# How to use gpmlz file to plot a map?

**URL:** https://discourse.gplates.org/t/how-to-use-gpmlz-file-to-plot-a-map/1017
**Category:** Q&A
**Created:** [11 December 2024 12:08 UTC](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/how-to-use-gpmlz-file-to-plot-a-map/1017 "2024-12-11T12:08:25Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Xiaowei](https://discourse.gplates.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/x/76d3ee/32.png) [@Xiaowei](https://discourse.gplates.org/u/Xiaowei)
#### Post date: [11 December 2024 12:08 UTC](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/how-to-use-gpmlz-file-to-plot-a-map/1017/1 "2024-12-11T12:08:25Z")

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Hi all,

I’m trying to use the Muller\_etal\_2019\_Global\_Coastlines.gpmlz file to plot a map with each plate ID displayed using pygplates. Could you please let me know which functions in pygplates I should use for this task? Additionally, where can I find a complete list of all the available functions in pygplates?

Best regards,  
Xiaowei

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### Author: ![john.cannon](https://discourse.gplates.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/3e96dc/32.png) [@john.cannon](https://discourse.gplates.org/u/john.cannon)
#### Post date: [12 December 2024 02:07 UTC](https://discourse.gplates.org/t/how-to-use-gpmlz-file-to-plot-a-map/1017/2 "2024-12-12T02:07:06Z")

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Hi Xiaowei,

You might find GPlately (note: not GPlates) more useful for plotting. It’s built on top of pyGPlates.

You can find documentation for both [here](https://www.gplates.org/docs/) (which includes a list of all functions in both packages).

Note: The `GPlately Tutorials` link on the above webpage is broken - so use [this](https://gplates.github.io/gplately/v1.3.0/#notebooks-examples) instead.