Migrating From iD to JOSM

What is different

JOSM uses right mouse drag to pan a map

In JOSM, you drag with the right mouse button to pan around. This is unlike osm.org and most other editors.

You have to download OSM data manually

It is necessary to get data first: Introduction#Downloading.

There is continuosDownload plugin, but you still have to download area at least once (and then continuosDownload will automatically fetch data for you).

To prevent "loading" progress bars, refer to preferences menu or simply set Advanced preferences plugin.continuos_download.quiet_download to true

Imagery won't be enabled automatically

There is black background in JOSM by default. It will be so until you add an imagery layer.

if you rely on imagery, not on GPX data, not on previous OSM data, you need to select at least one imagery: "Enable aerial imagery" in Introduction.

Searching in presets

Text search accessible via F3 key, Search presets. "Presets" in Introduction.

Complete preset view

Presets are always collapsed, you need to click them each time, it was explained in Introduction.

Tags/Memberships panel is less suggestive than fields in iD

Tags/Memberships panel

11 "fields" from iD + name=* tag always suggested when an object is selected:

JOSM will show only relevant presets for main tags:

As alternative:

• N most recent tags are suggested in "Add tag dialog"
• latest used presets will displayed in Presets search (F3) dialog

You have to read OSM wiki to look up tag definitions

JOSM doesn't show translated definitions from wiki, so you have to know tags and their definitions.

You can open page of the tag:

1. select a tag(s) (in Tags/Memberships panel) then press F1
2. link "More information of this feature" displayed within each preset, but you have to open respective preset first. NOTE: you cannot lookup tags of minor tag from a preset(s) (e.g. lit=* definition from a motorway preset is inaccessible, but pressing F1 at lit=* tag in Tags/Memberships panel is still lead you to a respective wiki page)

By default, JOSM has limited support for turn restrictions

You can install turnrestrictions that fixes situation. But some JOSM users still consider iD tool as more ergonomic and intuitive to use.

In JOSM, you can modify multiple objects simultaneously

• In iD, you cannot set tags to 1000 untagged nodes even after you selected them. Search in presets and "tage" menu will disappear. In JOSM, you can apply presets and tags at any second.
• iD will also prevent you from editing single tag of multiple objects at once because of it's "simple UI". You can add/correct/update tags to 10 or 1000 objects at once after you selected them (using one of dozens tools).
• You can replace and correct geometry of multiple objects at once (there is Q tool, but you should look for geometry replacement tools in plugins).
• In iD, you have to apply all geometry tools one by one (in most cases). In JOSM, often you can apply single geometry tool to multiple objects.

JOSM is also an offline editor

In simplest case, it is possible to Ctrl+O Open file and Ctrl+S Save file with temporary edits. But there are many more tools.

You can undelete "removed" objects and (partially) revert a changeset(s)

Yes, JOSM has many more features in general, but these two are unavoidable to correct ​erroneous changesets.

Background menu (B)

Background transparency

You can set a opacity per each imagery layer using "Visibility" button.

Aerial imagery

• you have to enable Aerial imagery using Imagery menu
• additional sources can be installed via Imagery tab in settings
• "Custom" URL in JOSM was described at: Imagery tab in settings

Locator overlay

Named "Locator Overlay" in JOSM. Can be Installed as any background.

OpenStreetMap traces

Can be downloaded using from OSM Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+↓

Minimap

minimap is a panel in JOSM.

Fix alignment

Simplest alternative is to use Help/Action/ImageryAdjust or install a dedicated plugin for imagery offsets.

Map data menu (F)

Mapillary images and traffic signs

Images can be accesses via Mapillary plugin. (TODO: explain and add link here)

Local GPX file

Can be opened:

1. using "File > Open" (GPX file or its archived version)
2. simply drag and drop GPX file over running JOSM

Fill areas

1. Full fill: use Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+W to toggle between wireframe and mappaint mode
2. Partial fill: enabled by default.
3. No Fill (Wireframe): use Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+W to toggle between wireframe and mappaint mode

Map features

There is no direct analogue, but functionality could be emulated using Filter panel Keyboard shortcut: Alt+Shift+F

​Relevant part of iD source code. TODO: create a config for simpler re-use.

