Adding map notes

You can add your own data directly to a map by adding a map notes layer. These layers are useful for adding a small number of features to a map, for example, the swimming pools managed by your city's parks and recreation department. When you add a map notes layer, it is stored in the map; it cannot be saved, downloaded, or used independently. Only you, the map author, can edit the layer.

To add a map notes layer, follow the steps below.

Steps:

1. Open the ArcGIS.com map viewer, for example, by clicking the Map button.
2. Click the Add button and choose Add Map Notes.
3. Enter a name for the layer.
4. Choose a layer template. Each template includes a set of related shapes and symbols. For example, the Park Planning template includes symbols for picnic areas and bicycle trails, and the Oil & Gas Infrastructure template has symbols for oil refineries and treatment facilities.
5. Click Create.
A template appears in the left side of the map.
6. Click a shape or symbol, then click the map where you'd like to add the feature. Press the CTRL key to enable snapping. Snapping helps you line up the feature you are adding next to an existing one on the map. How you add the feature depends on the geometry; for example, add points and circles by clicking on the map, and add lines and polygons by clicking on the map to start the shape and double-clicking to complete it.
A pop-up window appears where you can add information about the feature.
7. Add the following information about the feature:
   1. Title—The title appears as the title of the feature's pop-up window.
   2. Description—The description field includes formatting options for creating rich text such as hyperlinks, color, and styles.
   3. URL to an image—The image needs to be stored on a public website (for example, http://publicimagesite/myimages.png) and should be in a web format such as PNG, GIF, or JPEG. For best results, the image should be 200 pixels wide by 150 pixels high. Other sizes will be adjusted to fit, so your image may appear stretched or shrunk.
   4. Related link—This opens a website when somebody clicks the image in the pop-up window.
8. Create your own symbol if you want by clicking the Change Symbol button at the bottom of the pop-up window. The Change Symbol window opens.
   1. Choose Source and click a symbol to use a predefined symbol.
   2. Choose URL and enter the URL of the symbol file. The symbol needs to be stored on a public website. The image file should be in a web format such as PNG, GIF, or JPEG. For best results, the image should be 200 pixels wide by 150 pixels high. Other sizes will be adjusted to fit, so your image may appear stretched or shrunk.
   3. Adjust the size of the symbol by using the Symbol size slider.
   4. Click the Done button.
9. Click the Close button. The information you add to your pop-up window is automatically saved.

Considerations for adding a map notes layer

• You can set the visibility range for when your map notes layer is displayed on the map. See Setting visibility range for more information.
• Only the map author can save edits to the layer. See About editing features for more information about the different types of editable layers, including ArcGIS Server feature service layers that can be edited by anybody viewing the layer.
• Make edits to an existing feature by clicking inside the symbol on the map. This reopens the pop-up window.
• Change the size of an existing symbol by dragging the vertices that appear on the shape.
• Remove a feature from your layer by clicking inside the feature to reopen the pop-up window and clicking the Delete button.
• Hide all features associated with a layer by clicking the Details button, then the Contents button, and unchecking the box to the left of the layer name.
• Remove a layer by clicking the Details button, then the Contents button. Click the arrow to the right of the layer name and click Remove.