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QGIS plugin

Move maps and layers between DropMaps and QGIS — import/export .dmap files and sync your cloud account both ways.

The DropMaps QGIS plugin connects the DropMaps web app to QGIS. Bring a DropMaps map into QGIS as native layers, push QGIS work back the other way, or sign in and sync your cloud layers directly — no manual file shuffling.

What it does

  • Import .dmap — open a DropMaps map file as native QGIS vector layers.
  • Export .dmap — save selected QGIS layers to a .dmap the DropMaps web app opens in one click.
  • Browse cloud — sign in and download your DropMaps layers and maps straight into QGIS.
  • Upload cloud — push QGIS vector layers up as standalone layers or as a new map.

Layer styling maps between DropMaps symbology and QGIS renderers. Cloud layers are stored in EPSG:4326 (WGS84), and downloads are reprojected back to each layer’s original CRS so they open in QGIS in the projection they came from (see Coordinate systems & projections).

Install

Publishing to the official QGIS Plugin Repository is on the way. Until then, install it manually:

  1. Copy the plugin into your QGIS profile’s plugins folder, in a folder named dropmaps:
    • Windows: %APPDATA%\QGIS\QGIS3\profiles\default\python\plugins\dropmaps
    • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/QGIS/QGIS3/profiles/default/python/plugins/dropmaps
    • Linux: ~/.local/share/QGIS/QGIS3/profiles/default/python/plugins/dropmaps
  2. Restart QGIS, then open Plugins ▸ Manage and Install Plugins ▸ Installed and enable DropMaps.
  3. A DropMaps toolbar and a DropMaps menu appear.

.dmap import/export needs the pyarrow Python package — the plugin offers to install it for you on first use. Cloud sync works without it.

Sign in for cloud sync

Cloud access uses your DropMaps account with email/password sign-in. If you only ever signed in with Google, set a password in the DropMaps web app first, then use those credentials in the plugin. You stay signed in between sessions.

Downloading from the cloud works on any plan; uploading layers and maps to the cloud is a Pro feature, the same as in the web app.

Good to know

  • All geometry is stored and served in EPSG:4326 (WGS84); downloads are reprojected back to the layer’s original CRS when the web app recorded one. Layers uploaded before that recording was added need to be re-imported into the web app once to capture their CRS. Either way it’s a round trip through WGS84 — accurate, but not bit-for-bit identical to the original (see Coordinate systems & projections).
  • Raster/tile layers (PMTiles, COG), embedded tile bytes, and feature photo attachments are not yet carried through .dmap or cloud sync from the plugin — these match the web app’s own .dmap limits and are planned for a future release.

Next steps