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I can't find the manual for how to READ the Open Street Map (e.g. symbols and controls). All of the tutorials, wiki entries, etc. are mysterious to me because I can't find a single Table of Contents anywhere, and all of the articles I find, e.g. for Beginners, are about gathering data and contributing.

Please point me to the right resources to learn how to read (not just contribute to) Open Street Map.

Thanks.

Jim-Bob

asked 24 Jun '14, 18:49

Jim-Bob%20Harris's gravatar image

Jim-Bob Harris
91116
accept rate: 0%

edited 25 Jun '14, 23:16

aseerel4c26's gravatar image

aseerel4c26 ♦
32.6k18248554

Do you mean a map key that explains what a certain colour means on the map, or do you mean an user guide that says "if you want to zoom in, click on the + button"?

(24 Jun '14, 19:12) Frederik Ramm ♦

@Frederik Ramm, Thanks for trying to clarify the question and I presume offering to follow up. I think this thread now has enough info that I don't plan to dig into it any more, and I hope you agree.

(25 Jun '14, 15:20) Jim-Bob Harris

The only information available is under the "i" aka "Map Key" on the right side. This question has been asked in the past https://help.openstreetmap.org/questions/1004/simple-legendkey, without real answer

permanent link

answered 24 Jun '14, 20:36

escada's gravatar image

escada
19.0k16166302
accept rate: 21%

2

Thanks, escada.

Sorry I had not explored all of those buttons on the right. I agree the i is useful.

I still say a simple one-page "User Guide" for OSM reading-only is called for, but I really can't complain, as it is excellent, especially for the price! :D

I would mark your answer "accepted" and mark my question "answered" but I see no way to do either.

Jim-Bob

(25 Jun '14, 12:35) Jim-Bob Harris
2

@Jim-Bob Harris: We also have the Browsing wiki page which is some kind of "user guide" for "OSM-reading".

(25 Jun '14, 14:08) aseerel4c26 ♦
4

Wow.

https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Browsing

is just about exactly what I was looking for.

I still say something like that should be obviously linked from the OSM home page; there is all kinds of useful stuff mentioned on that Wiki page that would never be found by a normal user (that's what I say, anyway, but many who know me would argue that I can't tell what a "normal" user could do, because ... well, that's enough on that) because searching for obvious keywords like "Legend" or "Help" or "User Guide" doesn't find that Wiki page.

Thanks again, and I hope my report of my experience, and these comments, help guide further development.

Thanks again for a great service !

Regards,

Jim

(25 Jun '14, 15:18) Jim-Bob Harris

Now you should be able to find "legend" in the wiki. :-)

(25 Jun '14, 16:01) aseerel4c26 ♦

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question asked: 24 Jun '14, 18:49

question was seen: 5,983 times

last updated: 25 Jun '14, 23:16

NOTICE: help.openstreetmap.org is no longer in use from 1st March 2024. Please use the OpenStreetMap Community Forum