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ZeeMaps, a service provided by Zee Source, gives users a fast and simple way to create and share interactive world maps. With ZeeMaps, you can construct dynamic visualizations of geographic information, producing intuitive and graphical maps that allow you to easily view and analyze the locations of any group of people or places. For example, you can generate a map of places you have visited, or maps that mark the addresses of your customers, friends, and relatives. You can even create maps that indicate member locations for email group discussion lists and Web message boards or chat forums. All maps are stored on Zee Source servers, and can be instantly accessed any time, anywhere, from any standard Web browser.
The ZeeMaps service is Google Ads supported free service. There is a small monthly charge per map if you do not wish to see advertisements on your maps.
Zee Source professionals are available to answer your questions and provide assistance and support. Contact us via email at support@zeemaps.com, or by telephone at 408-914-2955 or 408-373-4027.
We encourage and welcome input from our users. To send us your suggestions and feedback, click on Suggestion Box at the top of any page on our Web site.
If you are the map admin, and you have added your email address through the "Customize" link on your map, you will automatically receive updates and news from ZeeMaps. You can also follow us on Twitter
If you do not wish to receive news and updates from ZeeMaps, click on "Settings" at the top of your map, select "Notifications" in the pop-up window, and check the "Do not send me news about ZeeMaps" box. This will remove you from our email lists.
The ZeeMaps service uses Google maps to display maps. Zee Source is not related to Google in any way.
Yes, we'd be happy to undertake any custom application development project that is based on mapping technology.
We are constantly working to improve existing user functions and add new ones. Currently, our priority is to improve the user experience by making the interface more intuitive and simple, and provide better customization options. If there is a feature you would like to see, please submit it to us through our suggestion box (see How do I submit suggestions or feedback?).
You can create a new map simply by clicking on "Create New Map", from any page on our Web site. This will allow you to construct your map, give it a name, designate a map admin with a primary contact email, add markers and entries, and more (see "Customizing a Map").
You can create and store an unlimited number of maps with ZeeMaps. These maps can be accessed any time, anywhere using nothing more than a standard Web browser.
A marker is an icon that indicates the place or location of a specific entry on your map.
An entry identifies a specific person or place on your map, and contains relevant contact information, such as name, address, and phone number. Each entry's location is highlighted on your map with a marker (see What is a marker?, above). To view entry information, place your mouse over the marker and left-click.
Entries can be added manually, or automatically by uploading a CSV file (see "Can I import entries from MS Outlook, Excel, Access, ACT, and other programs?"). To manually enter a marker or an entry, select "Additions" at the top of your map, then select "Add Marker". Enter your information into the pop-up form and click "Submit". You can specify the location of your marker by either entering the address information, or clicking on a location on the map.
Yes, we support the ability to add entries in the UK and US with postal codes. Other countries support is coming soon.
The minimum information you need is a city and country to create an entry.
Contact files from other programs can be easily imported into your ZeeMap. Generate a CSV file for the records contained in Outlook, Excel, Access, ACT, or other popular contact management programs. Next, click "Additions->Upload CSV" at the top of your map to add those contacts as map entries. In order to successfully import a CSV file, it must contain two sets of properties:
Imported CSV files can contain street address, city, and state. If you do not have exact addresses for your entries, you can specify "Latitude" and "Longitude" columns. Additional entry properties, such as status, telephone number, and email address, can also be stored within your map.
Select menu items from the "Bulk Edits" menu above your map to make changes to multiple entries, regions or annotations.
You can also make multiple changes to entries using the Export/Import mechanism. Do an export of your entries to a CSV file. Make changes to the entries. Do not change anything in the latitude, longitude and name columns. Once you have made the changes, import the CSV file back into ZeeMaps. Make sure you select the "Overwrite existing entries" checkbox in the confirmation dialog when you import your changed file.
There is no limit to the number of entries that you can add to your map. The marker display will change depending on the number of entries in your map:
Select the marker that represents the entry you would like to revise, and click on the entry name in the information bubble. This will take you to a Web page where you can change the entry properties.
