Java OpenStreetMap Editor

Basic Manual
After this manual the participants should be well versed in basic editing techniques using Java
OpenStreetMap Editor (JOSM).
1 Introduction
1.1 What is Java OpenStreetMap Editor (JOSM)?
Java OpenStreetMap Editor is a destop editing aplication! written in Java. "t runs on #indows! Mac
OS and $inu%. "t supports loading stand alone &'( tracs and &'( trac data from the OSM database
as well as loading and editing e%isting nodes! wa)s! metadata tags and relations from the OSM
database.
1.2 What is JAA?
Java technolog) is an ob*ect+oriented! platform+independent! multithreaded programming environment.
"n other words! it,s a programming language which uses -ob*ects. / data structures consisting of data
fields and methods together with their interactions / to design applications and computer programs.
JA0A is a platform+independent programming language as it wors on the principle -compile once! run
ever)where.. 1ode written and compiled in JA0A can be e%ecuted on an) platform.
Multithreaded programming model allows multiple threads to e%ist within the conte%t of a single
process. A thread of e%ecution in computer science is the smallest unit of processing that can be
scheduled b) an operation s)stem.

2 Installin!
2.1 Installin! JAA
2ownload Java from http344www.*ava.com4en4download4help4download5options.%ml
6he procedure to download Java broadl) consists of3
2ownload and "nstall
Enable and 1onfigure
6est installation
6he software installed3
6he Java 2ownload which includes
Java 'lug+in software and
Java 0irtual Machine
6he Java #eb Start software
2.2 Installin! JOSM
2ownload the latest JOSM version (*osm+tested.*ar) from http344*osm.openstreetmap.de4 or
http344wii.openstreetmap.org4wii4JOSM
6here area generall) two versions of JOSM available3
tested and
latest
6he tested version of JOSM is more stable while the latest is more up+to+date but can contain bugs.
6here are fairl) regular updates to JOSM! so alwa)s tr) running a recent version (and also recent
plugins).
JOSM version is distributable as e%ecutable JA7 file which can usuall) be run *ust b) double clicing
if Java is correctl) installed. 8ou are read) to go9
" JOSM user inter#ace
7un JOSM b) double clicing the JA7 file. Once JOSM is successfull) launched the main window
appears. At startup the window shows the Massage of the 2a)! downloaded from the JOSM website.
JOSM Message of the da)3
JOSM welcome page
"nterface is a bit bare until some data is loaded.

JOSM "nterface3

Map ie$ / 6he main window where the geodata is displa)ed and editing taes place.
Main Menu / 6he menu is customi:able depending on which plugins )ou have installed.
Shortcur %ool&ar / 6he buttons in this toolbar are shortcuts to commands from the Main Menu. 6his
toolbar is highl) customi:able! with the abilit) to add and remove menus items from the preference
dialog.
Edit %ools ' 1ontains drawing tools and the show4hide buttons for the 6oggle 2ialogs window.
In#or(ation )anels ' 6hese show information about the data in JOSM! including a list of selected
ob*ects! how the elected ob*ects are tagged! who the last mapper to edit a feature was! and the different
la)ers in the view.
Status Bar ' &ives coordinates and measurements for features! as well as a hint of the current tools
function.
JOSM interface
Shortcut
%ool&ar
Map ie$
)anel * %o!!ler
%ool&ar
In#or(ation
)anel
Status Bar
Edit %ools
Main Menu
+ ,ettin! started $ith JOSM
+.1 Startin! JOSM
Start JOSM b) double+clicing the e%ecutable JA7 file. Once JOSM is successfull) launched the main
window showing the Message of the 2a) appears.
+.2 -oo(in!. scale &ar and pannin!
#ithin the main editing area (Map 0iew) )ou can pan around and :oom in and out.
Zoom using the mouse scroll+wheel. Alternativel) use the :oom bar at the top+left or press
1rtl;,!, and 1rtl+,., #hile :ooming in point the mouse to the data )ou wish to :oom towards. "f
)ou can,t see an)thing )ou probabl) need to :oom out (scroll bacwards).
Zoom Bar
Or Zoom b) selecting the magnifier from the Edit 6ools! then select the area )ou want to :oom
in b) drawing a bounding bo% in the Map 0iew. 6he -0iew Menu. offers convenient :oom
functions to pan the Map 0iew automaticall).
6o Pan around drag the right mouse button
+." /oad a local ,)0 #ile
$oading data into JOSM3

