Introduction

Map Guides are a feature in Counter-Strike that allow players to store and share line-ups. This could be anything from grenade line-ups to optimal bomb plant positions or nerdy wallbangs.

Technically they are text files with a specific format, stored in the \Steam\steamapps\common\Counter-Strike Global Offensive\game\csgo\annotations\ directory.

How to use Map Guides

Either load a map by going to Play → Practice and toggle "Load Map Guides" on, or load the map via the console and enable annotations with sv_allow_annotations true.

You can then load a specific guide file with the annotation_load console command e.g. annotation_load train_smokes.

How to create Map Guides

Individual annotations are created with the annotation_create command, and annotation files are saved with the annotation_save command.

There are five types of annotations:

Grenade

annotation_create grenade "label"

Creates a grenade annotation with the specified label value.

Position

annotation_create position "label"

Creates a position annotation with the specified label value.

Text

annotation_create text "title" "text" float|surface [faceplayer]

Creates a floating text annotation with the specified title and text values. You can use either the "float" or "surface" options to have it float in space or on the targetted surface respectively.

Line

annotation_create line float|surface [new]

Creates a line annotation with the specified float or surface value as with text annotations.

Spot

annotation_create spot

Creates a spot annotation for where the player should aim.

A simple example of some of these commands in action can be seen here demonstrated by @Mecke_Dev: