To collaborate on a map you've created in Google My Maps, you need to share it and grant editing permissions to others.
Sharing your Google My Maps allows others to either view your map or work on it with you. Collaboration means allowing others to make changes to the map alongside you.
Here's how to set it up:
- Access Your Map: Go to Google My Maps and open the map you want to collaborate on.
- Find the Share Button: Once your map is open, locate and click the +Share button. This button is typically found near the map title.
- View Current Settings: Clicking the share button will display the current sharing settings for your map. By default, maps are often private, meaning only you can see them.
- Change Sharing Permissions: To collaborate, you need to change these settings.
- Add Specific Collaborators: You can invite individuals by entering their email addresses. After entering an email, you'll see a dropdown menu next to it. Select "Can edit" from this menu to allow them to collaborate.
- Share with a Link: Alternatively, you can get a shareable link. If you choose this option, you'll also need to set the access level. For collaboration, choose an option that allows "Anyone with the link" to "edit". Be cautious with this setting, as anyone with the link can modify your map.
Understanding Permission Levels
When you share your Google map, you typically have two primary permission levels:
- Can view: People you share with can see your map content (layers, points, lines, shapes), but they cannot make any changes. This is useful for distributing information.
- Can edit: People you share with can view the map and make changes. They can add, remove, or modify layers, markers, lines, shapes, and edit data in the table. This is the setting required for true collaboration.
Benefits of Collaborating on a Google Map
Collaborating on a shared map can be incredibly useful for various projects:
- Team Projects: Multiple team members can add their findings or data points to a single map simultaneously.
- Event Planning: Coordinate locations, routes, and points of interest with others involved in organizing an event.
- Community Mapping: Collect input and contributions from a group to build a comprehensive local map.
- Travel Planning: Share and jointly plan itineraries, marking destinations, accommodations, and activities.
By using the +Share button and setting the appropriate editing permissions, you can easily turn your Google My Map into a collaborative workspace.
