Maps are still pretty clunky. So... here are two item ideas.
Map Atlas
Crafting Recipe: 3 maps vertical in the middle, bordered by a sheet of paper on each side.
The recipe is easy enough. This creates a single item that contains the three maps as starting content. When the atlas is held and you right-click, it opens the Atlas Window. This window deactivates regular gameplay ability, much like when you use a furnace or chest. This is because you need to be able to use the mouse to scroll through the pages. In the regular non-magical atlas, it simply shows the pages in the order of the item (i.e. map_0, map_1, etc.). If you scroll to a map that you are currently in, it will show your position and direction just like a regular map. However, you will have to find the map in the atlas. An atlas can contain up to 1024 maps.
Magic Atlas
No crafting recipe, but you must already have an atlas. Converting it to a magic atlas is simple. Just put it in the enchanting table, and you must select to use magic level 30. Any less will not work. As there is only one magical enchantment for atlases, you always get the same result: A Magic Atlas.
The magic atlas is similar to the regular one except it makes it much more easy to use. When you open the Atlas, it always defaults to the first map in the atlas that your character is located in. And instead of simply being able to scroll right and left through the indexes of the maps, it gives you the option to scroll up, down, left or right. When you do so, it will attempt to find a map that exactly fits next to the current one (and will find the closest one to that, failing an exact match). All the more reason to make your maps exactly 1024 blocks separate. So in a way, it allows you continuous maps, which makes it much easier to plan where you are going.
In the case of both magical and non-magical atlases, you can add new maps simply by clicking a button in the atlas window that will open the inventory. Then you can click a map and it will be added.
Map Atlas
Crafting Recipe: 3 maps vertical in the middle, bordered by a sheet of paper on each side.
The recipe is easy enough. This creates a single item that contains the three maps as starting content. When the atlas is held and you right-click, it opens the Atlas Window. This window deactivates regular gameplay ability, much like when you use a furnace or chest. This is because you need to be able to use the mouse to scroll through the pages. In the regular non-magical atlas, it simply shows the pages in the order of the item (i.e. map_0, map_1, etc.). If you scroll to a map that you are currently in, it will show your position and direction just like a regular map. However, you will have to find the map in the atlas. An atlas can contain up to 1024 maps.
Magic Atlas
No crafting recipe, but you must already have an atlas. Converting it to a magic atlas is simple. Just put it in the enchanting table, and you must select to use magic level 30. Any less will not work. As there is only one magical enchantment for atlases, you always get the same result: A Magic Atlas.
The magic atlas is similar to the regular one except it makes it much more easy to use. When you open the Atlas, it always defaults to the first map in the atlas that your character is located in. And instead of simply being able to scroll right and left through the indexes of the maps, it gives you the option to scroll up, down, left or right. When you do so, it will attempt to find a map that exactly fits next to the current one (and will find the closest one to that, failing an exact match). All the more reason to make your maps exactly 1024 blocks separate. So in a way, it allows you continuous maps, which makes it much easier to plan where you are going.
In the case of both magical and non-magical atlases, you can add new maps simply by clicking a button in the atlas window that will open the inventory. Then you can click a map and it will be added.