Sharing Maps

Once you've created a map of a given location, it would be great if you could save the map for use in the futurerather than re-entering the location and manipulating the navigation and zoom controls. Fortunately, there are several ways to save and share the maps you create. Read on to learn more.

Linking to a Specific Map

The key to saving or sharing any map you've created is that Google assigns every possible map its own unique URL. When you know the URL, you can share it with othersor save it to your computer desktop.

Here's how it works:

1. Create a map for the desired location.

2. Click the Link to This Page link.

3. Google now displays a long URL in the Address box of your web browser. Highlight this URL, right-click your mouse, and select Copy from the pop-up menu.

4. To paste this link into an email message or text document, position your cursor in the message, right-click your mouse, and select Paste from the pop-up menu.

Alternatively, you can save the map as a shortcut on your desktop. To do this, create the map, click the Link to This Page button, and then drag the URL from your browser's Address box onto your desktop.

Tip

If you're running Google Desktop, Google offers a Maps gadget for the sidebar. Learn more in Chapter 32, "Using Google Desktop."

Emailing a Map

There's an even easier way to email a map to friends and familyor to yourself, so you'll have a link to the map as a message in your inbox. Just follow these steps:

1.	Create a map for the desired location.
2.	Click the Email link.
3.	This opens a new email message in your default email program. As you can see in Figure 18.13, the link to the map is displayed in the text of the message; enter the recipient's email address, and then click the Send button. Figure 18.13. Emailing a link to a map you created.

Printing a Map

Of course, you can also just print a hard copy of the map. This is as easy as clicking the Print link above the map you've created; nothing more is necessary.