An Introduction to Global Mapper

This self-guided introductory course is designed to provide new Global Mapper users with a hands-on walk-through of fundamental aspects of the software. Topics include importing and visualizing vector and raster data, creating new features, working with attributes, and designing printing a map, among other helpful information. Accompanying sample data files are provided for following along with the videos and instructions. At the end of the course, you will receive a personalized certificate with the course name, date completed, and 6 credit hours.

Estimated completion time = ~6 hours

Course Requirements

To complete this course, participants should install the latest version of Global Mapper from the Blue Marble Geographics website.

It is recommended that course participants have a fully licensed version of Global Mapper. Trial licenses will expire after two weeks (and will limit your ability to export files). Students are recommended to request an Academic Trial of Global Mapper to complete the introductory online course. Learn more about the benefits of the Academic Program for using Global Mapper in the classroom.

A collection of sample data files that will be used throughout the course can be downloaded from here. After the download is complete, unzip the archive and copy the Intro_to_Global_Mapper folder to a convenient location on your computer. Included in the download is a folder called My Maps, which will be used to store any exported or saved files.

It is recommended that you attach a second monitor to your computer, with one display showing the course content in your browser and the other allowing you to follow along in Global Mapper.

Course Structure

Covering many aspects of the application, the easy-to-follow self-training format includes a series of visual guides along with accompanying data files allowing hands-on participation throughout the course. At the end of each lesson, a short quiz will be offered to gauge knowledge and proficiency.

As you progress through each section of the course, written instructions and video demonstrations will provide a clear and concise overview of the relevant tools in the software. At any point in the lesson, you can pause the playback or review a previous section. The course outline follows a logical progression from an introduction to the interface to exporting files.

Look out for the following symbols interspersed throughout the course:
Indicates that data needs to be downloaded to be used in the course workflows.
Denotes a helpful hint or supplemental information about the current topic or theme.
Precedes an informational video in which the instructor demonstrates a tool or workflow.
Indicates a series of step-by-step instructions guiding you through a workflow.
Denotes a bulleted list summarizing the key takeaways.
Introduces a quiz at the end of each lesson.
After you complete each section, click the button to proceed to the next topic.

Note that throughout this course, the abbreviation GMM will be used to refer to Global Mapper Mobile.

Additional Resources

As a supplement to this introductory course, the Global Mapper Getting Started Guide provides an overview of the capabilities of the software in PDF format, while detailed information on the specific features and functions is available in the Global Mapper User Guide.

If you have any questions about this course or other training options, email training@bluemarblegeo.com. If you have technical questions that are beyond the scope of the course, email geohelp@bluemarblegeo.com.