Multiple Color pins in Explore

You can give map pins different colors so families can tell sites apart at a glance, for example by school type, program, or provider.

How colored pins work

• Each site's pin uses the color you set for it in your data sheet.
• Sites without a color use your site's default pin color.
• When pins are close together and combine into a numbered cluster, the cluster uses the default color.

Set up colored pins

1. Decide what the colors mean. Pick one field, like school type, and assign a color to each value. Use a field which has a limited number of values, so the meaning of each color is easy to keep track of.
2. Add a color column to your data sheet, for example Pin Color.
3. Enter a color code for each site in the hex color code format: a pound sign and six characters, like #4B3FC4. Leave the cell blank to use the default color.
4. Email your Avela representative or help@avela.org with the column name. Avela turns on colored pins for your site.

After setup, you can change colors in your data sheet any time.

Example

Choose colors that work for everyone

• Pick colors that stand out from the map background and from each other.
• Avoid relying on red vs. green alone, because those colors can be difficult to tell apart for individuals with color blindness.

Related articles

• Branding your Explore site
• Preparing your Explore data file
• Explore Refresh Checklist