![still — home: create cards + previous plans (PRO org)](https://hel1.your-objectstorage.com/traffic-chart-tutorials/helpcenter/en/getting-started/landing/01-home.png)

<video controls playsinline src="https://hel1.your-objectstorage.com/traffic-chart-tutorials/helpcenter/en/getting-started/landing/03-open-create-form.mp4"></video>

*motion — same clip as library create path*

From an empty account to something useful on the map. If you only need one type of plan, skip the other half.

## Before you start

- Use a current desktop Chrome, Edge, or Firefox.
- Know whether you need road signs (**Traffic Plan**) or a site layout (**Event Plan**) — or both.
- Check **Switch workspace**. A new plan is created in the workspace you are in now (**Personal**, or an organization such as **Acme Events**).

## Your first traffic plan

### 1. Create it

On **Home**, under **What would you like to create?**, choose **Traffic Plan**. From **Plans**, **Create plan** opens the same form.

![Create a new traffic plan form with Country, Plan name, Start date, End date, and Start planning](https://hel1.your-objectstorage.com/traffic-chart-tutorials/helpcenter/en/getting-started/landing/02-create-traffic-form.png)

1. Set **Country** * — this loads the correct sign catalogue. Pick the country of the works, not your billing country.
2. Enter **Plan name** * (placeholder **My Traffic Plan**). A useful pattern is site + place + year.
3. Set **Start date** * and **End date** *. Complete both the date **and** the time. Start must be before end. Incomplete time shows **Complete the start date with a time.** (or the end-date equivalent).
4. Click **Start planning**.

The editor opens full-screen. Wait until **Opening Map Environment...** is gone and the basemap tiles are visible. Do not place signs on a white map.

Older plans that never got a country or dates may show **Continue your traffic plan** and block the editor until you finish those fields.

### 2. Find the location

1. Click **Search address** on the left.
2. Type a street or place in **Type to search address**.
3. Press Enter (or pick a suggestion when shown).
4. Zoom in until placing a sign feels precise.

If results are thin, try a fuller address. Confirm **Country** matches the area you are searching. Zoom, scale, and search in more detail: [Search address, zoom, and scale](/hc/test/articles/search-address-zoom-and-scale).

### 3. Place a few signs

1. Open **Traffic Objects** → **Signs**.
2. Confirm the country name at the top of the panel.
3. Type in **Search traffic signs**, or open a category such as **Most used**, **Speed**, **Roadwork**, or **Events**.
4. Click a sign, then click the map.
5. The selected stack shows **Move sign**, **Rotate sign**, **Duplicate sign**, **Remove signs**, and (when allowed) **Displace sign stack** / **Edit sign**.

On the free tier you can place a limited number of signs (currently 5 that count) outside participating municipalities. If the next click is blocked, follow the dialog — do not start a second payment. [I can’t place more signs](/hc/test/articles/cannot-place-more-signs).

### 4. Optional sketch

Use **Add line**, **Add rectangle**, **Add circle**, **Add shape**, or **Add text** for a detour hint or work area. Pick **Select color** first if you care which colour the next drawing uses.

### 5. Save

Watch **Auto-save**. Hover for **Auto-save: saving**, **Auto-save: unsaved changes**, or **Auto-save: saved**. If auto-save is off, click **Save**. Wait until it is saved before you send a link. Title, dates, and the save preference: [Auto-save, title, and dates](/hc/test/articles/auto-save-title-and-dates).

### 6. Share or export

Click **Export**.

- **Sharable link** is marked **RECOMMENDED**. **Copy**. Many municipalities prefer a live link.
- **Export files** is for PDF (and Excel on some accounts). You must draw at least one export map first. [Export and print traffic plans](/hc/test/articles/export-and-print).

**Create plan** on the **Plans** library starts this same create form.

## Your first event plan

Event plans do not use traffic-sign credits. Your workspace must have Event plans enabled. If **Plans** → **Event plans** says **Not enabled for Personal.** (or **Not enabled for Acme Events.**), you cannot create one here. [Workspace unavailable](/hc/test/articles/workspace-unavailable).

1. On **Home**, choose **Event Plan**. Or **Plans** → **Event plans** → **New Event Plan**.
2. Enter **Event Name** (placeholder **Enter the name of your event**).
3. Enter **Location** (city, venue, or address text).
4. Set start and end date/time. End must be after start.
5. Click **Start event planning**.
6. Wait for the map.
7. Open **Objects**, pick a type, click the map. If you see **Map is not ready yet**, wait.
8. Open **Areas**, choose **Polygon**, **Rectangle**, or **Circle**, draw a zone, set **Area Type** (for example **Camping** or **Restricted Zone**).
9. Open **Lines & Routes** for a **Pedestrian Route** or **Emergency Route**.
10. Labels: click the map tool **Add text** (it is not a sidebar tab), then click the map and type.
11. Wait for **Save** / **Auto-save**.
12. Optional PDF: **Export**, draw an export area, choose paper size, **Export PDF**.

Full drawing detail: [Event objects, areas, and routes](/hc/test/articles/event-objects-areas-and-routes).

## When you need both

Road signs on public roads belong on a **Traffic Plan**. Tents, fences, and visitor flows belong on an **Event Plan**. Municipalities often want both links.

## Tips that save a second visit

- Fill dates on a traffic plan even if you are “just sketching”. **Show Melvin** stays disabled until dates are set: **Fill in a date to use this option**.
- Prefer a share link for review. Use PDF when a file is required.
- In an organization, the person who created the plan is the **assigned editor**. Colleagues can open it read-only until an Owner or Administrator uses **Assign editor**.
- Find a plan later on **Plans** — folders, search, and the table: [Folders and the library](/hc/test/articles/folders-and-the-library).
- If **Signs** has no match, **Request Item (24h)** at the bottom of the catalogue. [Request a missing item](/hc/test/articles/request-a-missing-item).
- Do not duplicate a plan to “get around” a review lock. You lose the dossier history.

If this is your first session after **Create your account**, start with [First login and onboarding](/hc/test/articles/first-login-and-onboarding).

## If something blocks you

| Situation | Where to go |
|-----------|-------------|
| Cannot place more traffic signs | [I can’t place more signs](/hc/test/articles/cannot-place-more-signs) |
| Export fails or the PDF is white | [Export fails or is blank](/hc/test/articles/export-fails) |
| Plan will not edit | [I can’t open or edit a plan](/hc/test/articles/cannot-edit-plan) |
| Plan not in the list | [My plan does not appear in the list](/hc/test/articles/plan-not-in-list) |
| Map never appears | [Map will not load or stays blank](/hc/test/articles/map-will-not-load) |