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Create Dots: postcode locations

Plot customers, sites or depots from a list of postcodes. A dot can be a small location symbol or a large circle with a radius in miles.

Watch tutorial video Opens YouTube · some videos show an earlier layout

See it on the map

Real map artwork · example settings
A Yorkshire map with a green circle, blue square, yellow triangle, purple hexagon and orange star at different locations. A larger hollow dashed circle appears around York.
Different dots and shapes. Advanced dots can use circles, squares, triangles, hexagons and stars. Different shapes and colours help distinguish depots, customers or other location types. The larger hollow circle demonstrates a coverage-style outline; the basic dot controls also let you adjust fill, transparency and line appearance. These are example positions.
Create Dots: postcode locations — current GBMaps controls 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9
Current controls. Select a numbered marker for its explanation.

  1. Show dots

    Shows or hides the postcode-dot layer without deleting the locations. It is separate from the built-in town, village and city dots under Map details.

  2. Postcodes: one per line

    Paste full postcodes, one on each line. The entry count helps you check the list. This panel is intended for the supported UK postcode maps; do not assume an overseas postal code can be geocoded simply because another map is open.

  3. Clear text

    Empties the postcode entry box. It does not mean “delete the dots already on the map”. Use the delete button for that, or the visibility checkbox to hide them temporarily.

  4. Radius in miles

    Sets the size of the circles around the postcode locations, from 0.2 to 20 miles in this panel. It is a radius, not a diameter. Use a small radius for location points and a larger one to suggest straight-line coverage.

  5. Line width and Line colour

    Sets the outline thickness and colour. The width slider runs from 0.1 to 20. A thin dark outline can keep pale dots visible over coloured territories.

  6. Fill colour

    Sets the inside colour of the dots. Use More appearance options to make that fill translucent, allowing the territory map beneath it to remain visible.

  7. Add dots to map

    Looks up the supplied postcodes and draws the dots using the chosen appearance. Check the map and any lookup feedback before considering the import finished. Keep a copy of your postcode list if you will need to repeat the import.

  8. Delete all dots

    Removes the dot collection from the map. It does not clear built-in settlement dots or marker boxes. Use Show dots if you only want them temporarily out of sight.

  9. Colour postcodes

    Turn the coverage into postcode territories with one click. Choose Add to existing to keep current colouring, or Replace colouring to start again from this coverage. The matching uses polygon centres; read the separate postcode-colouring guide for edge cases and overlaps.

Classic GBMaps · Written by GBMaps · Updated Download this guide for your AI (.md)
Panel detail

Select a number to read its explanation. For small text, choose Actual size and scroll across the picture.

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