Map Data

You have a spreadsheet full of addresses -- customer locations, store sites, delivery stops, property listings -- and you need to see them on a map. In most tools, that means exporting to a GIS application or copy-pasting into Google Maps one address at a time.

In GeoSheet, the map is built into the spreadsheet. You geocode your addresses into map-ready points, then create a map chart that displays them on an interactive map -- all without leaving the sheet.

Worked Example: Mapping Customer Locations

Suppose you have 10 customer addresses in column A:

Step 1: Geocode the addresses

In cell B1, enter:

=GEOCODE(A1)

This converts the address in A1 to a POINT value (latitude/longitude). The cell briefly shows #PENDING while the geocoding request completes, then displays the point with a blue spatial indicator.

Copy B1 down to B10 to geocode all addresses. Each cell in column B now holds a geographic point.

Tip: For large lists, you can ask Geovani: "Geocode all the addresses in column A and put the results in column B." Geovani writes the formulas for the entire column at once.

Step 2: Create a map chart

1. Select the range B1:B10 (the geocoded points)
2. Click the Chart button in the toolbar
3. Choose Map as the chart type
4. Click Create

The map auto-fits to show all 10 points. You can zoom, pan, and click any point to see its data.

Alternatively, ask Geovani: "Create a map of all the locations in column B."

Step 3: Customize the map

• Change tile style -- switch between Street, Light, Dark, and Satellite views in the chart settings
• Add labels -- if column C has customer names, add it as a label series so names appear on hover
• Multiple series -- overlay different categories (e.g., customers vs. warehouses) as separate series with different colors
• Pin the map -- pin the chart to a side panel so it stays visible while you scroll through data

How It Works

Geocoding converts a human-readable address into a latitude/longitude coordinate using Mapbox's geocoding service. GeoSheet wraps this in the GEOCODE() formula so it works like any other spreadsheet function.

Spatial cell values are a native data type in GeoSheet. A cell holding a POINT is not storing text -- it stores a geographic coordinate that formulas like DISTANCE(), DRIVE_TIME(), and CONTAINS() can operate on directly.

Map charts read spatial values from cells and render them on an interactive Leaflet map with Mapbox tiles. Points auto-cluster at low zoom levels, and polygons support choropleth shading.

Other Ways to Get Spatial Data into Cells

• Type coordinates directly: Enter POINT(40.7128, -74.0060) into any cell
• Paste GeoJSON: Copy GeoJSON from another tool and paste it -- GeoSheet auto-detects the format
• Paste WKT: Well-Known Text like POLYGON((0 0, 1 0, 1 1, 0 1, 0 0)) is also auto-detected
• Import from the Spatial Data Catalog: Browse curated datasets (state boundaries, ZIP codes, infrastructure) and import them directly into a sheet. See Templates & Catalog.
• Use the POINT formula: Combine separate latitude and longitude columns: =POINT(A1, B1)

Tips for Large Datasets

• Geocoding runs asynchronously. For hundreds of addresses, cells resolve progressively -- you do not need to wait for all of them before creating a map.
• Map charts support point clustering, so thousands of points remain performant at low zoom levels.
• Use Geovani for batch operations: "Geocode all 500 addresses in column A" is faster than copying formulas manually.

Next Steps

• Geocode Addresses -- detailed guide to forward and reverse geocoding
• Calculate Distance Between Addresses -- measure straight-line and driving distances
• Spatial Features -- full reference for spatial data types, formulas, and map charts
• Formulas -- complete formula reference including all spatial functions