Real-time collaborative maps on MapHub

A split-screen showing real-time collaborative editing on MapHub, with two users' views of the same shared map of Europe displayed side-by-side. as multiple users edit a shared map at the same time.'

A split-screen view of MapHub showing real-time collaborative editing. Two users are playing tic-tac-toe on a shared map of Europe, with one user having typed 'Nice game!' on their side.

The most requested feature since launching MapHub has been adding collaborative maps. As of today, this is now possible!

Collaborative editing is one of the most powerful features of online tools, allowing multiple users to edit the same document together. There is a big problem though, making it possible for multiple users to edit the same document at the same time is really difficult.

For example, WordPress gives you this warning, when you are trying to edit a post that is edited by someone else:

A WordPress warning pop-up reads 'This post is already being edited,' indicating that real-time simultaneous editing is not possible.

In MapHub I didn’t want to implement a similar “limited” collaborative editing but felt the right way to do this is to allow users to edit together maps in real-time.

Real-time editing

What does this mean? How does it look in practice?

  1. The first step is to register on MapHub with multiple accounts. Say Alice is the owner of a map and would like to collaborate with Bob and Cecil. She asks Bob and Cecil to register on MapHub.

  2. Then Alice invites Bob and Cecil by clicking on the new Collaborate button.

    A screenshot of the MapHub interface, highlighting the 'Collaborate' button within the map's privacy and collaboration settings.

    The MapHub 'Collaboration Settings' dialog with 'Collaboration is Enabled' and 'Add new user' button highlighted, showing map-bob and map-cecil added as collaborators.

  3. After saving the map, Bob and Cecil will see the map showing up on their “My Maps” page.

    The 'My maps' page in MapHub showing a 'Collaboration Test' map listed under 'Collaborating as editor,' indicating a shared map from map-alice.

  4. By opening the map, they’ll go into real-time collaborative mode. If the real-time connection is working, a small green dot appears in the top right corner of the Save button.

    A close-up of the MapHub 'Save' button with a small green dot in the top right corner, signifying an active real-time collaboration connection.

  5. Now the pure magic part: everything they do will show up on each other’s screen, in real-time. For example, what about a game of tic-tac-toe?

This works with different devices, across different networks equally well. For example, one user might be in the office on a desktop computer, while a colleague is in the field using a mobile phone or tablet, their devices will be synchronized!

Save often, and in case you made any mistakes, there is always the possibility to revert using the “Version history” button.

A screenshot of the MapHub interface showing the 'Version history' button, circled in red, located under 'Previous Versions.'

Try it out!

Have a try at collaborative maps on MapHub! As of today, collaborative editing is enabled for all MapHub accounts!