Select the marker you wish to move, then click on the "Relocate" link within the information bubble. This link is located as an icon at the right bottom of the information bubble. Follow the instructions in the pop-up box.
Markers and entries can be deleted by selecting "Deletions->Delete some markers" menu item, then checking the appropriate boxes from the list in the pop-up window.
Photos and pictures can be included while you are creating an entry by uploading the file in the "Media" tab of the "Add Marker" dialog. Or, you can add a photo after an entry has been created by selecting the marker on your map, then clicking on the name of the entry in the information bubble. This will take you to an edit entry dialog that you can use to add photo and other media.
Audio files (or links) can be included while you are creating an entry by uploading the file in the Media tab of the "Add Marker" dialog. Or, you can add an audio file after an entry has been created by selecting the marker on your map, then clicking on the name of the entry in the information bubble. This will present you a dialog box where you can edit the entry properties. Upload your audio file in the Media tab of this dialog box.
You can get the URL link for your map by selecting the "Print or Share->Link" menu item on top of your map.
Maps you create with ZeeMaps are automatically saved to our servers.
Complete maps cannot be deleted. In order to erase your map, you can remove all its entries and markers.
Yes, you can easily import contact files from other programs onto your ZeeMap. First create a CSV file for the records in Outlook, Excel, Access, ACT, or other popular contact management programs. Next, click "Additions->Upload CSV" at the top of your map to add those contacts as map entries. Your CSV file must contain at least two columns:
Name: To identify an entry
Location: For US entries, your CSV file must contain information that allows us to map your location. For example, in the US, at a minimum provide a zip code. For non-US entries, a city and country are required.
CSV files can contain street address, city, and state and additional fields. If you do not have exact addresses for your entries, you can specify "Latitude" and "Longitude" columns.
Yes, you can easily import data from Google Spreadsheets. Use "Additions->Upload CSV" menu item on your map. Then, in the resulting dialog, click on the "Use Google Spreadsheet" link.
For this to work, you must remember to:
1. Name your spreadsheet as ZeeMap-<map-number> where map-number is the number for your map.
2. Allow the email address zeemaps at gmail dot com view access to your spreadsheet.
A Wiki map is a customized ZeeMap that you can use to allow other people to add entries on the map. If you want other people, e.g., group members, conference attendies, class students, to mark their own entires, select the "Wiki Map" checkbox when creating a map.
A Crime map allows you to map crime locations on a map. It has special fields like case number, date of crime, crime category, etc. Crime maps come with their own specialized search dialog.
A housing map is designed to help brokers, agents, and other real estate professionals visually display the locations of properties for rent or sale. These maps can be printed and shared with clients, or published to a Web site. Special search facilities allow users to instantly find a specific location or property.
No. We do not support adding properties to a housing map using MLS Numbers.
Yes, housing maps contain a special search dialog box tailored to the real estate industry. So, your users can use housing maps to search for properties using real estate-specific criteria such as number of bedrooms, price range, lot size, etc.
Absolutely. Housing maps are ideally suited for creating maps of properties you want to show a client. Simply add entries to the map, and send the map URL to your client. Give a member key to the client, so she can make changes to the map as well.
An IP map is a map that contains entries based on the estimated locations of specific IP addresses. We use an effective and accurate commercial service to determine the location of IP addresses.
You can dynamically add Web page visitors to your map by including the following HTML line on your Web pages: <img width=1 height=1 src="http://www.zeemaps.com/locate?group=<number>".
Next, substitute <number> with your map number. Each time a visitor comes to your site, a request will be sent to our server to automatically determine the visitor's IP address and add that location to your map. As per our privacy guidelines, we do not store any information about your visitors, except data about the Web browser they are using.