'ress File < Open or File Open icon or press Crtl + O
$ocate the file or multiple files on )ou computer and choose it4them
'ress Open
Selected file should appear in the Map 0iew #indow.
1 Basic editin! in JOSM
1.1 2o$nload data #ro( OSM

6o download map data from the OSM server3
'ress File < Download from OSM... or the icon on the Main 6oolbar or press Crtl+Shift+D
6he download dialog bo% appears3
Slipp3 (ap
"nitiall) the ,slipp) map, tab is selected. Slipp) map provides a movable map lie on the OSM front
page with which )ou can interactivel) select the area to download. Move or -Slip. around the map b)
dragging the right mouse button. =oom b) using the mouse scroll+wheel or b) double+clicing.
1hec the chec bo%es at the top3
-OpenStreetMap. / checed!
-7aw &'S 2ata. / uncheced
-2ownload as new la)er. / uncheced.
2ownload data3
Download dialog bo
>se the left mouse button to drag a bo% around the area )ou want to download (this is the
bounding bo% that will be downloaded) < press Download
2ata should appear in the main Map !iew "indow
8ou should download the area encompassing the area )ou will be editing but avoid downloading too
much map data. 8ou can alwa)s download more data as )ou need it. -1ross hatching. will be shown
outside the area that )ou downloaded to remind )ou that )ou should not edit outside the area that )ou
download from the server. 6he items outside the bounding bo% are included because the) are included
inside the bounding bo%.
6here are other wa)s to specif) the area )ou want to download3
Boo4(ar4s
8ou can select from )our predefined boomars or create a new boomar from )our current bounding
bo% or an area defined in another tab respectivel).
Boundin! Bo5
Select an area b) entering the latitudes and longitudes directl) or b) e%tracting them from an
openstreetmap.org >7$.
2ownload data b) pasting from the map on the OpenStreetMap site3
Zoom into the area )ou are interested in
Move the mouse over the -view. tab and cop) the resulting >7$ or cop) the Permalin# given
at the bottom right corner
Downloaded area in JOSM
Cop$ the >7$
'aste the >7$ into JOSM! into the ->7$ from openstreetmap.org. bo%
1op) the >7$ into the 2ownload ?ounding ?o% tab3
Cop$ %&' into Bo(nding Bo
Areas around places
Search for specific places! street names! etc! in the OSM database.
%&' from open)treetmap.org
%ile 6u(&ers
Enter number of tiles and a :oom level to download data of those tiles.
1.2 Basic operations7 Select. Add. 2elete
6here are three main modes of operation when editing3
(S)elect / for selecting elements! viewing4editing their tags and moving them.
(A)dd / for adding elements! such as standalone nodes! adding new nodes to create a new wa)!
e%tend an e%isting wa).
(2)elete / for deleting elements.
1." 2ra$in! &asic ele(ents
OpenStreetMap data is made up of the following elements or data primitives3
6odes7 6he dots that are used to mar specific locations or for drawing the segments between these
locations. @odes are points in space. Each node has its latitude and longitude.
Wa3s7 An ordered list of nodes! displa)ed as connected b) line segments. 6he) are used to describe
roads! paths etc. A special wa) is a so called 8losed Wa3 or Area7 1losed wa)s are wa)s which go in a
complete loop. 6he) are used to describe areas lie pars! laes! islands or buildings.
9elations7 #hen different wa)s are lined to each other! but do not represent the same ph)sical thing!
a relation is used to describe the role of each wa).
1.".1 2ra$in! a node
6o draw a standalone node3
1lear )our current selection b) pressing *dit < %n)elect +ll or press *)cape button on )our
computer
'ress ,+, or select the Draw ,ode) to begin drawing a node
'ress the 'eft Mo()e B(tton somewhere in the Map 0iew #indow and press *)cape or
,ode- wa$ and enclo)ed wa$
Do(ble Clic# to create a node
&o bac to Select mode
+ node
1.".2 2ra$in! a Wa3
#hen drawing a wa) )ou need to thin what is currentl) selected.
1lear )our current selection b) pressing *dit < %n)elect +ll or press *)cape button on )our
computer
'ress ,+, or select the Draw ,ode) to begin drawing a brand new wa)
'ress the 'eft Mo()e B(tton somewhere in the Map 0iew #indow to create a new node
'ress again somewhere and another node will appear! *oined b) the first segment of a wa)
Aeep pressing to draw a wa) with several nodes and segments on it
6o stop go bac to Select mode or press ,S, or *)cape button on )our computer
+ wa$
1."." 2ra$in! an Area (8losed $a3)
Area or closed wa) is a wa) in which the first and the last node are identicalB enclosing an area.
2raw an Area41losed wa)3
1lear )our current selection b) pressing *dit < %n)elect +ll or press *)cape button on )our
computer
#ith nothing selected! press ,+, or select the Draw ,ode) to begin adding a brand new wa)
'ress the left mouse button somewhere in the Map 0iew #indow to create a new node
'ress again somewhere and another node will appear! *oined b) the first segment of a wa)
Aeep pressing to draw an area
At the end press on the first4start node of the wa) to create an area or a closed wa)
&o bac to Select mode
+n area .Clo)ed "a$/
1.+ %a!!in!
1.+.1 What are %a!s?
%a!s are the #unda(ental (ethod o# descri&in! !eo!raphic data in OpenStreetMap. "n other
words! tags are attributes (or descriptions) )ou attach to basic elements (nodes! wa)s! closed wa)s4areas
and relations).
A 6ag is a Ae) C 0alue pair. As said the) can be attached to nodes! wa)s! closed wa)s4areas and
relations. "n principle there are no content restrictions on tags that can be assigned to OSM elements!
meaning an) tags can be used as long as the values are verifiable. Dowever man) general interest
features alread) have tagging recommendations which are listed on
http344wii.openstreetmap.org4wii4Map5Eeatures. "t is recommended to use the tagging given there.
Ae) is a string describing the general classification of the feature. 6he 0alue gives more specific
information within the class Ae).
Ae)s and generic 0alues are lower case and do not including space! use underscore instead.
"n JOSM tags are displa)ed on the right side under -properties4memberships.. Selecting an element
displa)s the table with e) and value fields.
1.+.2 What are )resets?
A preset is a predefined combination of tags (sometimes a single tag) that is given a -human+readable.
name.
6he presets menu contain a list of presets organi:ed in thematic groups. 'resets allow the user to tag
ob*ects b) selecting them from the predefined menu. JOSM installation comes with a default set of
these presets.
Eind presets3
"n JOSM go to Main Men( and press Pre)et)
#hen appl)ing a preset to an element of the map! a dialog window ma) appear allowing the user to
enter more precise and4or specific data. Eor e%ample! the preset -Sports4Sport facilities4Stadium. will
appl) the tag leisure C stadium and will as the user to enter the value for the optional e)s name and
sport. A list of common sports is suggested.
+ppl$ing the pre)et 0Stadi(m0 to a node
"f a tag is included in a preset! an additional line will be displa)ed in the -'roperties4Membership.
panel! above the list of tags as shown below. 1licing on this line will open the preset dialog bo%
shown above.
Pre)et propertie)
6he users can create! add! modif) and use their own presets! for e%ample in speciali:ed use cases lie
event mapping etc. (more on this in Advanced Editing).
Pre)et) in JOSM
1.+." Add a ta!
Add a new tag b) using an Add A 6ag button3
'ress the button +dd a 1ag
1hange values window appears where )ou can select a e) or a value from the drop+down list. 6he
drop+down list contains all the values in the downloaded area and all the now tags or presets.
Add a tag b) using predefined 'resets3
Select a tag from 'resets b) pressing Pre)et) tab on the Main Menu
Select a tag from the drop+down
Select the attributes
'ress +ppl$ Pre)et
1.+.+ Mana!in! presets in JOSM
6o search for a preset3
&o to Pre)et) < Search pre)et
Set a preset as a part of the Main 6oolbar (shortcut)3
&o to *dit < Preference)...
Select 1oolbar c()tomi2ation on the left side on the 'reference dialogue bo%
Set the 'resets on the Main 6oolbar
1reate )our own presets3
1.1 9elations
7elations are used to group ob*ects (wa)s4nodes) that are geographicall) related (connected or
ad*acent to one another).
+dd a tag
1.: ;sin! panels

