Add/Put Variants: The Many Ways to Place Multiple Locations on a Map

• Add/Put Variants, Без рубрики

The core action of multi-location mapping seems simple: put points on a map. Yet, the method you choose to “add” or “put” those locations defines your entire experience—transforming it from a quick task into a days-long project, or vice versa. Understanding these different “variants” is key to choosing the right tool for your needs.

This article breaks down the primary methods for adding locations, from the painfully manual to the intelligently automated.

Variant 1: The One-by-One Manual Add

This is the foundational, most granular method. It’s the digital equivalent of taking a physical map and sticking pins in it, one at a time.

How it Works:

You use an interface (like Google My Maps) where you must perform a discrete action for each and every location. This typically involves:

  • 1.  Searching for an address in a search bar, or manually finding the spot on the map and clicking to drop a pin.
  • 2.  Typing a title and description into a pop-up form for that single point.
  • 3.  Clicking “Save” to confirm that single pin.
  • 4.  Repeating steps 1-3 for the next location.

The Reality: This method is linear and additive. The time and effort required scale directly with the number of locations. Adding 50 points takes roughly 50 times longer than adding 1. It is monotonous, error-prone, and offers no leverage.

When It’s The Only Option: In extremely basic, free tools that lack any data import functionality. It is the default “variant” for simple, personal map-making apps.

This is the primary method detailed in our manual guide: [How To Pin Point Multiple Locations On Google Maps](link).

Variant 2: The Programmatic Array Add

This is the method for developers, where “adding” is done through data structures in code, not through a user interface.

How it Works:

Locations are not added interactively. Instead, they are defined as an array of coordinates within a script. A programming loop then iterates through this array, and the mapping API places a marker for each entry.

javascript

// This is the "adding" mechanism in code
const locations = [
  ['Location A', 40.7128, -74.0060],
  ['Location B', 34.0522, -118.2437],
  // Add as many as needed here
];Code language: JavaScript (javascript)

The Reality: Adding a new location requires editing the source code, updating the array, and redeploying the script. It’s powerful for a developer but completely inaccessible to a non-technical user. The “add” action is a coding edit, not a map interaction.

When It’s The Only Option: When building a custom software application where the map data is hardcoded or generated dynamically from a proprietary database.
This coded approach to “putting” locations is explored in our developer tutorial: [How to Create a Map to Show Multiple Locations on Your Website](link)

Variant 3: The Batch/Csv Import Add (The Efficient Standard)

This variant represents a paradigm shift in productivity. Instead of adding points serially, you add them *in parallel*.

How it Works:

You prepare your data in a structured format—most commonly a spreadsheet (CSV or Excel) with columns like Address, Title, Description, Category. You then use a tool that features an “Import” or “Upload” button. The tool processes the entire file at once, geocodes all addresses (converts them to coordinates), and places all markers on the map simultaneously.

The Reality: The action of “adding 100 locations” changes from 100 separate tasks to 3 tasks : 1) Prepare your spreadsheet, 2) Click “Import”, 3) Review the results. This method separates data management (best done in a spreadsheet) from map visualization.

When It’s The Only Sensible Option: For any professional, business, or academic use case involving more than 10 locations. It is the minimum standard for efficiency.

The critical importance of this batch “add variant” is the focus of our article: [Free & Batch Mapping](link).

The Core Problem: Most Tools Only Offer Variant 1

The central frustration for users searching for “how to put multiple locations on a map” is that the most common, free tools they find (like Google My Maps) **only offer the slowest, least scalable “add variant”**: the one-by-one manual method.

This creates a massive efficiency gap. Users waste hours performing repetitive data entry instead of leveraging the power of their existing data lists.

MapsFun.com: The Tool Built on the Right “Add Variant”

MapsFun.com is designed from the ground up with the Batch/Csv Import Add (Variant 3) as its primary and most promoted feature. It recognizes that your locations already exist in a digital list (a customer database, a property list, a project spreadsheet) and provides the direct bridge from that list to a live map.

How MapsFun Solves the “Add/Put” Problem:

  • 1.  Eliminates Repetitive Strain: No more one-by-one addition. Your entire dataset is mapped in one action.
  • 2.  Respects Your Data Workflow: You manage and edit your location data in the tool you already know best—your spreadsheet software. Update there, re-import, and your map is refreshed.
  • 3.  Combines All Variants Intelligently:
  • Batch Import is the star for initial creation and large updates.
  • A simple manual click-to-add tool is still available within the editor for quickly adding one-off points.
  • The underlying technology uses programmatic efficiency (like Variant 2) but hides all the code from you, providing the output without the complexity.
  • 4.  Future-Proofs Your Map: Adding 10 new locations next month is just as easy as adding the first 100. The process doesn’t degrade.

In essence, the “variant” of adding locations determines the tool’s usefulness. By choosing a tool that prioritizes batch import, you aren’t just picking different software—you are choosing a fundamentally more efficient and sustainable way to work.

Stop asking, “How do I *put* these locations on a map?” Start declaring, “Import these locations to my map.” The difference in wording reflects a difference in hours saved and headaches avoided.

Experience the efficient “add variant.” Build your map in minutes, not hours, at MapsFun.com.