Map It Plugin
Map It Plugin : DirectoryPress
The map it plugin we are busy developing have been posted on the PremiumPress forum, and we have received some nice feedback. It is nice when other users at least recognize that something has potential. The issue of course is that we aren’t ready to release this Map It Plugin yet, as we have not set out any content or similar to help gain some SERP for keywords related to what we develop.
The test site was originally set up on a ”duff” domain, but we have since moved the test site. The new link for the Directory Press Map It Plugin is now on this domain.
Map It Plugin : Update
Where are we with the Map It Plugin. Let me explain the different functionality, and how it works.
I will try and remain non geeky.
Map It Plugin : Submission
The first function is contained within the submit form.
Add the address fields, and a Google Map pops up.
The pin is draggable, allowing you to add a specific location to the listing.
The geocoding is done here, whilst you are dragging the pin.
The geocoded data, latitude longitude coordinates, is added to your database.
These coordinates can now be used within any arrangement of maps, without requiring the Google API.
It works really well, and since you aren’t relying on any geocoding databases as such, you can place the pin on the front door of a business to get a very specific pin.
Map It Plugin : Categories and Pins
The pins on the sidebar reflects the categories.
At the moment we don’t have any plans to add sub categories.
The pin images are uploaded as CATEGORY NAME .png files.
Dynamically adds pins for categories, and adds new categories to sidebar on map.
This too has worked great, and we have experimented with some cluster management allowing for thousands of pins on a single map. The images are relatively small and impacts very little on page load etc.
Map It Plugin : In Development
We are finalizing an admin panel for the plugin. We want to make it easy to set the
- Map location setup.
- Zoom level.
- Type of map.
- Info Window CSS
- Category Pin Image upload.
Once we have this working, we still need some tutorial page or similar, and then we will gladly share.
Google Map It
If you have an interest in this Map It Plugin development, we have some interesting ideas and concepts that is in the pipeline. By the end of the year we will launch a variety of new map functions and tools which will make mapping for your website just simple. Period. Keep and eye out for the Google Map It project.
I can’t remember where I saw it, but there was a mapping plug-in that had a new twist that you may want to include in yours. It had to do with the situation where you have hundreds or thousands of pins in a small area. Instead of mapping each pin, which then looks like a mess, they simply posted an icon with the count of the number pins it represented in that area. As an added idea, you could then set it so that as the user zoomed in on the map, that icon could at some point turn back into the pins. Just spitballing a bit.
By the way, do you have an email list started that we can join so as to be notified when this plugin for DirectoryPress is available??? If so, please let me know where I can sign up. Thanks.
Hey Richard, thanks for dropping by.
The ”beauty” of this map plugin is that the map is a complete seperate entity to the directory and data. What I am saying is that with a little bit of tweaking, aany API data can be included as an overlay, and any custom pin management can easily be modded. I haven’t seen this function, but will look through some links to see if I can pick it up. If you come across it again, can you let me have a url. This way it should be quick to grab it. Maybe something like a pin management function added. If pins are more than (x) per (area) then use (y). Yes//No ??
For a tutorial, would you please make it a video where you actually walk through the steps? Being able to watch what is being explained is so much better. Too many times, developers “write” tutorials, which are understandable at their own level of expertise, including assumptions about what ‘all’ readers already know, and the results are totally useless for the lesser-knowledgeable paying customer.
Thanks.
Hey Richard, thanks for taking the time to make a positive comment. I will update the progress in a week or so, but at the moment we are planning incorporating all the functions within a WordPress admin panel. You will be able to set the map center, zoom level, type of map as well as some css management for the inforw window. Also add the pin image management to this panel. Do you have suggestions for any other management options? Would a video be required if these options are within the admin panel? Click and Save? What else would you want to edit?
Elizabeth, I am eagerly waiting for this plugin to use on my site. I would like to thank you for the time and effort you are putting into this.
Hey Chris, thanks for stopping by. Just getting the administration sorted on the WordPress admin panel and then it is all yours. You can check a V5 version on our Skateboard TV project. Some MoviePress mods as well, which we will also release as FREE plugins. Always keen to share ideas and listen to feature requests. Everyone has different ideas …..
Updated the project portal with a map it plugin update. This will be the focus as soon as we get past the 1st March 2012. The fetch meta plugin takes priority now.
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