Potlatch - the OpenStreetMap editor

Potlatch help

Logging in

To use Potlatch, you need to have created an account on openstreetmap.org.

The first time you save, Potlatch will bring up a popup window asking you to log into OpenStreetMap. Do so and click 'Grant access' when prompted. From then on, you can save directly from Potlatch without logging in. (If for any reason you need to log out again, you can do that from the Options window.)

Finding somewhere to edit

When Potlatch starts, it's zoomed out to show the whole world. You can't edit at this scale - you need to zoom in close to the place you want to edit. There are several ways to do this:

Use the search button to find a placename.
Click, drag and zoom to navigate the map. (Shift-drag zooms to a rectangular area.)
Find the place you want on openstreetmap.org in your web browser, then click Edit > Edit with Remote Control. The browser will communicate with Potlatch to go to the right place.

Once you've zoomed in, the map will change to a satellite view with editable map data superimposed over it.

You can save favourite places in Potlatch's Bookmarks menu.

Drawing features

To create a node (a point), just drag and drop the appropriate icon from the sidebar onto the map.
To create a way (a line), begin by clicking on the map at its start point, then click at each successive point. Double-click to finish the line or press Enter.
To create a polygon way, begin by clicking on the map at its start point, then click at each successive point (similar to creating a way), and finish by clicking on the very first point to close the polygon.

Remember, if you make a mistake, you can always hit the Undo button. Pressing the Esc key will undo all your edits for the current feature.

Editing features

To add a point to an existing way, select the way and shift+click at the desired location.
To delete a point, select the point and click the trash button in the bottom right corner or press Delete (or Backspace) on your keyboard.
To delete a way, select the way and click the trash button in the bottom right corner or press shift+Delete (or shift+Backspace) on your keyboard.
To move a point, click and drag the point.
To move a way, click and drag the entire feature (hint: grab a segment where you won't accidentally move a node).
To extend a way, click on one of the end points of the way. Then continue drawing as usual.
To add a new way extending from an existing way, shift+click on one of the end points of the way. Then continue drawing as usual.

Advanced editing

To split a way, select the point at which you want to cut, and click the Scissor tool or press X on your keyboard. (Hint: Add a node first in order to cut between nodes.)
To make a junction between two ways, draw as usual until you need to make a junction. Then as you move your mouse over another way, the points will light up blue. Click on one of the blue points or any other desired location on the way to make a junction.
To disconnect a junction, select the point on the way you wish to alter. The press - on your keyboard to remove the point.
To reverse the direction of a way, click the Reverse Direction button in the bottom right corner. The direction of a way is only a concern for those features with a "oneway" tag - oneway streets, coastlines, islands, and so on.
To create a way running parallel, select the way and click the Create Parallel Way button in the bottom right corner or press P on your keyboard.
To create a way that shares nodes with an existing way, start drawing, click the first two shared nodes, then press F to automatically follow the existing way.

Tagging

Select the point or way that you wish to edit, adn choose the appropriate tag from the left sidebar. After tagging the feature, some basic fields should appear such as Name, Speed Limit, and Width, depending on the tag you gave. Fill these out as best you can.

Advanced users may notice the absence of a few tags and tag values they occasionally use. If this is the case, click on the Advanced tab at the bottom of the sidebar (or press T) and edit/add as necessary.

The way or node ID is shown at the foot of the panel. If the currently selected object is a multipolygon relation (a shape with holes), use the popup menu to switch between the relation itself and its members.

The OpenStreetMap wiki also provides an extensive list of tags and tag values. Please refer back to the OSM documentation if you are unsure of which tag to use.

Controls

Menu bar

Background: Choose your map background from one of the items in the list or add your own vector file.
Map style: Choose the style in which you wish to view the map. Colours and overall style vary and also includes other options like wireframe.
GPS: Create OSM map data using other people's GPS tracks as a background
Bookmarks: Store and recall favourite locations on the map.
Tasks: Use an external file or an Overpass API query to find places to edit.
Options: Set editing preferences. You can set Potlatch to edit a non-OpenStreetMap database here (e.g. OpenGeoFiction).

Toolbox

Trash: Delete the currently selected feature.
Arrow: Shows the direction of the currently selected way. Click to reverse.
Scissors: Cut the way at the currently selected node.
Join: Join two adjacent ways. If the ways surround each other, use this to make a multipolygon (a shape with holes).
Click "Show more" to see the following options:
Straighten: Move the nodes of the way into a straight line.
Circularise: Move the nodes of the way into a circle.
Square up: Move the nodes of the way to form right angles.
Parallel: Create a new way parallel to the existing one.

Shortcuts

Mouse actions

Click+Drag: Drag the map to move around
Shift+Drag: Zoom into a rectangular area
Single Click: Start a new way
Double-Click or Return: Finish drawing way
Click+Drag at node or way: Move the node or way
Shift+Click: Insert point in a way
Shift+Click at point: Create new way from point
-: Delete point from selected way
Backspace/Delete: Delete point
Shift+Backspace/Delete: Delete way
Ctrl+Click: Select multiple nodes or ways (Command+Click on Mac)
/: Cycle through overlapping ways

Keyboard shortcuts

+: Add new tag (and also '=')
, .: Cycle through nodes in way
0: Zero (but not on the numpad) - Remove ALL tags on selected item
B: Set source tag according to the Background
C: Close changeset
D: Dim features
F: Follow existing way
G: Load GPS points
H: History of single selected item
H: Create Multipolygon Hole (multiple items selected)
J: Join (merge) ways
Shift-J: Unjoin ways
M: Maximise editor
N: Toggle location between the ends of the selected way
O: Replace node on way
P: Create parallel way
Q: Make area right-angled
R: Repeat tags
Shift-R: Repeat relations
S: Save
T: Toggle between simple and advanced tags
V: Reverse direction of way
W: Select the way of the selected node
X: Cut way at node
Y: Simplify way
Z: Undo
Shift-Z: Redo
Esc: Cancel edi
Space: Hold/drag to realign background image

Function keys

You can assign function keys to editing shortcuts.

To memorise a set of tags, select an object with those tags, and press Shift-F1 (or any other function key). You can then recall them onto an object by pressing F1 (or whatever).
To assign a function key to background imagery, use Background > Edit.
To assign a function key to a relation, select an object in that relation, call up the Advanced tag view, and open the popup menu by that relation. Choose "Assign to F1" (or whatever). From then on, pressing F1 will add the currently selected object to that relatino.