I add about 5 new locations to about 20 layers, and I would like this new locations to be updated live. 

What I now have to do is update the Google sheet and then go the My Maps, delete the layer that was updated and re-upload. This is very tedious. 

Also, can the same be done in the reverse. If I add a location manually to the My Maps layer, can it update the back-end data?

Here's hoping someone can help.

Regards

... the otherway is also hard. There is no 'tabular' export from My Maps (eg a CSV or something) that can use as a spreadsheet. 

(Can export as KML. Then manually convert the KML to say CSV and then import that. )

Maybe fusion tables would be interest? A fusion table can have a 'auto updating' linked map. 

Its a very structured table. Not quite as flexible as a proper spreadsheet, but may be enough. I guess kinda functions like the data-table in My Maps. 

(a fusion table, and also BOTH be imported AND exported both as tabular data, and even KML) 

ALso My Maps has no API, to enable a sync to be setup. Fusion Tables even has an API so COULD setup a sync between a sheet and a table if want (and then the map would auto-update too). But probably more trouble than worth. Just edit the table as the 'authoritive' copy..  

There are lots of helpful tips in here. It's a pitty though that My Maps isn't live updated. It would make it really nice to share a map link on a website and it just remains there and is updated as the data is updated in the back end. Do you have any solution for something like this?

Thanks

If wasn't clear, FT, also has a 'Embed Map' option. So can embed the map from Fusion Tables in your own site. If the underlying Table is updated (in the FT website, or via their API) the map will automatically update. 

Can even build a more sophisciated map using the Google Maps API directly for your site. It can load its data directly from teh FT :) 

The FT, embed doesnt have the 'sidebar' like the My Maps embed, so if wanted this would have to build it yourself.