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 : Print Custom Google Maps™ and Placemarks
After signing in to Google™ with your Google™ account you can personalize and print your custom Google Maps™
Part 1 – Pre-Requisites for Using My Maps
Part 2 – Print a Custom Google™ Map - “Created by me”
Part 3 – Print a Custom Google™ Map - “Created by others”
Part 4 – Print details for an Individual Placemark
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.
Print a Custom Google™ Map - “Created by me”
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) To print the currently displayed custom map click the “Print” link above the top right hand corner of the map to open the print preview window.
Note
If a Print dialogue box opens click “OK” to print the page as displayed in the print preview window or click “Cancel” to customize the print preview and follow steps (c) to (h) below.
(c) The map Navigation and Zoom Control (GLargeMapControl) is overlayed on the top left hand corner of the map. Use the directional arrows to pan (move) the map up, down, left or right. The “+” button can be clicked to zoom in on the map and the “-“button can be clicked to zoom out on the map. The map can be reset by clicking the center navigational button.
Notes
- An alternative way to pan (move) the map is to place your mouse cursor over the map until the mouse cursor changes to a hand. Click and hold the left mouse button until the mouse cursor changes from a hand to a fist and “drag” the map up, down, left or right.
- An alternative way to zoom in on the map is to “double click” on the map using the left mouse button.
- An alternative way to zoom out on the map is to “double click” on the map using the right mouse button.
- The Navigation and Zoom Control is overlayed on the map in print preview but does not print.
(d) The map Scale (GScaleControl) is overlayed on the bottom left hand corner of the map. The map Scale is displayed in print preview but does not print.
(e) The map Title and Description are displayed below the map plus some additional statistics about the map.
Notes
Clicking on any of the links in this section will navigate away from the print preview page and any changes you have made to the print preview will be lost.
(f) The Title and Description of all Placemarks, Lines and Shapes are listed towards the bottom of the print preview window.
Notes
- The Placemark, Line and Shape titles and icons appears as if they are hyperlinks but they are not active.
- Videos embedded in Placemark, Line and Shape descriptions are also embedded in the print preview page. This allows the video to be played. You can navigate to a certain point in the video and pause the video. The currently displayed video frame will be printed.
- Firefox 2.0.0.14 does not print the current frame of the embedded video. Instead it leaves a blank space where the video frame should appear. IE7 prints as displayed in the print preview window.
(g) Notes can be added to the print preview that will also be printed. Click with your left mouse button inside the notes text box and type your notes as required.
(h) Once you have finished customizing the print preview click the print link in the top right hand corner of the print preview window to print the custom map.
Print a Custom Google™ Map - “Created by others”
Open the Google Maps™ website in your web browser.
(a) Enter a search term and click the 
button to search Google Maps™. In this example, “Sydney Bridge Climb”.
(b) Click the “See user-created content” link below the list of search results in the Search Results <tab> to the left of the map.
(c) Browse through the list of search results in the Search Results <tab> to the left of the map. The search results consist mainly of individual placemarks, lines or shapes from maps created by other Google Maps™ users.
(d) Select a placemark from the list of search results.
(e) To view the map that contains this placemark, click the title of the map (green hyperlink).
(f) To print the currently displayed custom map click the “Print” link above the top right hand corner of the map to open the print preview window.
Note
If a Print dialogue box opens click “OK” to print the page as displayed in the print preview window or click “Cancel” to customize the print preview and follow steps (c) to (h) in Part 2 of this tutorial – Print a Custom Google™ Map - “Created by me”.
Print Details for an Individual Placemark
Open the Google Maps™ website in your web browser.
(a) Enter a search term and click the button to search Google Maps™. In this example, “Sydney Bridge Climb”.
(b) Click the “See user-created content” link below the list of search results in the Search Results <tab> to the left of the map.
(c) Browse through the list of search results in the Search Results <tab> to the left of the map. The search results consist mainly of individual placemarks, lines or shapes from maps created by other Google Maps™ users.
(d) Select a placemark from the list of search results.
(e) To view the details for this Individual placemark, click the “more info >>” link to the right of the placemark title.
(f) To print the currently displayed Individual placemark details click the “Print” link above the top right hand corner of the map to open the print preview window.
Note
If a Print dialogue box opens click “OK” to print the page as displayed in the print preview window or click “Cancel” to customize the print preview and follow steps (g) to (j) below.
(g) The map Zoom Control (GSmallZoomControl) is overlayed on the top left hand corner of the map. The “+” button can be clicked to zoom in on the map and the “-“button can be clicked to zoom out on the map.
Notes
- To pan (move) the map, place your mouse cursor over the map until the mouse cursor changes to a hand. Click and hold the left mouse button until the mouse cursor changes from a hand to a fist and “drag” the map up, down, left or right.
- An alternative way to zoom in on the map is to “double click” on the map using the left mouse button.
- An alternative way to zoom out on the map is to “double click” on the map using the right mouse button.
- The Zoom Control is overlayed on the map in print preview but does not print.
(h) The placemark Title and Description are displayed below the map plus some additional statistics about the placemark.
(i) The placemark icon is not clickable in print preview. (IE: Its Info Windows cannot be opened). It can also not be moved.
(j) Once you have finished customizing the print preview click the print link in the top right hand corner of the print preview window to print the individual placemark details.