GmapGIS

2025-11-03T08:22:00.008+08:00

Uploading Shapefiles to Google Maps Using GmapGIS

If you’ve ever tried to display your shapefiles directly on Google Maps, you’ll know that Google Maps itself doesn’t support shapefile uploads. That’s where GmapGIS comes in — a free, browser-based mapping tool that lets you view, edit, and share shapefiles on top of Google Maps in just a few simple steps.

In this post, we’ll show you how to upload and view shapefiles on Google Maps using GmapGIS.

🔹 What You’ll Need

A shapefile (typically consisting of .shp, .shx, .dbf, and .prj files)
These files zipped together into a single .zip archive
A web browser — no software installation required

🔹 Step-by-Step: Uploading Your Shapefile

Go to GmapGIS
Open your browser and visit https://www.gmapgis.com/.
You’ll see a familiar Google Maps interface enhanced with GmapGIS tools.
Open the File Menu
Click File on the top menu bar.
Select Import → Shapefile
From the dropdown, choose Import, then click Shapefile.
A small drag-and-drop window will appear on your screen.
Upload Your ZIP File
Drag your shapefile ZIP into the window, or click to browse and select it.
GmapGIS will automatically process the file and add your data to the map.
View Your Map
Once the upload is complete, the map will automatically pan and zoom to the location of your shapefile.
You can now explore, measure, label, and share your data interactively — all overlaid on Google Maps.

🔹 Why Use GmapGIS?

No installation or account required
Works directly in your browser
Supports shapefiles, KML, and GeoJSON
Allows you to annotate, draw, and export maps easily

🔹 Tips for Best Results

Ensure all required shapefile components are included in the ZIP (.shp, .shx, .dbf, and ideally .prj).
Large shapefiles may take a little longer to load.
For best performance, keep your ZIP file under 10 MB.

Go to: https://www.gmapgis.com/

The main GmapGIS screen
The File → Import → Shapefile menu
The drag-and-drop upload window
The map displaying the shapefile

🔹 Try It Yourself

Visit GmapGIS.com and upload your shapefile today — it’s quick, easy, and completely free!

2019-07-20T21:24:00.001+08:00

How to link a pdf file in the pop up window of a marker/pin

Question: how can one link a .pdf containing graphss/graphics to a pin/marker in gmapgis (apart from popup label).
When user clicks on pin marker on map, we want the popup to either show, save or open .pdf file with graphs related to that pin/marker area.
This will be a wonderful help if map is saved as link and placed on website with "save as link" option of GmapGIS.

Also try our free in-out staff board for better staff efficiency.

Answer:

Map of Contaminated Sites in Sydney NSW Australia

2018-03-14T12:15:00.002+08:00

Have you ever wondered how many contaminated land sites there are in our cities all over the world. Here is a map of Contaminated Sites in Sydney NSW Australia. All cities in the developed world have the same story.

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Change units of measuring area and distance

2018-03-13T08:17:00.002+08:00

Click setting on left corner of tool bar.
Chose Metric (metres and km) or Imperial units (yards, miles, acres).
Save the settings.
Your preferences are remembered.

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Map of Acid Sulfate Soils Western Australia

2018-03-13T07:49:00.002+08:00

Here is a link to Map of Acid Sulfate Soils Western Australia.

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Save current location as my start up location

2018-03-11T08:44:00.002+08:00

Choose the map location and zoom level that you like, and then click Settings on the left most position of the tool bar. Check the appropriate check box and click save.

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Change shape colors

2018-03-11T08:42:00.003+08:00

Right click the shape and choose from the context menu.

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Create and save project file

2018-03-11T08:34:00.002+08:00

Project is a collection of layers shown in the left pan. Each layer can be independently turned on or off.

A default project is created on your first visit to the site. All drawing layers are saved as part of the project file.

You can save your project in a desired name and load it from any computer. Right Click any overlay and select Save project as..and follow instructions.

Stop editing a layer

2018-03-11T08:31:00.001+08:00

Click the red colored overlay. The drawing will be saved and the red color will change to black, indicating an inactive overlay

Save drawings to edit later

2018-03-10T23:05:00.002+08:00

Draw whatever and click the save icon on the toolbar. The drawing will be saved and a New map will be shown in red color in the left pane.

Click link icon on tool bar. You will see two links: Editable link and View only link. Open the editable link in new tab and bookmark on your browser to access it next time for editing.

You can share the View only link with your colleagues. They will be able see updated maps instantly on their desktop or mobile. Great for communicating geographic info with field staff.

You can also share the Edit only link with colleagues so that they can contribute to the map.

The red color indicates that this map is in edit mode and new drawing will be added to this map (some people call it layer)

Right click the New map to give it a new name or stop editing

Updated: 15 November 2018

How to measure distance in Metric units

2016-07-10T09:26:00.001+08:00

As a default, the Measure tool shows distance in imperial units (feet, yards and miles). Go to Settings on the menu and uncheck the preference for imperial units. The distance will then be shown in metric units (meters and kilometers).

GmapGIS

2016-05-19T17:41:00.002+08:00

Known issue: Drawing tools do not work some times under slow internet connections.
Cause: The problem appears after reloading the webpage using the reload button of the browser.

This known issue has been fixed.

GmapGIS

Try free in-out staff board for better staff efficiency.

2015-02-03T15:37:00.002+08:00

We sometimes get emails saying that they can not draw on the map. Instead of drawing, the map moves with the mouse. Sometimes the distance tool does not show the distance.

If this happens, run the application in a new tab or new browser window of Chrome. The reloading seems to be causing the problem. A new version will be out soon.

