Getting started with BotanicalMapper

BotanicalMapper is a simple way to map, organise, and understand your garden.

At its core, it is three things working together:

• A map - where everything is
• A spreadsheet - your full list of plants and places
• A photo library - your visual record over time

Everything you add belongs to a workspace. Think of a workspace as your garden. Your account signs you in, your workspace holds your data.

In short

• Map, Spreadsheet, and Gallery are different views of the same data
• Your workspace is your garden, your account just logs you in
• Start by adding a few plants, not everything at once
• You can organise and expand your system as you go

Get started in four simple steps

1. Create your account and workspace

Sign up and create your first workspace.

• Your account lets you log in
• Your workspace is where your garden lives

If you work with others later, they can join the same workspace.

2. Add your first plants or landmarks

Go to the Map page and double-click anywhere to start.

You can:

• Add a plant or landmark directly on the map
• Place it roughly, then adjust later
• Add just a name to begin with

Start small. A few plants is enough to get a feel for it.

3. Add photos and details

Open a plant or landmark and click Manage Photos.

You can:

• Upload one or more photos
• Add botanical details if you want
• Keep it simple, or go deeper over time

Photos are stored safely and optimised for viewing, and you can download copies with key metadata when needed.

4. Explore your data in different ways

Once you have a few items, switch between:

• Map - see where everything is
• Spreadsheet - edit and organise in a table
• Gallery - browse your photos visually

You are not creating separate things. These are all views of the same records.

Understanding how it fits together

Map, Spreadsheet, and Gallery

It helps to think of BotanicalMapper like this:

Same plants → Map | Spreadsheet | Gallery

• Add a plant on the map → it appears in the spreadsheet and gallery
• Edit it in the spreadsheet → the map updates
• Add photos → they appear everywhere

There is only one set of data, just different ways to work with it.

Workspaces and switching

If you ever have more than one workspace (Member of separate teams):

• Each garden is a separate workspace
• Use the workspace switcher on the Settings page to move between them

Your data and limits always apply to the active workspace.

A simple way to build your garden map

You do not need to set everything up in advance.

A good approach is:

1. Add a few plants on the map
2. Add photos to recognise them later
3. Use the spreadsheet to tidy names or add details
4. Gradually add more structure if you need it

Over time, you might introduce:

• Collections - to group plants
• Types - to categorise them
• Custom attributes - to track specific details

You can start simple and grow into these.

Importing existing data

If you already have a plant list:

• Use Import on the Spreadsheet page (Plants or Landmarks tab)
• Upload a CSV or Excel file
• Match your columns to BotanicalMapper fields

Import creates new records. It does not overwrite existing ones.

For full guidance, see [IMPORT_EXPORT_ARTICLE].

Photos and your privacy

Photos are a key part of BotanicalMapper.

• Images are resized and optimised for the app
• Sensitive metadata such as GPS is not exposed in public views
• When you download photos, key details like date and location can be included again

You stay in control of what is visible.

Sharing your garden (optional)

When you are ready and if your subscription allows, you can create a public map.

Publishing is a two-step process:

1. Publish your map
2. Choose which plants, landmarks, areas, or shapes are Public

You can also hide specific photos using Exclude from Public Map.

Nothing is shared unless you choose to make it public.

Tips for a smooth start

• Start with a small area or bed
• Do not worry about perfect accuracy at first
• Use the map to place things, the spreadsheet to tidy them
• Add photos early, they make everything easier to recognise
• Explore filters once you have more data

Common questions

“Why can’t I see something on the map?”

Check:

• Filters are not hiding it
• It has a map location (Some plants imported from a spreadsheet may have no location)

“Is this like a GIS system?”

No. BotanicalMapper is designed to be simpler and more accessible.

You do not need specialist training. If you can use a map and a spreadsheet, you can use BotanicalMapper.

“Do I have to fill in every field?”

No. You can add as much or as little detail as you like.

Many users start with just:

• Name
• Location
• Photo

Everything else can come later.

Ready to begin

Open the Map, add a few plants, and switch to the Spreadsheet to see them in a list - that first loop is all you need to get started.