Mapline Blog

“Out with the old, in with the new” seems to be the the new stand of Mapline. Recently, the mapping website that provides the simplest tools, made a lot of changes and added awesome features to make data visualization more captivating and informative but still using the simplest ways so users can experience the easiest mapping on the planet! Let’s check some of the great features that can now be seen in Mapline. This will enable the users and website visitors to view the “face lift.” We decided to add a “Watch a Demo” link. The 3-minute video aims to help visitors to create a map easier. Once logged in, the user will automatically view their maps with options to add a new map or new data set. We thought that users use our mapping software because of one thing – to map! There is no better way to start the process than leading them directly to a page showing a full list of their maps. Another noticeable change is that the “Maps” category is divided into 2: the maps that you created and the maps that were shared with you. This is designed so that once you received an email notification about a shared map, you can quickly view it on the “Maps Shared with Me” tab. So you don’t need to browse from the list of all your maps to look for that particular shared map. The “My Account” page has its share of “face lift” as well. Interestingly, the new look makes it easier for users to check their account using the 4 tabs: Profile, Change Plan, Update Payment Info, Payment History. The “Profile” tab should be used when users would like to change their password or delete their account. The “Change Plan” tab is used when users would like to change their plans or to edit their plans (for example, from monthly membership to annual membership). The “Payment Information” tab is used to add or update CC account information. Finally, the “Payment History” is used if the users would like to check the payments they have made for their account. We’re positive that the new Mapline look will transform our users’ easiest mapping experience from simply good to simply awesome!

More great news! Now you can export the straight-line distances between all locations in two different datasets. Distance calculations are now provided by Mapline. Users can just enter the datasets and then choose which distance metric they want to use (miles or kilometers).   Once datasets are entered, you can download a distance grid spreadsheet showing the distances between all the locations of two datasets.

From the past, we received a lot of customers’ requests of having a feature where they can draw a line between locations. We are excited to announce that Mapline has finally rolled out a draw pad. This feature will allow the users to draw a ruler-type line and so much more! Here are some of the things that users can do with this feature:

• Draw lines from one point to another. The map will show the distance between the two points.
• Draw a circle or a rectangle around a certain point. The map will show the mile radius of the circle.
• Change Color
• Draw a Polygon
• Draw a Circle
• Draw a Rectangle
• Put map marker on an area without adding another dataset for that specific area.

I arrive at work every morning to the sound of the Ghostbusters Theme Song (my designated work theme song). I then, along with my boss and founder of Mapline, promptly have a dance off. After we settle down, we wait for the other intern to come in. His arrival is shortly followed by all of us dancing to his theme song (Superman by Goldfinger). As I sit here and look around the office and the occasional pirate paraphernalia, I’m reminded that I didn’t expect any of this when I signed up for this internship. Nor did I expect myself to get excited about data mapping tools. But here I am, and I’m excited.

A Simple Mapping Tool

From day one, I have been reminded over and over again that people using Mapline absolutely love it. They absolutely LOVE this Batch Geo alternative. It was actually a little off-putting. When I first started, I talked to users who were more excited about Mapline than me, and I work for Mapline! Over time, I’ve come to find three, overarching reasons that people love Mapline:

1. It’s Simple
2. It’s Powerful
3. It’s Simple (Did I mention that already?)

This is not a tool for only your data analyst. This is not a tool for that one Excel wizard in the company that writes macros that somehow cure cancer or send rockets to the moon. This is a tool for you. And your data analyst. And your wizard. When I first learned about Mapline, I was confused. Why would companies need to plot their excel data onto maps? What value does that create? I’ve since found out.

How to Map Your Data

Politicians use it to track voter propensity and sign placement. Salesmen use it to heat map areas based on sales and look for prospects. Team managers use it to oversee their salesmen’s efforts and hold them to the monthly goals. Advertisers use it to plot the location and effectiveness of their ad campaigns. Retailers use it when they’re looking for new markets to pursue. Hospitals heat map the areas they serve to decide if they should expand or relocate. Being this general doesn’t do justice; the opportunities are endless. My day is full of helping current customers, answering questions, and occasionally blowing people’s minds. If you’re wondering what you can do in Mapline, shoot me an email. I’d be happy to blow your mind. In case you didn’t catch it– The Title: Most Amazing Product Like I Never Expected? Yeah, it spells MAPLINE. Mind blown.  

In Mapline, we understand that our users have specific mapping needs. We all do, right? Birds can fly and get directional views from above. But hey, we’re humans and so we stick to using the best tool possible to give us directions: mapping! For better viewing and so much easier to understand, we have developed a new styles in mapping – OpenStreetMap, MapQuest, and OSM Bright. The new mapping styles are particularly helpful as they bring a sensible starting point for quickly making powerful maps. Check out these styles and brace yourself to have a new mapping experience!