Colour postcode areas faster with Ctrl or Command
On a UK postcode map containing districts or sectors, hold Ctrl on Windows or Command (⌘) on Mac while clicking to temporarily reverse the Colour mode. Your normal mode stays selected afterwards.
Select the territory and check Colour
Select the territory name in the map key first. Read the Colour label to see whether a normal click affects a postcode area or a smaller district/sector. This shortcut needs district or sector shapes in the loaded UK postcode artwork; it cannot add missing detail to an area-only map.
Colour a whole postcode area in one click
While Colour is set to Postcode districts or Postcode sectors, hold Ctrl (Windows) or ⌘ Command (Mac), then click one of the smaller shapes. All districts or sectors in that postcode area take your selected territory’s colour. For example, Ctrl-clicking YO18 on a district map colours the whole YO postcode area. Release the key to carry on colouring individual shapes.
Colour just one smaller shape in Area mode
While Colour is set to Postcode areas, hold the same Ctrl or Command key and click a district or sector shape to colour just that smaller unit. Release the key for normal whole-area clicks again. The shortcut changes that click only; it does not switch the chosen mode.
Review the replacement warning
If the parent area already contains individually coloured shapes, the tool may warn before replacing them all, including a partly coloured area or one using your selected colour already. Keep existing colours cancels the replacement. Colour whole area assigns the whole area to your selected territory. Undo restores the assignments if you change your mind.
A small tip while you colour
After several individual clicks, a brief pointer-side tip may remind you of the whole-area shortcut. It fades away and may remind you again later; use its × to dismiss it. You can use the shortcut without waiting for the tip.
On a phone or tablet
With touch controls, use the normal Colour selector to choose Postcode areas or the available district/sector level, then tap the map. A keyboard shortcut is optional, not required for colouring. US whole-state colouring has its own States choice; this postcode shortcut is not a US state command.
What this looks like
Current GBMaps controls with example maps and account details. Choose View larger to see the details.
On Windows the tip shows Ctrl; on Mac it shows ⌘ Cmd. Use that key with a click, or dismiss the tip with ×.
Keep existing colours cancels. Colour whole area replaces the assignments inside that postcode area; Undo can restore them.