Interface Overview

A guide to the Mapmaker layout and how to navigate it.

The Mapmaker is the visual editor you use to build and configure your maps. You can open it from your WordPress admin by going to Maps and clicking any map, or Add New to create one.

[SCREENSHOT: Full Mapmaker interface with labeled areas]

The Layout

The Mapmaker is divided into five areas:

Top Bar

The top bar runs across the full width of the editor and gives you access to navigation actions:

• WP Admin — returns you to the WordPress admin dashboard

• View Live — opens your map's public page in a new tab

• Use Classic Editor — switches to the legacy post-based editor if you prefer it

• Map title — displayed in the center; click to rename your map

• Save — saves all changes. The button is only active when you have unsaved changes; when everything is saved it shows a checkmark instead

• [] (Shortcode) — copies your map's embed shortcode to the clipboard

• Undo / Redo — steps back or forward through your editing history

• Mobile / Desktop toggle — switches the map preview between a desktop and mobile viewport so you can check how your map will look on smaller screens

• ? — opens the help panel with contextual documentation

Left Panel

The left panel has two sections:

• Features — lists all the points, lines, and polygons on your map. Click any feature to select it and edit it in the right panel. Use the + button to add new features, or switch to drawing mode to place them directly on the map.

• Controls — lists all the controls added to your map (search, zoom, geocoder, etc.). Click any control to edit its settings in the right panel.

Map Preview (Center)

The live map preview updates in real time as you make changes. You can pan and zoom it just like any map.

When you're in drawing mode (after clicking Add Point, Add Line, or Add Polygon), a small floating toolbar appears at the top of the map. Click the appropriate icon to draw your feature directly on the map, or use the upload icon to import a file.

Right Panel

The right panel is context-sensitive — it changes based on what you have selected:

• Nothing selected — shows a welcome screen with quick-start actions

• Feature selected — shows that feature's style, popup, and position settings

• Control selected — shows that control's configuration options

Map Settings (Bottom Panel)

The Map Settings drawer slides in from the right and contains your map's global configuration — style, initial view, layout/dimensions, interactivity options, specialty features, loading behavior, and developer settings. Open it by clicking the palette icon in the right panel welcome screen, or the settings icon in the top bar.

Saving Your Work

Changes are not auto-saved. The Save button in the top bar will highlight whenever you have unsaved changes. The Mapmaker will also warn you if you try to navigate away with unsaved changes.

Tip: Use Undo / Redo freely while editing — your history is preserved until you save or reload the page.