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Adding & importing layers

Every way to get data onto the map — local files, URLs, blank layers, web sources and the Layer Catalog.

Open the Add layer dialog from Add files in the top toolbar (or the Layers tab when the map is empty). It offers five routes in. You can also drag files straight onto the map at any time without opening the dialog.

Open local files

Pick files from your device — or drag them on. DropMaps reads a wide range of vector, raster and tile formats, all listed on the Supported formats page. Data in other coordinate systems is reprojected to WGS84 automatically.

CSV coordinates & projection

If a CSV has no obvious latitude/longitude columns, the Choose coordinate columns dialog asks you to pick the Latitude (Y) / Longitude (X) (or Northing / Easting) columns. If the coordinates aren’t already lat/long, set the Coordinate system — type an EPSG code or name and DropMaps reprojects on import. No coordinates at all? Choose Import as table — it won’t draw on the map, but you can preview it and join it to other layers in the SQL console.

Add from URL

Point at a web endpoint and choose its Type:

  • XYZ Tiles — a {z}/{x}/{y} raster tile service. Read live each time the map draws; nothing is copied or stored.
  • PMTiles — a single vector or raster tile archive at a URL.
  • GeoJSON — a GeoJSON file or API response.
  • ArcGIS Feature Layer — paste a FeatureServer/MapServer layer URL (e.g. …/FeatureServer/0). It’s copied in as a one-time editable snapshot — it won’t update if the source changes. You can choose how attachments come in: Link (load on view), Download (copy in for offline) or Skip.
  • MapLibre Style — a full style JSON.
  • WMS — give the WMS layer name as well.

Give the layer a Layer name and select Add layer. XYZ and WMS sources are read live and read-only — nothing is copied.

Create blank layer

Start an empty Point, Line or Polygon layer to draw into. Give it a Layer name and Create layer, then use the Draw tools to add features.

External sources

Browse public basemaps and web layers, your own saved sources, and search ArcGIS Online and the Living Atlas — all without leaving the map. This has its own guide: Basemaps & external sources.

Reuse a layer with the Layer Catalog

The Layer Catalog lists every layer across your saved maps and your cloud account, with search by name, category or map. It groups layers three ways:

  • In this map — layers already here; Add again drops in another copy.
  • By other map — for each layer you can Link (share one layer’s data live between maps — edits apply in both, and the layer shows a Linked badge) or Copy / Add (an independent copy you can change freely).
  • In the cloud — layers backed up to your account but not on this device. Add pulls one down; the trash icon deletes the cloud copy and frees quota.

Layers that are local tile/raster files (MBTiles, GeoTIFF, PMTiles) can’t be reused from the catalog — re-add the file in the map that needs it.

Next steps