'anels appear on the right side of the of the JOSM interface inside the 6oggle Menu. Show and hide
panels b) choosing them on the Edit 6oolbar on the left side of the Main 0iew window in JOSM.
1.< Addin! and ad=ustin! nodes on a $a3
A wa) or an enclosed wa) can be modified b) adding and ad*usting nodes.
6o add a node3
&o to +dd.+/ mode and press somewhere on the segment
+dd a node
&o to Select.S/ mode! select and drag one of the crosses on a segment between two nodes
+dd a node b$ dragging the cro)) between the )egment)
6o move a single node or a node of a wa)3
Select the node and still in Select.S/ drag the node around
1.> Splittin!. un!luein!. untan!lin! and co(&inin! $a3s
Split Wa3 / splits wa)s into smaller wa)s.
6o split a wa)3
Select a node where the split should occur
Select 1ool) < Split "a$
6he resulting wa)s will have the same tags which can now be changed for each separate wa).
Before and after the )plit
1A>S"O@3
"f the node lies in the middle of several wa)s )ou need to select the node (where the split should occur)
and the wa) which is meant to be split9
8o(&ine Wa3 / combines wa)s together to form one.
6o combine a wa)3
6he wa)s need to be in+lined
Select both wa)s at the same time b) holding down the Shift
'ress 1ool) < Combine "a$
"f wa)s have different tags the combined wa) will share both tags (this can be changed).
Before and after the combining the wa$
1A>S"O@3
6ags appl) along the entire length of the wa)9