Lists of IP addresses contained in other programs can be easily imported into your ZeeMap. Generate a CSV file for the records contained in Outlook, Excel, Access, or other programs, then click "Import CSV" at the top of your map to add those IP addresses as map entries. The location is determined by an "IP address" or "Hostname" column. All other columns are treated in the same way as an import of entries to a regular map (see Can I import entries from MS Outlook, Excel, Access, ACT and other programs?).
ZeeMaps allows you to customize several default properties on your map, including map type (satellite, hybrid, or regular), and which map controls are displayed (pan-zoom, small zoom, or scale). You can also edit basic map information such as name, lock keys, and primary contact email address, and add new entry attributes. Use the "Map", "Customizations", or "Settings" menu items on top of your map to customize different aspects of your map.
Each map can be given a name by clicking "Advanced" at the top of the map, then choosing "Map Name & Contact Email" in the pop-up window, and entering the name into the "Map Name" field.
Yes, you can easily change the default view of your map. Click on "Settings->Display" menu item above your map to change the map display.
ZeeMaps provides map controls that enable you to set and change the center coordinate and zoom level of your map. These controls can be found on the left side of your map. You can also re-position your map by pressing and holding the left mouse button while moving the mouse around. ZeeMaps automatically saves all map positions, so the center coordinates and zoom level you define will appear when you return to the map.
Information bubbles can be altered by clicking "Customizations->Info Bubble" menu item above your map. This allows you to define what appears within each bubble, and change the size of entry photo or video.
Marker colors can be defined while adding entries to your map by selecting a color from the drop-down list. Once your entry has been added, you can change the color by clicking on the marker. This will take you to a page that allows you to change the entry properties. Simply select a new marker color from the drop-down list, and click "Submit".
You can adjust the width, number of columns, and sort order of your list by clicking on "Customizations->List" menu item at the top of your map.
You can filter map entries by country, state, or other attributes such as phone number, email address, or Website URL by clicking on the "View->Filter" menu item at the top of your map.
You can view a list of your map entries by clicking on the little icon at the top of the bar on the right of your map. You can also see the list by selecting the "View->List" menu item at the top of your map. Once your list has appeared in the pop-up box, you can select any entry to view its details.
Click the "View->Search" menu item a the top of your map to search for entries based on any attribute, including name, address, city, state, zip code, and phone number. You can even search for entries by distance, or by date (simply enter values as dates).
You can export your entries to a CSV file, which can then be opened in a wide range of programs including Excel, Outlook, Access, ACT, and other contact management packages. Simply click on "View -> Export CSV" menu item at the top of your map to create your CSV file.
You can explore thousands of maps created by ZeeMaps users by entering a map name or location on our home page, or by clicking on "Explore" or using the "Find Map" search facility on the Home page of ZeeMaps.
ZeeMaps makes it convenient for you to generate a PDF to print your map. Use the "Paper Copy" link above your map to generate a PDF, in different page sizes and orientations (portrait or landscape). We allow for various custom page sizes, e.g, A4, Letter, Fools cap, Executive, Half Letter, and so forth. Contact us for other special page sizes.
If you would like to print a list of entries, you can click on the "List" link to the right of your map, then click on "Details" in the pop-up box. This will open up a window with the details of those entries, which can be sent to your printer. To print only specific entries, use the "Filter" or "Search" link to restrict the entries. Then, create a list and print it.
ZeeMaps makes it easy to share your maps with friends, relatives, co-workers, customers, and other people. After your map has been completed, you can publish it to any Web site, blog, or message board.
Yes, you can publish your map from ZeeMaps to MySpace. Click on the "Print or Share -> Publish" menu item above your map. Then, follow directions for publishing the map on MySpace.
To publish your ZeeMap map on your own Web site, click on "Print or Share -> Publish" at the top of your map. This will allow you to customize the way your map is published, and provide you with HTML code that can be copied and pasted onto your site.
Yes, you can hide markers by clicking on "Print or Share -> Publish" at the top of your map. This will take you to a page that allows you to customize your published map. Check the colors you would like to hide in the "Hide Colors" section.
