# Advanced marker import: every column Official GBMaps guide for the classic map maker. VectorMaps has a different interface. Source: https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=advanced-markers Updated: 2026-10-22 Choose a CSV file or paste an Excel table into the Postcodes box. You can also paste the columns individually. Up to 500 rows are supported; CSV files must be smaller than 2 MB. [Watch tutorial video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CkX_NQCjJQ) Some videos show an earlier layout. The written instructions below describe the current controls; this is a guide, not a video transcript. ![Advanced marker import: every column — current GBMaps controls](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/help/images/advanced-markers.png) The current panel, with its options expanded where useful. Select a numbered circle to read its explanation. ## Marker boxes on the map ![A Thirsk depot marker has a blue label box above its location with an arrow pointing down to it. A Malton office marker uses a purple label below its point and a line call-out.](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/help/images/example-markers.png) These are placed marker boxes: each label is connected to a location on the map. One uses an arrow with the text above the point; the other uses a line with the text below it. You can change the wording, text size, colours and call-out, and move a selected marker using Place on map. ## 1. Load a CSV / Download sample CSV The sample provides the expected column order. CSV files may have a recognised heading row; paste separate columns without headings. Loading a file fills the dialog for review before Import to map. Multi-line spreadsheet cells are joined with spaces. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=advanced-markers#advanced-markers--file) ## 2. Postcodes and Labels Use a full UK postcode on each row and its matching label beside it. Postcodes are required; labels can be blank. A whole tab-separated Excel table pasted into Postcodes is spread across the columns. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=advanced-markers#advanced-markers--postcode) ## 3. Text size Sets the size for each marker, from 0.1 to 100. A blank setting uses 5. Enter one value on its own to use it for all postcodes, or supply one value per row for different sizes. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=advanced-markers#advanced-markers--size) ## 4. Callout length Accepts 0 to 500; the default is 10. Zero hides the callout line. Use a larger value to separate a label from a dense cluster of locations. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=advanced-markers#advanced-markers--length) ## 5. Text colour and Box colour Use a colour name, a supported palette name such as teal400, or a hex value such as #E8AC25. Blank settings use black text and a white box. One colour value can apply to all rows. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=advanced-markers#advanced-markers--colours) ## 6. Position and Callout Position accepts above or below. Callout accepts line or arrow. Defaults are above and line. These control the marker’s annotation, not the postcode coordinates. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=advanced-markers#advanced-markers--position) ## 7. London inset Use auto to detect London postcodes, true to use the inset, or false to use the main map. The legacy numeric forms 1 and 0 are also accepted. Make sure the London inset is visible if you choose to put markers there. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=advanced-markers#advanced-markers--london) ## 8. One value or a complete column An optional column can contain one shared value or one value for every postcode row. Other column lengths are rejected so rows do not silently shift. Blank optional cells use the defaults. Read the status message if a value or row needs correcting. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=advanced-markers#advanced-markers--columns) ## 9. Show/hide, download and delete Open Manage marker boxes on this map. Show/hide changes visibility and Delete all markers from map removes the collection. Download your marker data exports the current column contents, which can include edits you have not imported yet. Clear columns only empties the draft fields. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=advanced-markers#advanced-markers--manage) ## 10. Import to map / Close / Clear columns Import to map validates and replaces the current markers with the imported collection. Check any unavailable postcode results. Close leaves the current artwork alone if you have not imported; it also stops an in-progress import. Clear columns clears the draft fields, not the markers already on the map. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=advanced-markers#advanced-markers--apply) ## 11. Australia and New Zealand postcodes On Australia or New Zealand district maps use four-digit postcodes from the selected country, preserving leading zeros. Paste spreadsheet values as text. Check any missing-postcode feedback; a postcode on a different country’s map will not locate correctly. UK London-inset settings do not apply to these maps. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=advanced-markers#advanced-markers--aunz) ## Related guides - [Import marker boxes from postcodes](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=marker-import) - [Marker Boxes: labelled places](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=markers) - [Get a spreadsheet ready for import](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=import-checklist)