;n,lue Wa3s / if two (or more) wa)s are connected at one node! this command will create a
second node! freeing one wa) from the other. 6he action can also be used on a wa) to unglue it from
an) node it shares along its length.
6o unglue a wa)3
6he wa)s need to be glued together (sticing together at a node(s))
Select a node where the unglueing should occur
Select 1ool) < %n3l(e "a$)

Before and after the (ngl(eing
1.? )lu!ins
'lugins add e%tra functions to JOSM thus maing it easier to use certain functions.
1.?.1 Mana!in! plu!ins in JOSM
'lugins can be accessed through3
'ress *dit 4 Preference)... form the Main Menu
Select Pl(gin) tab on the left of the 'references window
'ress Download li)t to do download the list of available plugins
6ic the chec bo% of the plugin )ou want to install and press %pdate pl(gin)
&e)tart JOSM
Pl(gin) dialog(e bo
1.1@ ;sin! i(a!er3
A number of satellite imager) providers provide imager) to OpenStreetMap. "mager) can be accessed
through a built in plugin! called "mager).
1.1@.1 Activate I(a!er3 )roviders
Activate "mager) providers! and select the imager) to be displa)ed3
&o to *dit < Preference)
Select 5mager$ Preference) tab on the left of the 'references window
Select 5mager$ Pro6ider) tab and select the imager) )ou want to be displa)ed
'ress +cti6ate button and press O7
1.1@.2 2ra$in! nodes. $a3s and areas over i(a!er3
2rawing a node3
Zoom8in to the ob*ect )ou want to draw but mae sure )ou don,t lose the resolution
&o to +dd.+/ mode
2raw a node in the middle of the ob*ect
&o bac to Select mode
Drawing a Point o6er )atellite imager$
2rawing a wa)3
Zoom8in to the ob*ect )ou want to draw but mae sure )ou don,t lose the resolution
&o to +dd.+/ mode
2raw a wa) in the middle of the ob*ect (road! railwa) etc.) b) adding as man) nodes and
segments as necessar)
&o bac to Select mode
Drawing a line o6er )atellite imager$
2rawing a closed wa)4area3
Zoom8in to the ob*ect )ou want to draw but mae sure )ou don,t lose the resolution
&o to +dd.+/ mode
2raw a wa) (an enclosed wa)) around the edges of the ob*ect
&o bac to Select mode
Drawing an area o6er )atellite imager$
1.11 ;pload ,)0 to OSM
Once )ou,ve completed the the drawing over the traces in JOSM! )ou can upload a &'( file
containing a &'S trace to the OpenStreetMap site3
&o to the main OSM page
'ogin
'ress 3PS trace) on the top of the page
'ress %pload a trace
Find and )elect the information )ou wish to upload
,ame the file
+dd tag) which can be helpful to find a trace
"f )ou would lie for )our data to be available to others tic the P(blic bo%
%pload
1.12 ;pload data to OSM
Once )ou are happ) with )our edits it,s time to upload the changes to the OpenStreetMap server.
>pload changes3
'ress File < %pload data or *ust press the icon
On the >pload data window )ou can see all the changes4edits that were made
Enter a brief description of the edits
'ress %pload data
"f uploading for the first time enter a %)ername and Pa))word as registered on the main
OpenStreetMap.org website
%ploading $o(r change) to OpenStreetMap
Enter 1redentials window appears if )ou,re edditing for the first time3
*nter Credential) window
6he uploaded changes will appear on the map after a dela).
"M'O76A@69
#hen )ou upload to OpenStreetMap )ou agree to release )our data contributions under the
OpenStreetMap $)cense. Onl) contribute data which )ou are allowed to release (@O 1O'8"@&)9