How to Markup the Map


Markup introduces a new way to create and style shapes within Propeller, allowing users greater flexibility in annotating their maps. 

Draw

The Draw tool will enable you to create lines with various styling options. While this tool does not yet include properties such as distance, gradient, or road grade, it allows for visual enhancements of projects. The Draw tool can be used for various purposes, such as tracing truck routes, which previously required multiple clicks to form a continuous line. You can highlight key areas of interest, circle important objects or regions on the map, and draw arrows to annotate specific locations. These capabilities make it easier to communicate and visualize spatial information effectively.

How to use the Draw tool

From the Measurement toolbar, select Draw.

Measurement Toolbar Draw.png

When using the draw feature, Autosave is turned on by default. You can toggle it off to turn it off.

Click your mouse and hold to start drawing. If you make a mistake, press the Esc button to erase. Once you’ve completed your drawing, release the mouse button. To pan the map while the Draw tool is active, press and hold the spacebar on your keyboard and drag the map to pan around.

Draw Tool Example.png

Use the various tools in the new window to stylize your drawing.

Draw Style Window.png

Customize points, lines & polygons

Points

Like using the Point tool in the measurement toolbar, you can drop points on the map and choose from four templates: Point, Elevation History, Hazard, and Annotation. The annotation point offers additional styling options and functions similarly to the existing point styles.

Measurement Toolbar Point Annotation.png

You can modify any points by changing the icon type or removing it entirely, customizing icon and label colors, enabling or disabling label backgrounds (including a transparent option), and adjusting font sizes, which remain constant regardless of zoom level.

Point Annotation Window.png

To ensure consistency, you can save custom point styles as templates. Once an annotation is edited, you can create a new template that saves label settings, icon types, color choices, background transparency, and default widgets like location and description.

Click on the drop-down menu and choose CREATE NEW TEMPLATE.

Point Annotations Create New Template.png

Name the custom template and click SAVE.

Save Custom Annotation.png

Your custom template will be available in the Point drop-down menu.

Point Drop-down Custom Annotation.png

Lines

Lines function similarly to points with additional styling options. You can modify lines by changing your custom line's colors, style, and thickness.

Click on Line from the measurement toolbar and select Custom Line from the drop-down menu.

Line Drop-down Custom Annotation.png

 

Draw a line on the map. Drag and drop the options you want to add to your custom line template. Click SAVE.

Markup Custom Line Options.png

Select the PROPERTIES and STYLE you want to apply to the line measurement. Once done, click SAVE.

Markup Custom Line Properties.png Markup Line Style Options.png

This new, custom line will be saved in the MEASURE section of the portal.

Custom Line Measurement.png

Alternatively, you can CREATE A TEMPLATE to use again. Once a line is edited, you can create a new template that saves the settings.

Line Create Custom Template.png

Your custom template will be available in the Line drop-down menu.

Custom Line Dropdown.png

Pro Tip 🗺️📍: Creating arrows on the map is a common practice, and you can streamline the process by saving a line styled as an arrow in the Custom Line tool. Follow the instructions mentioned above to create and save your arrow-styled line. Once saved, you'll find your new arrow template in the line drop-down for easy access.

Polygons

Finally, custom polygons function the same way. From the Polygon dropdown, select Custom Polygon.

Custom Polygon Dropdown.png

Draw a polygon on the map. Select the options you want to add to your custom polygon and click SAVE.

Custom Polygon Option Selection.png

Select the PROPERTIES and STYLE you want to apply to the polygon measurement, including color,  fill transparency, line style, and thickness. Once done, click SAVE.

Custom Polygon Properties.png Custom Polygon Style.png

Alternatively, you can CREATE A TEMPLATE to use the polygon measurement again. 

Custom Polygon Template.png

By customizing points, lines, and polygons, you can enhance clarity and consistency in your mapping projects. Saving templates streamlines workflows, making applying predefined styles easy and maintaining a professional look across your measurements.


I still can't do it!

We wrote these articles to equip you with everything you need to get the job done on your own, but we understand that sometimes this isn't sufficient.

If you're stuck, you can connect with our support team by clicking the support button on the top right corner of your user portal.

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