts:
-The tile directory called 'tubemap-tiles' which contains all the pre-rendered Google Map Tiles. This directory must remain publicly accessible for the map to work on MapTube.
-The html file containing the Google Map. In this example the map can be viewed at the address: http://www.myserver.co.uk/maps/tubemap.html. This file is not used by MapTube and can be deleted, although it is
useful for testing.
-'tubemap.xml' which is the settings file saved from the Google Map Creator. This contains the geographic extents of the map, the maximum zoom level and the colour scale information. This file is read when the
map is first created in MapTube, but can be deleted once the map is working in MapTube.
NOTE: The Google Map Creator also creates a '.gif' file containing the UCL logo which is referenced in the '.html' file. This has been omitted from the directory listing above for the sake of clarity and is unnecessary when importing maps into MapTube.
Part 5 Add your map to MapTube
5.1 Log in to your account and go to the create maps page.
5.2 Enter the URL of the settings file into the "XML URL" box and click the "Test" button.
In the example in step 4.1, this would be "http://www.myserver.co.uk/maps/tubemap.xml".
If all went well, then the map should be visible on the right hand side of the screen. If the map did not appear successfully then it is likely that the URL to the XML settings file is wrong. Open up a browser window and copy the URL into the browser's location window. You should be able to see what's in the settings file. Also check that the directory containing the map tiles is in the same location as the settings file. There should be a settings ".xml" file and a directory called "mymapname-tiles".
5.3 Enter a Title and Keywords so others can find your maps
The map title box should be filled in automatically from the settings file. This can be changed if you like. The keywords box contains space separated keywords which are used when searching for maps. Enter some keywords into the box that will allow you to search for this map in the future
The final field is the information field, which is used for more detailed information about how the map was made and what it shows. This is intended to be a one page description and is accessible by clicking on the 'more information' link under the map description (see figure above).
Click submitThat’s it – done!
Additional Information
Maptube only takes a link to the map on your web server, so it is important that the map remains in the same place and is accessible. Only the creator of the map can edit or delete the map reference, which is done through the "manage" page. This allows you to edit the title, keywords, description and information, or to delete the reference to the map completely.After a map has been successfully created, only the '-tiles' directory need remain on the server. Everything else can be deleted.