A map Style is a set of customizations that can be
associated with a map ID, which is referenced in app code
to display the customized map.
While it isn't required to have a map ID before creating a style,
you must
associate it with a
map ID
and add the map ID to your app before you can use your style. This
is the only point in the map style lifecycle where anyone needs to interact
with the application code.
Published versus Draft styles
A published style is "live." Any maps that use the style display the
published version of it. Draft versions of a style are works in progress
and aren't displayed publicly in maps until they are published.
When you first create a new style, which includes duplicating an existing
style or style version, or importing a JSON style, that first instance of
the new style is automatically published.
Create a style
Create a map style using one of these methods:
- Creating a new style, either using default Google Map styles or based off of a suggested template.
- Duplicating an existing style.
- Duplicating a previous version of one of your existing styles.
- Importing JSON styling.
Create a new style
- In the Google Cloud Console,
go
to the
Map Styles
page
.
- Click
Create Style
, and choose the
Google Map
radio button.
- Click
Save
.
- In the
Save and Publish Map
dialog, enter a map name and optional
description, and click
Save
.
The style is automatically published, and you are taken to your new style's
main page.
Duplicate an existing style
- In the Google Cloud Console,
go
to the
Map Styles
page
.
- Select one of your existing styles, and go to
Duplicate
.
- In the
Duplicate Map Style
dialog, enter a new map name and, if desired, a description.
- Click
Save
.
The style is automatically published, and you are taken to your new style's
main page.
Duplicate a style version
- In the Google Cloud Console,
go
to the
Map Styles
page
.
- Select one of your existing styles, and click
Customize Style
.
- Select
Settings > Version History
.
- Select a style version, and click
Duplicate
at the
bottom of the
Version History
pane.
The duplicated style is automatically published. At the bottom of the page
is a small notification telling you that the style was
duplicated and providing a link to open the newly duplicated style in a new tab.
The first style on your map is the original style version. Unlike other dated
Draft or Published versions, it does not have any selectable child styles.
To revert to this style or duplicate this style, select the dated heading.
Import JSON styling
- In the Google Cloud Console,
go
to the
Map Styles
page
.
- Click
Create style
.
- Under
Create your own style
, select the
Import JSON
radio button.
- Paste your valid JSON styling code into the field.
- If your JSON is invalid, you see a notice in capital letters just below the JSON field.
- If your JSON is valid, you see a preview of the pasted style, and the blue
SAVE
button is available.
- Select
SAVE
.
The style is automatically published, and you are taken to your new
style's main page.
Restore a style version
If you want to use a previous version of a style, you can restore it.
For example, if you created a branded map style to support a special event,
when the event is finished you can restore the standard version of the
map style.
- In the Google Cloud Console,
go
to the
Map Styles
page
.
- Select the style you want, and click
Customize Style
.
- Select
Settings > Version History
.
- Select the version you want to restore, and click
Restore
at the
bottom of the
Version History
pane. The restored style becomes the
most recent draft of the style.
- Close the "Version History" pane, and click
Publish
.
Update style details
Once you've created a map style, you can edit, duplicate, rename, delete, or
add map IDs to it using the options at the top of the style's main page.
- Continue customizing or view style details by selecting
Customize style
.
- Rename or edit a description for the style by selecting
Edit
.
- Duplicate the style by selecting
Duplicate
.
- Delete the style by selecting
Delete
.
- Add or view map IDs associated with the style.
Associate or remove map IDs on your style
Styles can be associated with multiple map IDs, since the same style
can be applied across multiple Google Maps apps. However, each map ID
may be associated with only one style.
- On the
Map Styles
page, select a style.
- Select either the
Add Map IDs
button (for styles with no associated
map IDs) or the pencil icon (for styles that already have at least
one associated map ID.) This opens the
Add / Edit Map IDs
pane.
- Check the box next to a map ID to associate with this style, or uncheck a
checked box to remove the association.
- Select
Save
.
To use your Cloud-based map style,
add the map ID to your app
.