Improve Way Accuracy

Keyboard shortcut: W — is a one of the JOSM modes

This mode can add, move and delete nodes of the previously entered ways; this mode used only to update existing data (ways).

The goal of the mode is to substitute dragging and dropping nodes with clicking to quicken the editing process.

​Demonstration video

Activation steps

Two options:

• Select a way, then [Help/Modes#Activateamode activate a mode as usual]
• Activate a mode, then select a way to update (icon: )

To start working on a different way without leaving the mode, unselect current way by pressing Esc and click on another one.

Usage

To move existing nodes

Click on the map where you think a node should be. The highlighted (nearest) node will be moved there.

Helper geometry: dashed red line - indicates a way after moved node

To create new nodes (+Ctrl)

A new node will be added into segment that is the closest one to the cursor.

Helper geometry: solid red line - indicates a way after new node

To remove nodes (+Alt)

Press and hold Alt button and click - the highlighted node will be deleted.

Please try to keep as much existing nodes as you can, because thus you keep their history.

Lock segment

• Lock moved node: Shift
• Lock added node: Ctrl Shift

Mode automatically finds segments and nodes that are the closest to the cursor. Candidate for deletion/move/addition will be changed as many times as you move cursor.

However, you can lock the highlighted node/segment when moving a mouse. Press and hold Shift or left mouse button and the focused node or segment will be kept the same no matter where you move the cursor.

Tips

• JOSM has a wireframe view that turns off any styles and makes lines very thin. You can try it by pressing Ctrl+W It might be a good idea to toggle that view before improving ways accuracy as it allows to see the imagery below the data layer in a much better way.
• Linux may use the left-ALT key as a mouse modifier, which will annoyingly compel Accuracy mode to use right-Alt to delete nodes. ​Here is an article explaining how to reassign that ALT key in Gnome (or MATE), freeing it up for IWAM application usage. <Super> is "Windows key".
  Alt+F2 → dconf-editor.
  Click through org → gnome → desktop → wm → preferences → mouse-button-modifier → Set it to whichever key you like. e.g. <Super> or <Control><Alt> or <Alt><Super>

Limitations

• When you add or move nodes, they do not bind to nearby objects as it happens in the Select or Draw modes. This is not needed during the way shape improvement, but in case you would like to do so, select the nodes in the Select mode and merge them, e.g., by pressing M.
• You cannot delete nodes that are connected to more than one way or that have tags to prevent accidental breaking of topology or loss of information. Note that "uninteresting" tags are excluded, like FIXME, note, source, etc.

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