Highlight landmarks on Google Maps

Once the site loads, click the Spreadsheet Template link beneath the sample data. Save the .xls file to the Windows Desktop and open it in a spreadsheet application such as Excel. The spreadsheet includes sample data showing the form in which data should be entered. The ‘Zip’ column can be changed to ‘Postcode’ – Batchgeo will work just as well.

Using the spreadsheet template, enter the information about club members that you would like to include on a map. Remember, the column headings can be changed as required. Similarly, any columns that you do not wish to use can be deleted and new columns can be added. With the required data entered, press Ctrl and A at the same time to select the entire spreadsheet and then press Ctrl and C simultaneously to copy the information to the Windows Clipboard.

Return to the Batchgeo website and click on the sample data beneath the ‘Step 1: Paste your data below’ heading. Press Ctrl and V at the same time to paste the data from the spreadsheet and then click the Validate & Set Options button. Scroll down the page to the Step 2 section and use the dropdown menus to ensure that the different columns of data from the spreadsheet have been correctly detected.

Click the Show Advanced Options button and use the Title dropdown menu to choose which column of data should be used as the main heading for entries when they have been added to the map. The Group By setting can be used to split entries up in to different categories, such as club members who have opted to receive a newsletter and those who haven’t. Click the ‘Select a default map view to show’ and choose the style of map you would like to create.

Click the Run Geocoder button and the data that has been imported into Batchgeo will be analysed and the map will be created. If the grouping option has been selected, different coloured markers will be displayed to identify different groups within the supplied data. Click the Save/Share/Embed button and enter a title and description for the map. Enter your email address and then indicate whether the map should be Public or Unlisted. The former means it can be accessed by anyone, while the latter will limit access to people with whom you share the address. Click Save Map.

The completed map will be displayed. Click a pushpin to see additional information about the individual entry. Clicking the group pushpins beneath the map toggles the display of different groups of addresses. The web address (URL) in the Address or Location bar at the top can be shared to allow others to access the map. This URL, along with details of how to embed a map in a web page, will be included in a confirmation email that will be sent to you by Batchgeo.