Shortcuts

Unfortunately, JOSM shortcuts are different from ​iD. Here is some details:

Topic or iD function or a shortcut	Activation	comment	JOSM material
move one node over another (iD will merge two nodes and glues tag values using ";")	differ	exact analogue	M Merge. In JOSM terms, iD will automatically select "all" during conflict with "Merge" tool alternative activation is to hold "Ctrl" when simply moving objects
move node over existing way	differ	exact analogue	N Join point into a way segment
1, "add point"	differ	exact analogue	A+Shift, Shift modifier
Panel with presets and search	differ	exact analogue	F3 will search in the presets, Presets were covered in the Introduction
2, "add line"	differ	exact analogue	A Draw
2, "add line", snapping to nodes and lines disabled when you hold "Alt"	differ	exact analogue	A while holding Ctrl Ctrl modifier
2, "add line", hold Spacebar	differ	exact analogue	Shift+F Fast Draw mode
3, "add area"	differ	similar tools	A Draw (in most cases, draw a closed way) or Ctrl+B Create a multi-polygon out of multiple ways
3, "add area", hold Spacebar	differ	exact analogue	Shift+F Fast Draw mode
A, continue drawing a line at the selected node	same	exact analogue	A Standard mode
B (background layer switcher)	differ	exact analogue	Imagery menu, and be configured in Imagery preferences
C, combines selected objects (two nodes)	differ	exact analogue	Merge Nodes M
C, combines selected objects (one node and a line)			No analogue: tags from a node will be appended using ";" if there are district values)
C, combines selected objects (two lines with a common node)	same	exact analogue	Combine Ways C
C, combines selected objects, other cases	differ	similar tools	Ctrl+B Create a multi-polygon
D, unjoins the associated lines	differ	similar tools	G Unglue ways, there is tool for relations
Ctrl+C, copy the selected object	same	exact analogue	Ctrl+C copy the selected object
Ctrl+V, paste a previously copied object	same	exact analogue	Ctrl+V Paste from buffer
M, move objects	differ	exact analogue	Shift+←, Shift+↑, Shift+→, Shift+↓ or simply using mouse drag
O, circle	same	exact analogue	O Align nodes in circle
R, rotate object	differ	exact analogue	Shift+Ctrl+ mouse move to rotate objects
T, flip; 2.1.0
Y, flip; 2.1.0
S, straighten the selected line, or square the corners	differ	similar tools	Q Orthogonalize Shape, L Align nodes into a straight line, X extrude tool, A A angle snapping mode and several others
H, show help	differ	exact analogue	F1 show help menu
V, reverse ways	differ	exact analogue	R Reverse Way
W, toggle wireframe mode	differ	exact analogue	Ctrl+W Toggle between wireframe and mappaint mode
Ctrl+Z	same	exact analogue	Ctrl+Z Undo
Ctrl+Y	same	exact analogue	Ctrl+Y Redo
Ctrl+S	differ	exact analogue	Ctrl+Shift+↑ Upload to main server
X, split line	differ	similar tools	P Split Way is more restrictive, requires more actions
Ctrl + +	differ	similar tools	Ctrl+J Opens the Jump To Position dialog or Ctrl+L Open location
Ctrl + -	differ	similar tools	1 Zoom to data, 2 Zoom to layer, 3 Zoom to selection and others
Ctrl+Delete or Ctrl+Backspace	differ	exact analogue	Delete Delete
Alt+Mouse click	differ	exact analogue	A+Ctrl place node without connecting to existing object
Shift+Mouse click at each object	same	exact analogue	Shift+mouse click to select multiple objects
Shift+Draw a loop around objects	differ	exact analogue	Simply draw a loop using mouse: lasso tool
Escape stop drawing of a line or area	same	exact analogue	Escape also unselect all selected elements
/, toggle minimap	differ	exact analogue	minimap
+, zoom in	same	exact analogue	+ Zoom in, but there are more tools
-, zoom out	same	exact analogue	- Zoom out, but there are more tools
←, ↑, →, ↓ pan map	differ	similar tools	Ctrl+←, Ctrl+↑, Ctrl+→, Ctrl+↓ move viewport
pan one screen at time: Ctrl+←, Ctrl+↑, Ctrl+→, Ctrl+↓ or Shift+←, Shift+↑, Shift+→, Shift+↓
switch between backgrounds Ctrl+B	differ	similar tools	JOSM is more complex but also more flexible: Toggle and switch between first/last 10 layers of Layer List panel

Relations

Tools to edit relations

• Create a multi-polygon Ctrl+B
• Relation List panel
• Relation Editor - main interface when editing a relation
• ​relation toolbox plugin (optional)

Multipolygon relations

One day you will encounter ​multipolygons. Please don't be afraid of this big page, there is ​slightly outdated guide (ignore tagging) with decent illustrations.

URL parameters

​https://github.com/openstreetmap/iD/blob/master/API.md#url-parameters

Excluding other regular JOSM tools:

• via Remote control plugin
• Commandline options
• Advanced preferences and predefined configs (preferences.xml)