The best vector cartography editor with ISOM symbols depends on your workflow. For decades, this meant desktop software like the professional standard OCAD or the open-source OpenOrienteering Mapper. We built Gratic with a different approach: a complete cartography editor that runs in a browser tab. It requires no installation, provides standard ISOM symbols automatically, and produces files that open directly in OCAD. You sign in with your email and can start drawing immediately.
The main editor choices for ISOM cartography
The main choices for an ISOM-compliant editor fall into two categories: traditional desktop software and newer browser-based tools. For a long time, the choice was between established desktop applications. OCAD is the long-established desktop software for professional orienteering mapping. Developed in Switzerland, its feature set covers cartography, editing, and course setting. Its file format is the industry standard, which means other tools must ensure compatibility. Professional mappers working for federations and large clubs typically work within OCAD and its workflow.
The other major desktop editor is OpenOrienteering Mapper. It is an open-source, cross-platform editor that provides a free alternative to commercial software. It is a common choice for clubs with smaller budgets or for individuals who need an editor that runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It covers the fundamental requirements for creating a standard-compliant map and is maintained by a volunteer community. Both of these tools, however, share the desktop software model: you download an installer, manage the installation, and handle updates yourself.
We took a different approach with Gratic because we saw the friction in that model. Our goal was to remove the setup process entirely. Gratic is a vector cartography editor that runs in a browser tab. There is nothing to install and no licenses to manage; it works the same on any computer with a web browser.
You sign in with your email, a code arrives in your inbox, and you can start drawing. We wanted the path from deciding to make a map to actually drawing on it to be as short as possible. This browser-based model also lets us handle data differently, pulling in contours and vector data from central sources as soon as you define your map area.
How editors handle ISOM symbols and standards
How an editor handles ISOM symbols is about keeping them current and making them easy to work with. In a desktop editor like OCAD, ISOM symbol sets are a core part of the product. Updates to the ISOM standard are typically incorporated into new software versions, which users then install. The software includes tools for managing and customizing these symbol sets, including converting maps between different standards. This is the comprehensive approach expected from a professional-grade tool with a long history.
OpenOrienteering Mapper also implements ISOM standards. As an open-source project, updates depend on the availability of its volunteer developers. Users can load and manage different symbol sets for their projects. For both of these desktop tools, getting updated symbol sets involves installing a new version of the software or downloading and importing a symbol file yourself. This gives the user full control over their environment but also puts the responsibility for keeping it current on them.
Our approach with Gratic is shaped by it being a web application, which allows us to solve this problem differently. The ISOM symbol sets are built directly into the editor. When a standard changes, we update it on our servers, and every mapper automatically has the latest version the next time they load their map. There are no files to download or patches to install.
We've also focused on how symbols behave in practice, as we've detailed in other articles. If you realize halfway through a project that you've used the wrong line thickness for all your fences, we built Gratic so you can fix the symbol itself, and every instance of that symbol on the map updates instantly. This is a core part of how the map's data is structured, designed to save time and prevent errors.
The map creation workflow from start to finish
A finished map requires a workflow that goes beyond just drawing symbols, starting with base data and ending with a file ready for printing. The workflow in a desktop editor like OCAD is self-contained. A project usually starts with importing base data, such as LIDAR files for contours, aerial imagery, or vector data from government sources. The software provides tools to georeference this data. The cartographer then draws the map, lays out the print sheet, and can use integrated course-setting functions before exporting a final file.
The workflow in OpenOrienteering Mapper is similar, focusing on the core cartography tasks. Users import background maps, draw features, and produce a finished map file. Both desktop tools give you full control on your local machine, but also place the responsibility for managing and backing up your project files entirely on you. This is a familiar process for experienced mappers, but it involves significant manual data handling at the start of every project.
We designed the workflow in Gratic to take advantage of it being an online tool. When you start a new map, you do not begin with a blank page. You drag a rectangle over a world map, and Gratic automatically pulls in the elevation data to draw the contours. It also imports available vector data like roads and streams from national mapping services, already converted to basic orienteering symbols. This base map is already georeferenced, meaning you start your work with live data. We publish a full, transparent list of these data sources and their license terms.
The most important part of the workflow, however, is compatibility. We know that mappers use a chain of different tools for their work. That's why any map you make in Gratic can be exported to a file that opens in OCAD. You can use Gratic for its speed and convenient data import, and then move to OCAD for final touches or course setting if your workflow requires it. Our goal is to fit into a real process, not demand you abandon it.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to install symbol sets in Gratic? No. The standard ISOM symbol sets are built into Gratic and are always up to date. Because it's a web application, we can push updates to the symbols centrally, so you never have to worry about downloading or installing new files when the specifications change.
Can I use my Gratic maps with OCAD? Yes. We built Gratic to fit into existing mapping workflows. Any map you create can be exported as a file that opens directly in OCAD. This allows you to use Gratic for its quick setup and base data import, and then use OCAD for features like course setting if you need them.
Where does Gratic get its base map data? When you start a map, Gratic pulls in elevation data for contours and vector data for features like roads and streams. This comes from a variety of open sources and national mapping services. We maintain a public, continuously updated list of all data providers and their specific license terms for transparency.
Is Gratic a replacement for desktop editors? We built Gratic to solve specific problems: to make starting a map faster and to remove the need for installation and license management. It's an editor for core cartography, designed to run in a browser tab. It works well alongside established desktop software like OCAD, which has decades of development behind its specialized features. Many mappers may find they can complete their entire project in Gratic, while others will use it as part of a broader toolchain.