Change Google Map to PDF or Doc File

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Google Maps and similar websites have put an atlas in every web browser.

With millions of visits a day, Google Maps is one of the Internet's most popular sites for viewing maps and getting directions. You can easily print or email any map displayed on-screen, or embed a map to a favorite spot in another website. You can also snip the map from the screen and embed it in a PDF or word-processing document file.

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Make a PDF

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Step 1

Obtain and install PDF-creation software. If you do not have access to Adobe Acrobat, several freeware or shareware products are available that create PDFs such as WinPDF Writer or CutePDF Writer.

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Step 2

Create a map of the site of interest with Google Maps.

Step 3

Click on the "Print" link at the top right corner of the map display. Google Maps opens a new window showing the map, plus space for notes.

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Step 4

Click the "Print" icon (top right corner) in the new window. From the list of printers in the Print dialog window that pops up, choose the PDF-maker you installed. When prompted, provide a file name. The file created is a PDF, which can be opened with the Adobe Reader.

Make a Document File

Step 1

Create a map of the site of interest with Google Maps. Expand the browser window to full screen.

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Step 2

Press the "Print Screen" key on your keyboard. "Print Screen" is typically in the upper right area of the keyboard. This key copies everything visible on the monitor screen(s) to the clipboard.

Step 3

Open a document with word-processing software.

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Step 4

A crop tool is used to remove unnecessary areas from an image.

Click in the word-processor window, then choose "Paste" from the "Edit" menu or press Control-V. Use the "crop" tool from word-processor's drawing tools to clip the image to only the map area. Most crop tools work by letting you drag the image corners to the corners of the section you want to keep.

Step 5

Add text or other information to the word-processing document as needed, and save.

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