Abstract: To provide a convenient selection of origin and/or destination of a route, in an on-line map service, the user is permitted to select and view a map and select any point from the displayed map as one of the points necessary for computation of a route. In an example, the user selects a start point, and the client device provides pixel coordinates of the first selected point. The user then selects the other point from the map, and the client device provides coordinates of the other selected point. A GIS program at the client converts the coordinates to map units and communicates with the server in order to access map information, compute a route, and send back route information for presentation to the user. The resulting route information, for example, may take the form of a map display highlighting the route or textual instructions for traveling the route.