A helpful Google Maps help guide
If you want simple, no-nonsense directions, then MapQuest might be the site for you. The website is very user friendly and easy to use. On the other hand, the maps that Google creates can also be easy, but there are also many options to play and have fun. You can create your own, navigate other people’s maps, change the driving direction route, and take a virtual sightseeing tour in a faraway place, even on Mars or the Moon! This is a Google Maps Help Guide, showing some of the tips, hints, and tricks to make your mapping experience more enjoyable.
Many people seek help with maps to print or save their directions. The default print option is step by step instructions with a small one that is barely legible. For map mongers, you can get a larger, full-size one by canceling the print dialog (in Firefox), at which point a new window will appear allowing you to check a box that says “Show Original Map”. view.”
The preview then changes to a full overview of street maps and driving directions, where you can change the zoom level in your print window. When it comes to saving your directions, it might be surprising, but you can’t really just save your driving directions map to the Google maps site; you can save placemarks and maps, but not all content. Instead, you need to click and copy the link to the map (in the top right corner of the map that says “Link to this page”). If you save that link as a bookmark or in a Word document, you’ll be able to access the exact same set of instructions for the next time.
Maybe you need help with the map to customize your own map on Google. Did you know that you can change the placemark icon? This can be very useful if you are creating a map of your city or road trip that features several different types of places. For example, you might use a comedy/tragedy mask icon for theaters, a martini glass icon for bars, a bed icon for hotels, or a burger and milkshake icon for restaurants.
Once you drag and drop the basic icon and place it on the map, you can click on it and select “Edit” to change its placemark. Here you can also change the title that appears on it, the description and the icon (by clicking on the top right image of the icon). The My Maps feature is pretty straightforward, but you can share yours with others by selecting “copy link location”, sending your map via email, or embedding the map on your website or blog (by clicking the “link text” button “, by copying and pasting the embedded link).
Travelers often need the help of maps to find notable landmarks. You may not necessarily know the address of the Eiffel Tower, but you can zero in on the location by typing “Eiffel Tower.” Now let’s say you’re in the car driving but you have no idea where you are. You can turn your cell phone into a GPS device by using Google Maps for mobile right on your cell phone. (See the video of this on the Google Maps site.) You can also browse the country of Japan to decide where you would like to visit, simply by typing “Japan”. You can also search for postal codes, airport codes, latitudes, and longitudes.
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