Add an inset from this map or another saved map
Show a busy part of your map in more detail, or bring in another map from your account. Each inset has its own position, size, view and background colour. It can follow the map you are editing immediately, or follow the latest saved version of a different map.
See it on the map
Real map artwork · example settings
Add a live inset
Open Regions & Insets and choose Add inset map. A small second view appears near the bottom-left of the page. It starts at the centre and zoom of your main map. Use it for a city close-up, an island or an overview of your territories. You can add one custom inset to each map.
Use another saved map
Choose another saved map opens a small map picker. Search by name, region or map type, select a row, then choose Use this map. The list shows each saved map’s name, type, page orientation and saved date when available. Only maps in your own account are listed; a map type needs an active licence before you can use it. For example, put a detailed postcode district map inside a postcode area overview. The source map itself is not changed. You can use one custom inset on the page, so choosing a different source replaces its artwork but keeps its frame and background.
Update the artwork without disturbing the inset
Open source map opens the original in a separate tab. Make your changes there and save it, then return to this map. The inset checks for updates when you return, when you reopen the host map, and once a minute while its tab is visible. Refresh checks straight away. Your inset keeps its position, size, zoom, background and caption. Unsaved edits in the source tab do not appear in the inset. The link works for normal map features, including saved drive-time shapes; it does not request a new drive-time calculation.
Show or hide the inset without losing it
Untick Show inset to hide it from the page and from PDF, PNG, JPG, SVG and PowerPoint downloads. Its position, zoom, size, caption and colours are kept. Tick the box again to bring it back in the same place, showing the latest source artwork. Save your map to remember whether the inset is shown or hidden next time you open it. This also works when its position is locked. Use Remove inset only when you want to remove its settings as well.
Give it a short title
Type a caption such as Leeds in detail or National overview, then press Tab or click outside the box. Leave it empty for a frame without a heading. The title belongs to the inset; it does not change your main map title.
Move, pan and resize
Choose Position inset to show its blue strip and handles. Drag the blue strip to move the whole frame around the page. Drag inside the picture to pan the map within the frame. Drag a corner or side handle to change its size and shape. Click Finish positioning, press Escape or click elsewhere when you are happy. Clicking inside an unlocked inset also shows its handles.
Zoom into the detail you need
With the pointer over the inset, roll the mouse wheel to zoom towards the pointer. On a touch screen, pinch with two fingers. The minus and plus buttons in the sidebar zoom around the centre. The main map stays where it is. Enlarging an area map does not add district or sector boundaries that are not present in that map.
Choose a useful starting view
For an inset of this map, Use main view centres it on the main view. For a linked map, Use saved view fits the source map’s saved page view inside the inset. You can then pan and zoom independently. Fit whole map in inset fits the whole source artwork, including any supplied regional insets. Hidden unassigned areas stay hidden; fit uses the source map’s full extent.
Choose the frame and proportions
Frame colour changes the outline. Keep frame proportions holds its current width-to-height ratio while you resize. Without that option you can make a tall, wide or square frame. Changing the frame shape reveals a different amount of geography; it never stretches the map.
Lock the finished inset
Tick Lock inset position & zoom to prevent accidental panning, zooming or resizing. Untick it to adjust the frame again. You can still change its caption, frame and background colours. A linked inset still receives saved artwork updates while locked.
Colour once; see it in both views
For an inset of this map, colouring shapes on the main map immediately changes the inset too. Territory colours, labels, boundaries, markers, dots, rings and other geographical artwork follow the main map. For another saved map, these details come from that map’s latest saved version instead. The source’s page title, legend and custom inset are not included. Your inset has its own optional title. Neither kind adds extra postcodes or values to the main map’s legend.
Save, reopen and download
Save the editable map to keep its inset, caption, frame and background colours, size, position, zoom, visibility and lock settings. These are stored with the map in your account and restored when you reopen it. When Show inset is ticked, the inset also appears in PDF, PNG, JPG, SVG and PowerPoint downloads; blue editing handles are left out. Your usual map access is required for downloads. This is a page-layout feature for Design and Print View; it is not added to the separate On Google map. A linked inset stores a reference to its source map, so reopening it picks up that source’s latest saved artwork. Previously downloaded files remain unchanged. Keep the source map in your account if you want the link to continue working.
Undo a change or remove the inset
Use the existing Undo and Redo buttons at the top of the map for inset moves, pans, zooms, resizing, title or colour changes, showing or hiding, and removal. A continuous drag counts as one change. Remove inset removes this extra view from the page, leaving the main map and its colouring intact. Undo can bring it back during the current editing session.
Use the keyboard
Choose Position inset to focus the frame. Arrow keys pan the map inside it; Shift with an arrow moves the frame. Plus and minus zoom. Escape hides the editing handles. You can also reach the sidebar controls with Tab. Keyboard movement is disabled while the inset is locked.
Give the inset its own background colour
Click the Background colour swatch and choose a colour for the space around the inset map. A new inset starts with the same background as the main map; after that, each keeps its own colour. For example, keep a blue background on the main map and choose white for a close-up. This does not recolour your territories or change the white title strip. You can change the background while the inset is locked. It is saved with the editable map and included in your downloads.
Return to a live view of this map
Use this map switches the inset back to the map you are editing. The frame, caption and background are retained, and the view starts from the main map again. Undo can restore the previous source. The supplied London and regional inset switches below these controls still work separately. Older saved maps keep their existing behaviour.