Hope it helps
GmapGIS

New version of GmapGIS

2013-09-23T20:48:00.002+08:00

GmapGIS version 3 is now online. This version is best viewed using Google Chrome. There may be some issues with other browsers. The previous version of GmapGIS is available here.
Following new capabilities have been added.

Drawing can be saved as KML file.
Google Fusion tables can be viewed and queried in GmapGIS.
Tools for drawing circles and scribble lines.
Several other layers can be displayed.
Bug fixing and additions/refinement will be continued.

GmapGIS

2013-04-30T13:11:00.001+08:00

GmapGIS V2

The current version of GmapGIS utilizes Google Maps API V2. The API V2 will not be supported by Google after May 19, 2013.

We are upgrading GmapGIS to new Google Maps API V3 so that new version of GmapGIS is up and running before this date.

It is anticipated that all functions and tools may not run smoothly from the day one. Possibly, links / files saved by the previous version may not work in the beginning. This is just because we are little short of time.

For this reason, the user are alerted that they should save their locations, shapes and coordinates etc. This is a totally free application. and we don't assume responsibility for any lost work.

The new version of GmapGIS will make use of several new capabilities provided by Google Maps API V3.

This inconvenience will only be for a short time.

GmapGIS

New Version coming soon

2013-04-17T11:21:00.001+08:00

Hello,

A new version of gmapgis will be out soon. The new version is based on Google Maps API V3, and would be free of current bugs and errors. Several new addition are being made to make use of API V3.

gmapgis

How to Set home map view.

2012-12-26T12:11:00.002+08:00

If you have come to GmapGIS through a map link, you will see a map drawing.

Clicking on http://www.gmapgis.com will take you to a fresh map of the world.
You can move around on the map just as you would on the Google maps. To set you home loaction for the start up map, just move to place and choose right zoom level, and pick up down menu on the right side of HOME button on the Tool bar. You will see a menu item: Set new home. Click this item and GmapGIS will always open the current map view when you visit http://www.gmapgis.com

GmapGIS

2012-12-26T12:01:00.001+08:00

GmapGIS is being upgraded to utilize Google Maps API version 3. All known bugs will be fixed and new capabilities added shortly. Thanks for all the emails providing feedback and comments.

GmapGIS

2012-12-10T14:07:00.001+08:00

Hello, GmapGIS is only temoprarily down. It will be upagain in day or two. Email me if you like at bsbuttar@gmail.com for any suggestions or questions.

GIS on Google maps

2010-07-14T13:18:00.000+08:00

GmapGIS aims to present a easy to use software where non specialists can quickly draw polygons, lines, labels, markers with various colors and opacities on Google maps, and then either save for later editing or sharing with collegues/friends.

Drawings can be readily shared through a web link. The steps are easy.

draw on the map whatever you like and as much as you like,
click the red link on the tool bar as shown below ,

copy the url that is presented in a pop up window
paste it in email or Facebook or whatever digital means you want to use to send it.

Your friends/collegues will just have to click the link to see your drawings just as you see on your screen. The drawing are still fully editable by receipients for adding more info and then sending back or saving on their computer.

You can also save the drawings as a project file and send to friends as an email attachment. Your friends can save the file on their computer and upload to GmapGIS through open project option to view and edit the drawings.

GmapGIS also allows to import xy data on google maps. The xy data file can have several fields/columns to hold spatial data for analysis on Google maps. You do not need to be GIS specialist to use GmapGIS. There is more info xy data file in a previous post.

GmapGIS team

How to import xy data in Google maps

2010-07-07T13:31:00.000+08:00

With GmapGIS, you can readily import multi column data stored in a text file for spatial analysis on Google maps. Here is a simple example text file containing some points located in New York. The text file should have:

File extenstion of .txt such as data.txt - this is mandatory
First row contains column headers. - this is mandatory. Header names are not constained but should be meaningful.
The first coulmn contains of site/place ID- this is mandatory
The second column contains Latitude and third coumn Longitude- this is mandatory
Columns fourth onwards may contain any type of text or numerical data for the site/place.
Fields are delimited by either Tab or Comma. The Tab delimiter is default. If you choose to use comma as field delimter then you have to select that from the down menu next to xy data button.
It is reccomended that you have EOF in last row to mark end of the file.

Table of Contents (TOC) panel opens up when file is successfully loaded. If you can not see the markers, pan to region where text file is expected to plot. This will be automised shortly.

Double click the marker in TOC to style the marker and write content for info window.
If your file has many columns of site data, these are available for spatial analysis under the Column button in TOC panel.
Choose a column for analysis and double click on the markers in the TOC for formatting the markers for given class.

Easiest way to create such file is to set up the data in MS Excel and then copy-paste in a blank Note pad file.

Any questions on this: send us an email.

GmapGIS team

Quick overview

2010-07-01T10:39:00.000+08:00

GmapGIS allows to draw polygons, lines, labels and markers on Google Maps. The drawing can be saved on your computer for reloading. You can email the saved project file to your friends who can upload to GmapGIS on their computer anywhere in the world.

For quick sending of short pieces of spatial information, you can send your work as a link through email, messenger or Facebook.

On the web now

2010-06-29T18:40:00.000+08:00

The GIS web application is online now. The address is http://www.gmapgis.com/ .
If you have come to GmapGIS through a map link, you will see a map drawing.

Clicking on the link above will take you to a fresh map of the world.

You can move around on the map just as you would on the Google maps. To set you home loaction for the start up map, just move to place and choose right zoom level, and pick up down menu on the right side of

The current location and zoom will be saved as home for you. Refresh the map to see if the current location has been saved. Just play with map for now. Will write more soon.

Hello world

2010-05-31T21:02:00.000+08:00

We are writing a web application based on Google maps. This blog space will provide user help for the application.