1. A method on a computer for enabling a user to view and interact with a visual map in an external application, the method comprising: receiving a request in a visual mapping application to create a visual map file that can be executed within an external application, the visual mapping application having visual mapping functionality including editing functionality for a user to edit visual map data and store the edited visual map data; in response to receiving the request in the visual mapping application to create a visual map file that can be executed within an external application, performing the following steps: retrieving visual map data, including any stored edits to the visual map data, wherein the visual map data is retrieved by the visual mapping application; and creating a file in the visual mapping application, wherein the created file includes (i) the retrieved visual map data and (ii) software code capable of being executed by the external application to display the visual map and enable at least a subset of the same visual mapping functionality as the visual mapping application within the external application, wherein the visual mapping functionality includes the editing functionality for editing the visual map.