zeemaps

In Excel, start a new file for the data you want to import into your new map. You can see a sample Excel CSV file we used for this tutorial called 'Ted Talks' here.

There are five required fields you need in your Excel file.

They are location-based: name, street, city, state and country. It's also recommended you include a field called 'Color' along with a color for each entry.

That's how ZeeMaps knows which color to use for its map markers. ZeeMaps current color options are black, blue, brown, burgundy, cloud, forest, fuscia, green, grey, lavender, light blue, light green, light purple, light yellow, maize, mold, olive, orange, purple, red, red dust, sky, spring, sunset, teal, tree, white and yellow.

If you have additional information, including photos or videos that you want to show up in each map entry, you should include them in your Excel file.

Here are the photo-specific fields:

If you want to include a photo for a map marker, you'll need to give ZeeMaps a URL telling it where the photos are. All photos must be on a server, and not simply on your desktop. In your Excel file, make sure to include fields called 'Photourl,' 'PhotoWidth,' and 'PhotoHeight,' and that they are named as single words. Otherwise ZeeMaps may not recognize them. Note the width and height fields:

Base your photo sizes on whether your images are horizontal or vertical. If you don't adjust photo sizes now they will appear distorted in your map. For horizontal images, a good standard is '250' for 'PhotoWidth' and '200' for 'PhotoHeight.' For vertical images, a good standard is '200' for 'PhotoWidth' and '250' for 'PhotoHeight.'

Here are your video-specific fields:

To include a video with your entry, create fields named 'YouTube,' 'VideoWidth' and 'VideoHeight,' and make sure they are named as single words. Again, pay attention to your video width and height:

To make sure your video images are not distorted, use the standard '250' for 'VideoWidth' and '200' for 'VideoHeight.'

Here's what a map entry will look like after your import if you've included a video and photo. 

There is more formatting you can do on this "info bubble" later. But now let’s go back to the Excel file so we can finish formatting the file and it can be imported into your map.

A word about how to get a YouTube Video ID number correctly inputted onto your spreadsheet:

Start at the YouTube website and search for your video. Once you've found it, click 'Share' under the video you want to use.

Then, copy and paste the characters after the '=' sign into your CSV file. The YouTube number for this video is eleven characters, yzOcvlNn8lw. Now that you know how to get a YouTube video ID number, enter it into your Excel file.

You may want to include other fields, like 'Notes' in each of your info bubbles.

If you want the 'Notes' field to appear, you need to go back to your map, and tell ZeeMaps to include that additional field.

Go back to your blank map,

1. Click the 'Customizations' menu;

2. Click 'Marker Fields';

In the 'Entry fields' window that pops up, manually type in 'Notes' or any other field you want to appear in your map entry.

Click 'Submit.'

When you're happy with the fields in your Excel file, you're ready to import. Remember to make sure it's saved as a 'CSV' and not a regular 'Excel' file.