Mode Menu

Keyboard shortcut: Alt+M

The Mode menu lists all Working modes available to JOSM and shows the current one.

The Mode menu can help users to quickly enter another Working mode.

Working mode

The effect of a mouse click in the Mapview is determined by the Working mode. Therefore JOSM has a current Working mode at all times.

Usually another Working mode is entered with a keystroke. Additionally the buttons visible in the upper half of the Edit toolbar allow entering a Working mode.

Most Working modes have individual icons for the mouse pointer. Further information about the next mouse click is also shown at the right hand side of the Status bar.

Icon	Name	Shortcut	Description
	Select mode (rect.) Lasso mode (freely)	S S S	Select objects to move, rotate and scale them. Press S again to switch between a rectangular or a freely dragged catch area.
	Draw mode	A	Draw nodes and ways. Press A again for Angle snapping
	Zoom mode		Zoom with a rectangle
	Delete mode	Ctrl+Delete	Delete objects or way segments
	Parallel mode	Shift+P	Creates parallel copy of ways
	Extrude mode	X	Create and edit way segments by extrusion
	Improve Way Accuracy mode	W	Improve geometry of ways
	Split mode	Ctrl+Alt+F2	Split ways (since r18772)

Additional Working modes can be added by plugins installed.
For example:

Icon	Name	Shortcut	Description
	​Align Ways mode	Shift+N	Make ways parallel
	measurement		Measure distances
	​Edit Gpx tracks		Delete trackpoints of gpx tracks
	​Contour Merge		Merge and align the contours of areas. More infos at Contour Merge.
	​Adjust photos		Move photos to adjust their geolocation
	​FastDrawing	Shift+F	Tracing forests, rivers, lakes, twisted roads etc. Without clicking A button or left mouse click too much. More infos at Fast drawing.
	​Draw Building	B	Rectangular objects and/or basic shape of most man made objects. More infos at Draw building.

See also

• Preferences > Keyboard Shortcuts
• The Mode menu was introduced in October 2019. Its shortcut key was formerly assigned to the More Tools menu.

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