# Marker Boxes: labelled places Official GBMaps guide for the classic map maker. VectorMaps has a different interface. Source: https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=markers Updated: 2026-10-22 Use marker boxes for an office, customer, depot or meeting point that needs a visible label and callout. They sit on top of the map rather than replacing territory colours. [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. ![Marker Boxes: labelled places — current GBMaps controls](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/help/images/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. Show markers Shows or hides the marker layer. Existing marker text, styling and positions are retained. Use this to compare a clean territory map with the annotated version. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=markers#markers--show) ## 2. New marker Adds a marker row and selects it, with the text field ready to type into. Give it a useful label. The count in the panel shows how many markers are present. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=markers#markers--new) ## 3. Select, rename or remove one marker Use the selection control beside a marker row to make it the active marker. Edit its text in that row. The row’s delete control removes that marker alone. Selecting a single marker returns you from “all markers” styling to that individual marker. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=markers#markers--select) ## 4. Place on map With a marker selected, tick Place on map and click its location. Click again to move that selected marker. Untick when you are finished. This is the reliable way to reposition a marker; dragging the underlying map moves the map composition. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=markers#markers--place) ## 5. Apply style to all markers Tick before changing appearance if every marker should use the same settings. It affects the styling of all markers, not their individual label text or locations. Leave it off to give one important location a different treatment. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=markers#markers--all) ## 6. Text colour and Outline colour Open the palette from the appropriate colour control. Give text enough contrast against its box and the map beneath it. The advanced importer also supplies a per-row box colour. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=markers#markers--colours) ## 7. Font size Changes the selected marker’s lettering, or every marker when Apply style to all markers is on. The slider runs from 0.5 to 20. Check the final page view, not just a close-up of the map. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=markers#markers--font) ## 8. Call-out length Open Call-out settings and adjust Length to move the label farther from or closer to its anchor. A longer callout can keep text clear of a crowded area. This changes the annotation, not the geographic location being marked. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=markers#markers--length) ## 9. Arrow or line; Invert marker Choose a plain line or arrow for the callout. Invert marker puts the box on the other side of the anchor, useful when a label would cover another feature or fall off the page. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=markers#markers--type) ## 10. Delete all markers Removes the whole marker collection. It does not delete territory colours or built-in place dots. Hide markers instead if you want to bring them back later. [Open this step](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=markers#markers--delete) ### What this looks like Current GBMaps controls with example maps and account details. Choose View larger to see the details. ![Find this tool in the menu — GBMaps controls](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/help/images/help-20261022-menu-locationMarkers.png?v=1792654464) [**Find this tool in the menu**](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=markers#markers--show) The current menu entry. Expand its options as described in the numbered instructions; extra controls appear when an item or data has been added. ## Related guides - [Import marker boxes from postcodes](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=marker-import) - [Advanced marker import: every column](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=advanced-markers) - [Choose a colour](https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map-help.php?topic=palette)