Prepare your map (document)

If necessary, create a PDF file from your map

Upload your map [create a map on AMIS]

Prepare your map (document)

AMIS can only host electronic versions of maps (PDF format or some images in jpg, png or gif format). So before uploading a map, you need to have it in an acceptable format. This map will be accessible by all AMIS visitors worldwide, so make sure you upload quality maps!

Your map should have at least the following information:

• a meaningful title,
• the editor,
• the scale,
• the projection used,
• a comprehensible legend,
• the version (final, draft; if applicable),
• the date (year) of publication

Make sure the map is well readable (symbols and colors are clear, the legend and lable are readable). 

If you want a particular licence to be used, specify your licencing information. Per default, all content on AMIS without licensing information is subject to the Creative Common Attribution (CC-BY) licens. This means that anyone is free to distribute and modify the file as long as you attribute its author(s) and licensor(s) (mention source of document). For more information about licencing issues navigate to the Help menu About licences. 

If necessary, create a PDF file from your map

If you only dispose of an image map without title etc, you can easily add those items in a text editor (OpenOffice or Microsoft Word) and create a pdf file afterwards. For more information about creating PDF files navigate to the Help menu Creating PDF file.

Upload your map [create a map on AMIS]

First you need an account (with a username and password). If you don't have an account, you can create a new account (in left menu). To create an account, you need an email address. After registration, your password will be sent to your email address. This password can only be used for the first login; you will have to provide a new password when you login the first time.

Once you have an account you can upload and create your content. When you are logged into AMIS (with your username and password), the Create content menu will appear. When you click on it, you will be given the option to create a map. If you are logged in and you follow this link you will also be able to create a map.

Complete all fields as well as possible.  The actual map will be uploaded as an Attached image (if it is in JPG, PNG or GIF format), or as a File attachment (if it is in PDF format). 

1. Map title

has to be relevant. It has to refer to the title of the file. If the document is time related (statistics, annual report, …) the year of edition has to be included.

2. Map description

avoid (an) empty line(s) at the top of the Map description, otherwise the teaser message (short version of the body field) will be empty. 

It should contain a short version, a resume of the map. The body can contain "rich text" and have a more or less complex layout by using the editor toolbar. For more information on using the toolbar of the editor, click here.

DO NOT USE THE IMAGE UPLOAD UTILITY OF THE EDITOR TOOLBAR TO UPLOAD YOUR MAP as the image size will be reduced and the map quality might become very low! Use the Attached images utility instead to upload map image files. 

3. Language settings

If the document is available in one language only, set language to Language neutral, otherwise set the language

4. Attached images:

If you want to upload your map in image format (PNG, GIF or JPG), use this utility: click Attached images > Browse...|Parcourir... and add a title if you wish. Your image will be shown to the visitor in a preview size (smaller file size). Only when clicking on it the full size will be opened. 

5. Editor/Publisher

Name of the institution that has the responsability of the publication and that has for example ordered the publication.

6. Type of publishing stakeholder

Select list: please select one.

7. Publication date:

Verify if it is the same on the map.

8. Scale of map:

Maps are usually produced at standard scales of for example 1:10.000, 1:25.000, 1:50.000, 1:100.000, 1:250.000, 1:500.000. For a 1:50.000 scale, one cm on the map is equivalent to 50.000 cm (5 km) on earth. Please use the 1:xx.xxxxxx format.

9. Keywords:

Very important for the search performance and categorisation of content in AMIS. Keywords can contain information about:

• the type of document (report, evaluation, manual, ...)
• the institution that has published the document
• the technical description
• ...

You can use as many keywords you want. Use short keywords, that are proposed by the system (if available). Separate your keywords with commas.

10. Commodity chain:

Choose one or more (click while pushing the CTRL button) commodity chains.

11. Coverage:

Check one or more entities. 

12. Document status:

Choose one

13. File attachments:

You can upload one or more files (optional). Click on File attachments > Browse...|Parcourir... > Attach

Do not forget to click the Save button!