Lists can be displayed to the right of published maps by clicking on "Print or Share -> Publish" at the top of your map, then checking the "With list on the right" button.
Click on "Print or Share -> Publish" at the top of your map, then check the "Open default marker" box to make a default marker open in your published map.
You can enable other users to add new entries to maps through your Web site by clicking on "Print or Share -> Publish" at the top of your map, then checking the "Allow additions" box.
Changes you make to your ZeeMap are automatically reflected in your published map, so you do not need to re-publish it when you make additions or modifications.
Zee Source respects user privacy, and will not trade, sell or rent your personal information without your express approval. However, we may collect and/or provide aggregate statistics about its Web site and users to other parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.
ZeeMaps allows you to lock individual maps. A locked map can have up to three keys, so you have complete control over who can access, view, and modify your maps. All keys are initially empty, and must be set during map creation.
Use the Map -> Subscribe menu on your map. Select the subscription term (one year or six months) and click on the "Subscribe" button.
Yes. You can subscribe to multiple maps at the same time. Go to "My Maps" and the "Owned" tab. (You must be signed-in to subscribe to multiple maps together.) Select the maps that you want to subscribe, and click on the "Subscribe" menu item on the top of the list.
You can subscribe maps for six month or yearly terms.
Currently we do not have per user subscriptions. If you are publishing a group of maps in a single domain, or do not care about publishing maps, you can use the subscription group feature (see below) to create a subscription group and add your maps to a group.
Subscription groups allow you to create a group of maps that together do not have Google Ads. Subscription groups are meant for two situations:
1. You have a single top level domain where you want to publish a group of maps, e.g., all maps on http://www.pub.com
2. You do not want to publish maps, but just want all your maps not to have Google Ads.
Subscription groups belong to a ZeeMaps user. Each subscription group has a name and a Base URL. When a map belongs to a subscription group, and is published on a web site that has a URL starting with the Base URL, it will not show Google Ads.
If you have not already registered as a user with ZeeMaps, register yourself as a user and sign-in. Click on the "Account" link towards to bottom of your map or My Maps page. Use the "Add Subscription Group" tab in the resulting dialog, to specify the name and Base URL for your subscription group. Click on the New Subscription Group button to pay for the subscription group and activate it.
Sign-in as the user who created the subscription group. Use Map -> Subscribe menu on your map to get the subscription dialog. In the resulting dialog box, select the subscription group to which you want to add your map.
The "Revisit your maps" link on the ZeeMaps home page will take you to a list of all maps that have been viewed with your browser. Additionally, a "Find Map" search facility can be found at the top of each page of our Web site. Simply enter your map name or number to locate your map.
Make sure that the email address you registered with the map is valid and correct. Then, double-check your CSV file to be sure it contains the columns ZeeMaps needs to determine the locations of your entries. Also, make sure your CSV file does not contain any errors, such as blank lines and unnecessary commas. If everything is okay, then please contact us and we'll be happy to help you resolve any issues.
Make sure that the email address you registered with the map is valid and correct. Then, double-check your CSV file to be sure it contains the columns ZeeMaps needs to determine the locations of your entries. Also, make sure your CSV file does not contain any errors, such as blank lines and unnecessary commas. If everything is okay, then please contact us and we'll be happy to help you resolve any issues.
You can add double quotation marks around your zipcode entries to prevent Excel from stripping leading zeros. Alternatively, manually edit the CSV file to add the leading zeros.
If you forget your map's keys, please contact your map admin. If you are the map admin, you can click on the "Forgot keys" link in the "Unlock" area to have the map keys sent to the email address associated with the map.
ZeeMaps offers an international geo-coding web service. The service will return a set of latitude and longitude coordinates for any given city, state (optional), and country combination. When you provide only a country name, the service will return the location at the center of that country. You can find more information about our geo-coding service here.
We provide international geo-coding as a free trial service. It should not be used for commercial use, as the service is subject is to change, although there are no changes planned for the foreseeable future.