Create Draggable Plots from Projected Geometry

Creates interactive draggable plots from grouped projected 'sf' geometry. The primary deliverable is a browser-based 'D3' helper where regions and labels can be moved freely; users drag, then copy or download the resulting offset tables. Labels can be derived automatically with make_region_labels(), supplied directly with as_drag_labels(), and their moved positions saved and restored with read_label_state() and apply_label_state(). Hierarchical spatial datasets are supported via hierarchy detection, upload profiling, make_hierarchy_key(), and inherit_layout(), which recommend parent-child groupings and propagate parent-level drag offsets to finer child groupings. Automatic starting layouts are provided by suggest_offsets() using radial, grid, or directional algorithms. Spatial file diagnostics are available through dragmapr_diagnostics(). When a reproducible static image is also needed, render_dragged_map() reconstructs the layout as a 'ggplot2' plot from the source geometry plus the exported offset tables. Project bundles can be written with write_dragmapr_project() and rendered with render_dragmapr_project(). The interactive layer is built on the 'D3' library: Bostock, Ogievetsky and Heer (2011) . Spatial data handling uses the 'sf' package: Pebesma (2018) .

title: dragmapr Spatial Studio emoji: 🗺️ colorFrom: blue colorTo: green sdk: docker pinned: false

dragmapr

dragmapr lets you drag map regions into any layout you want, then save that layout as a reproducible image. Open a draggable map in your browser, move regions and labels around until things look right, download two small CSV files, and turn them into a publication-ready ggplot2 map.

Watch a short walkthrough in the dragmap demo vignette, or see the HHS placeholder shapes demo for a complete Spatial Studio workflow.

Install

# install.packages("pak")
pak::pak("PrigasG/dragmapr")

Quick Start

library(dragmapr)

# Step 1: open the interactive map in your browser and drag things around
drag_map_prototype(my_sf, region_col = "region", open = TRUE)

# Step 2: after downloading the offset CSVs, render a static image
render_dragged_map(
  my_sf,
  region_col    = "region",
  region_offsets = "drag_region_offsets.csv",
  label_offsets  = "drag_label_offsets.csv",
  file = "my-map.png"
)

If your data is in longitude/latitude, run prepare_dragmapr_sf() first:

my_sf <- prepare_dragmapr_sf(my_sf)

How It Works

1. Start with a polygon sf object and pick a column that groups your regions.
2. Call drag_map_prototype() to open a browser page — drag regions and labels wherever you like.
3. Click Copy or Download in the side panel to save the offset CSVs.
4. Call render_dragged_map() with those CSVs to get a static ggplot2 image anytime, without re-running a browser session.

If you used Spatial Studio, you can skip steps 3–4 and call render_dragmapr_project() with the project ZIP instead:

render_dragmapr_project(
  "dragmapr-project.zip",
  file = "final-map.png",
  width = 10, height = 8, dpi = 300
)

Labels and Connectors

Labels are optional. You can show one label per region, supply your own label table, or turn labels off entirely.

# One label per region (default)
drag_map_prototype(my_sf, "region")

# Text-only labels, no marker
drag_map_prototype(my_sf, "region", label_marker = FALSE)

# Circle markers instead of rectangles
drag_map_prototype(my_sf, "region", label_marker_shape = "circle")

For longer notes or callout boxes, use as_drag_annotations():

notes <- as_drag_annotations(data.frame(
  label_id = "north-note",
  region   = "North",
  label    = "A note about this region",
  x = 50000, y = 150000
), connector = TRUE, connector_type = "curve")

render_dragged_map(my_sf, "region",
  region_offsets = "drag_region_offsets.csv",
  labels         = notes,
  label_offsets  = "drag_label_offsets.csv",
  connector_endpoint = "arrow",
  file = "annotated-map.png"
)

Connector styles: "straight", "elbow", "curve", "squiggle". Endpoints: "none" or "arrow".

RStudio Addin

After installing, go to Addins > Launch dragmapr in RStudio. Pick your sf object, choose columns and styling, drag the layout, then click Done. The addin saves region_offsets and label_offsets to .GlobalEnv so you can pass them straight to render_dragged_map().

# Load your sf object first, then launch the addin
regions <- prepare_dragmapr_sf(sf::st_read("regions.shp", quiet = TRUE))
dragmapr_addin()

render_dragged_map(regions, region_col = "name",
  region_offsets = region_offsets,
  label_offsets  = label_offsets,
  file = "map.png"
)

Built-in Examples

Run any example to see the package in action without needing your own data:

• basic_draggable_map.R — four simple map regions
• explodemap_hhs_labels.R — HHS-style exploded layout with colors and offsets
• label_nudging.R — nudge labels independently after moving regions
• shiny_draggable_export.R — Shiny app with live preview and PNG export
• shiny_spatial_studio.R — full Spatial Studio: upload files, switch groupings, drag, export
• branch-bloom-tester.R — test parent/child bloom animations in isolation

# Run all examples in a temp folder
source(system.file("examples", "smoke_examples.R", package = "dragmapr"))

Need an export format not available in Spatial Studio? Download the GeoJSON or GeoPackage and open it in Mapshaper to convert.

Vignettes

• Getting started with dragmapr
• Dragmap demo
• Labels and static output
• Shiny workflows
• Example gallery
• HHS placeholder shapes demo

Known Limitations

• Designed for polygon and multipolygon data. Point and line workflows may work in parts but are not the main supported path.
• Offsets are stored in projected coordinate units. Use prepare_dragmapr_sf() to convert longitude/latitude data before dragging.
• Dragged geometry is for display and communication, not geographic analysis.
• Very large datasets can be slow in the browser. Simplify or group geometry first when working at large scale.