# How to Create a New Project

There are several methods of creating a new Mergin Maps project:

  • If you want to take full advantage of Mergin Maps, use QGIS to prepare new projects.
  • Mergin Maps mobile app offers the quickest (albeit limited) way of creating a Mergin Maps project.
  • You can also use Mergin Maps dashboard, especially if your project files are already fully prepared and only need uploading.

If you want to make a copy of your projects or the ones shared with you, you can clone them in QGIS or the dashboard.

WARNING

When creating a project, keep in mind that its name cannot be changed later.

# Create a project in QGIS

TIP

Creating a Project in QGIS tutorial will show you how to create a new project in QGIS, add layers, configure attributes forms and save changes to Mergin Maps.

To work with Mergin Maps projects in QGIS, you will need to install the Mergin Maps QGIS plugin first.

  1. Open a blank or an existing project in QGIS.

  2. Click on Create Mergin Maps Project from the toolbar.
    Create project icon in Mergin Maps QGIS plugin

  3. There are three options available (the last two options are available only if you have an existing project open):
    Create Mergin Maps project options

    • New basic QGIS project. If you are new to QGIS, this is a good starting point. The new basic QGIS project will contain a survey layer (a point layer) and a background map (OpenStreetMap).

    • Package current QGIS project. This option will create a copy of your project and all the files in a single folder. There are three options for handling layers: package, keep as is (the layer will be referenced as is in the new project) or ignore (the layer will not be included in the new project). For more details, see Mergin Maps project.
      New Mergin Maps project Package current QGIS project

    • Use current QGIS project as is. This is for cases when you already have a stand-alone folder with your project packaged.

  4. Change the workspace (if needed), name the project and select a path where your project folder and associated files will be generated.

    Keep in mind that the project name cannot be changed later.

    New Mergin Maps project name and folder

    WARNING

    Your project should be saved on a local drive. Using shared network drives and cloud storage (such as OneDrive or Google Drive) is not supported.

The new Mergin Maps project will be created locally on your computer and also on the Mergin Maps server.

# Clone an existing project in QGIS

Using Mergin Maps QGIS plugin, you can make a copy of projects you have access to.

  1. Navigate to Mergin Maps in the Browser panel.

  2. Find the project you want to clone. Right-click on it and select Clone.

    You might need to switch to another workspace to locate the project.

    Clone Mergin Maps project in QGIS

  3. Select the workspace from the drop-down menu and enter your new Project Name. Click OK.
    Clone Mergin Maps project in QGIS

The project will be saved in the selected workspace.

# Create a project in Mergin Maps mobile app

TIP

Capturing Your First Field Data tutorial will show you how to create a new project and capture field data in Mergin Maps mobile app.

  1. Open the mobile app on your mobile device

  2. Navigate to the Home tab and tap Create project
    Create project in Mergin Maps mobile app

  3. Give the project a name. Keep in mind that the name cannot be changed later.

    Press Create project.

    Mergin Maps mobile app new project name

  4. Your new project will be created locally on your mobile device
    Mergin Maps mobile app home projects

  5. To save it to the Mergin Maps server, tap the Upload option
    Uploading Mergin Maps project to the cloud

  6. The project is now uploaded to your current workspace and can be shared across devices or with other users
    Mobile app project uploaded to the cloud

# Create a project through Mergin Maps dashboard

WARNING

The preferred way of creating a project is to use the QGIS plugin. This option is for advanced users.

  1. Navigate to app.merginmaps.com and sign in.

  2. In the Projects tab, click on Create project
    Create Mergin Maps project through dashboard

  3. Enter a Project name and click Create project
    Mergin Maps dashboard create new project

  4. Now you will be directed to the project overview.

    Files can be uploaded using the QGIS plugin or by Drag and drop.

    If you are uploading files manually through the dashboard, do not forget to synchronise the changes by clicking Update changes in the Data Sync.
    Upload files to Mergin Maps project

# Clone an existing project through Mergin Maps dashboard

Projects you have access to and public projects can be cloned. By cloning a project, you will create your own copy of this project. This way, you can use public projects as templates for your own work or easily create backups.

# Clone a project from your workspace

  1. In the Projects tab, find the project you want to clone, open it and click on Clone.

    If needed, switch to another workspace to locate the project.

    Mergin Maps dashboard Cloning project from your workspace

  2. Enter the name of the cloned project. If needed, change the target workspace.

    The cloned project will be saved to the workspace you have specified.

    Confirm by clicking Clone project.
    Naming cloned project

# Clone a public project

You can also make a copy of a public project.

  1. In the Projects tab, click on the Browse community projects button
    Mergin Maps dashboard browse community projects

    If a project was shared with you via link, open the project link in your web browser.

  2. You will see a list of public projects. Use the search bar to find a project you would like to clone and click on it.
    Find public Mergin Maps projects

  3. When the project's page opens, click on the Clone button to clone the project.
    Clone public Mergin Maps project

  4. Now you can change the project's name and select the target workspace. Confirm by clicking Clone project.

    The cloned project will be saved to the workspace you have specified.
    Clone public Mergin Maps project