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Add a new node to an existing area in iD editor?

How can I add a new node to an existing area in the iD editor?

I've tried every combination of mouse and cntl, shift, alt etc. There must be a way!

node ideditor editing area

asked 16 Nov '16, 13:08

simonc8
26●1●1●2
accept rate: 0%

edited 23 Nov '16, 13:26

sleske
4.1k●13●56●78

Can you say what OSM editor (i.e. is it the default one that you get from selecting "edit" from openstreetmap.org), what browser and what OS you're using?

(16 Nov '16, 13:18) SomeoneElse ♦

I'm using Firefox, the iD editor and Windows 7.

(16 Nov '16, 13:52) simonc8

One Answer:

Assuming that you simply want to add a new node to the area/polygon outline: select the outline, pull one of the intermediate "handle" icons (in the middle between two proper nodes), move the node that you just created to the intended place.

answered 16 Nov '16, 15:06

SimonPoole ♦
44.7k●13●326●701
accept rate: 18%

edited 16 Nov '16, 15:07

Many thanks - it's the thing I didn't try!

(16 Nov '16, 17:07) simonc8

NP, but please accept the answer.

(16 Nov '16, 18:25) SimonPoole ♦

@SimonPoole: done - I am assuming this is sufficient for simonc8

(17 Nov '16, 21:50) aseerel4c26 ♦

I have two things to say about this.

This information desperately needs to be added to the Learn OSM page ( https://learnosm.org/en/beginner/id-editor/#drawing-lines ). I learned it the hard way, then forgot it, and when I was making more OSM edits a year later, I had to learn it the hard way again.
The "intermediate handle icon" is not always easy to find, if you're looking near the middle of a very long segment. The interface should provide an alternate way to add a node – such as, making "add a node here" one of the options available when you right-click on a line.

(03 Oct '21, 16:08) gpspilot1

@gpspilot1, this answer is five years old and iD has advanced since then. There is tutorial in iD which you can follow.

To add a node to a way simply press the "node" button on the top and then click on the line where you want to ad the node.

(03 Oct '21, 20:15) TZorn

TZorn, I have visually scrubbed the iD interface in detail, and I don't see a "node button on the top" (or anywhere else). The buttons I have on top are Inspect, Point, Line, Area, Undo, Redo, and Save.

Also, how to you get to the tutorial? If I click "Help" in iD, it takes me to https://www.openstreetmap.org/help.

And I have looked around at the various sections at that URL, but don't see anything about how to add a node to a way.

(07 Oct '21, 14:36) gpspilot1

It is the button labelled "Point".

For the tutorial (Walkthrough), it is not the general OSM Help at the top of the screen, but the specific ID Help (bottom button on the right of the screen). I think new users are offered this automatically.

Also, the "Lines" section in that ID Help explains: "You can also create new nodes along a line by double-clicking or double-tapping the line, or by dragging the small triangles at the midpoints between nodes". I find the double click method convenient.

(07 Oct '21, 17:23) alan_gr

Thanks for clarifying, Alan. My iD is in German and I had just assumed it is "node" in English.

(07 Oct '21, 19:10) TZorn

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