Add Search Result Placemarks to your Custom Google Maps™

Introduction

This free Google Maps™ tutorial has been produced by White Rock Solutions as part of a series of complete and comprehensive step by step guides to using Google Maps™ to add a searchable interactive Google™ location map to your web site.

Overview : Add Search Result Placemarks to your Custom Google Maps™

After signing in to Google™ with your Google™ account  you can personalize your custom Google Maps™ by adding placemarks from Google Maps™ search results..

Part 1 – Pre-Requisites for Using My Maps

Part 2 – Add a Search Result Placemark to a New Custom Google™ Map

Part 3 – Add a Search Result Placemark to an Existing Custom Google™ Map

Pre-Requisites for Using My Maps.

1.1 – Google™ Account

To use the My Maps feature of Google Maps™ you will need an existing Google™ account. Alternatively, you can create a new Google™ account.

1.2 - Sign in to Google Maps™ with your Google™ Account

(a) Open the Google Maps™ website in your web browser.

(b) Click the Sign in link in the top right hand corner of the page to sign in to Google™ with your Google™ account.

(c) Enter your Google™ account Email and Password details and click the button.

Add a Search Result Placemark to a New Custom Google™ Map

If not already signed in, sign in to Google™ with your Google™ Account and open the Google Maps™ website in your web browser.

(a) Enter a search term, in this case “Sydney Opera House” and click the button.

(b) In the case of the search results returning a location, Google Maps™ automatically zooms in to the location and opens the location placemark Info Window.

(c) Click the “Save to My Maps” link located towards the bottom of the Info Window.

(d) Click the  button and select “Create a new map...” from the list of available My Maps.

(e) Click the  button.

(f) Google Maps™ automatically creates and adds a new map to your “Created by me” list under the My Maps <tab>. The Title of the placemark is used as the map title. The map is placed in EDIT mode.

(g) To edit the Map title, description or privacy settings follow the instructions for creating a new Map (Refer to the tutorial Create and Edit Custom Google Maps, Part 2 – Create a Google™ Map).

(h) To edit the placemark click the Placemark in the list below the map properties to the left of the map.

(i) To re-position the Placemark click the  button on the map editor toolbar. Move the mouse cursor over the Placemark icon until the cursor changes from a “hand” to a “pointed finger”. Click and hold down the left mouse button and drag the Placemark Icon to its new location. Release the left mouse button to drop the Placemark to anchor it to its new location.

(j) To edit the Placemark title, description or icon image follow the instructions for adding a new Placemark (Refer to the tutorial Add Placemarks-Lines-Shapes, Part 2 – Add a Placemark (Marker) to your Custom Google™ Map).

(k) Once you have finished editing the Placemark properties click the button to save your changes to the Placemark or alternatively click the button to exit without saving any changes

(l) Click the button to save your map. Alternatively, click the button to save changes to your map and exit edit mode.

(m) Click the “Clear search results” link to remove the original search result placemarks from the map.

Add a Search Result Placemark to an Existing Custom Google™ Map

If not already signed in, sign in to Google™ with your Google™ Account. Open the Google Maps™ website in your web browser and select the My Maps <tab>.

(a) In the “Created by me” list of maps, ensure the Map you would like to edit is selected (). If not, click using your left mouse button the check box () to the left of the Map title in the list to select the Map.

(b) Enter a search term, in this case “Restaurants” and click the   button.

(c) Click the search result that you would like to add to your map from the search results listed in the Search Results <tab> to the left of the map.

(d) The Info Window of the selected search result will open.

(e) Click the “Save to My Maps” link located towards the bottom of the Info Window.

(f) Click the button and select the existing map that you would like to save the search result to, in this case “Sydney Opera House” from the list of available My Maps.

(g) Click the button.

(h) Google Maps™ automatically adds a copy of the search result placemark as a new placemark on your map, places the map in EDIT mode and opens the new placemark Info Window. To edit the Placemark title, description or icon image follow the instructions for adding a new Placemark (Refer to the tutorial Add Placemarks-Lines-Shapes, Part 2 – Add a Placemark (Marker) to your Custom Google™ Map).

(i) The new Placemark is also added to the list of Placemarks, Lines & Shapes below the map properties to the left of the map.

(j) To re-position the Placemark click the  button on the map editor toolbar. Move the mouse cursor over the Placemark icon until the cursor changes from a “hand” to a “pointed finger”. Click and hold down the left mouse button and drag the Placemark Icon to its new location. Release the left mouse button to drop the Placemark to anchor it to its new location.

(k) Once you have finished editing the Placemark properties click the button to save your changes to the Placemark or alternatively click the button to exit without saving any changes

(l) Click the button to save your map. Alternatively, click the button to save changes to your map and exit edit mode.

(m) Click the “Clear search results” link to remove the original search result placemarks from the map.

Repeat steps b-m as many times as you wish to add multiple serach result placemarks to your existing custom map.