Map display

RE: Is it possible to have an address listed, but not display the map for an individual listing?

Sorry, no.

RE: It seems like the map is just automatically added if there’s an address.

Yes, if an address with geolocation (latitude/longitude) is added a map will display.

RE: Can I turn off map display entirely? I was able to turn off maps display completely in the cMap template customizing, but the maps are still appearing on the individual directory listings, which are not part of the template.

You can selectively disable the map from the list view or detail (individual) view when in the Customizer.

To turn off in both views… while in the Customizer take note of the instructions displayed above the directory in the preview.

While in the Customizer preview, click an entry name, any entry name it does not matter which. The preview will refresh displaying the detail (individual) of the template.

Now you have the option to disable map again.

Both views can be customized separately from each other in the Customizer allowing to tweak both views.

RE: How can I get the maps to show the correct locations?

By default Connections uses a free service to geocode addresses. This service uses OpenStreetMap (OSM) data. The geolocation results can be less than stellar.

RE: Do I need to manually enter the lat and long numbers?‘

You can if you wish. But, I recommend clicking the Geolocate button in the address fieldset in the admin when add/editing the entry.

You can drag and drop the map pin to fine tune the geoloaction.

RE: Do we need to set up a Google Maps API?

Setting up the Google maps API keys will yield much better automatic geolocation of addresses requiring far less adjustments to the map pin.

I hope I have answered your questions thoroughly. Let me know if you need any further help.

That is helpful, thank you! I may have some additional questions but I figured it out for now. Given that a PO Box doesn’t have a geolocation, though, it would be really helpful if the map feature could be turned off separately for each entry.

I do have a couple more questions.

Sometimes when I click the Geocode button, the map area just turns grey, but it doesn’t generate a map. Any explanation of why this would happen or how to troubleshoot it?

We’re in a rural location where there are areas without much roads, and in some cases the map displays a zoom level where the entire map just appears as one color, and you have to zoom out several levels for any details to come into view before the map provides any meaningful information about the location. Is it possible to set the zoom level somehow? Here’s an example:

https://dev.hanamaui.com/directory/name/hana-ranch/

RE: That is helpful, thank you!

Glad to help!

RE: Given that a PO Box doesn’t have a geolocation

Not sure I understand, a PO Box is still a physical location. USPS could not deliver to it if it was not.

RE: in some cases the map displays a zoom level where the entire map just appears as one color, and you have to zoom out several levels for any details to come into view before the map provides any meaningful information about the location.

Add map_zoom=13 to the existing shortcode on the page. Change the number up/down to tweak the zoom. I think higher (max 20) is zoom out. So try map_zoom=18.

RE: Any explanation of why this would happen or how to troubleshoot it?

Open the browser Console (hit the F12 key and then click the Console tab). Navigate to the page, edit an entry and click the Geocode button for an address where this happens.

An error or something should get displayed after clicking the geocode button.

My best guess is the service provider is responding with an error about not being able to located the address. If this is the case, make the address more generic and click the geocode button and then drag the pin to the correct location and then fill in the correct address.

Hope this helps!

RE: Given that a PO Box doesn’t have a geolocation

Not sure I understand, a PO Box is still a physical location. USPS could not deliver to it if it was not.

I guess you’re right, but when looking for the location of a business in the directory, knowing where they’re PO Box is located isn’t very useful!

(Also, in our case the geocode doesn’t seem to actually go to the location of the post office.)

• This reply was modified 5 years, 2 months ago by scottmaui.
• This reply was modified 5 years, 2 months ago by scottmaui.

RE: in some cases the map displays a zoom level where the entire map just appears as one color, and you have to zoom out several levels for any details to come into view before the map provides any meaningful information about the location.

Add map_zoom=13 to the existing shortcode on the page. Change the number up/down to tweak the zoom. I think higher (max 20) is zoom out. So try map_zoom=18.

can this be applied per individual entry? In some cases the zoom is too close to be useful, in some cases it is too far out.

• This reply was modified 5 years, 2 months ago by scottmaui.

Sorry, no, it can only be applied to globally to all maps per shortcode instance.

Add this to your theme’s functions.php file, or, preferably, use the Code Snippets plugin.

add_action( 
	'plugins_loaded', 
	function() {
		remove_filter( 'cn_set_address', array( 'cnEntry_Action', 'geoCode' ) );
	}, 
	12 
);

Now any new address added will not be geocoded automatically.

For entries you want to have a map, click the geocode button and tweak the pin as necessary. Only addresses you do this for will get geocoded and therefore a map display.

Entries where you add an address that is a PO Box, do not click the geocode button and leave the lat/lng fields empty and they will not have a map displayed.

I think that should help you out a bit.

Great, I will give that a try! Really appreciate your support.

RE: I guess you’re right, but when looking for the location of a business in the directory, knowing where they’re PO Box is located isn’t very useful!

True the actual PO Box location is not useful for locating a business. What would be more useful if you would to drag and drop the pin location to where their physical business is located. But, you might as well use the real address vs the mailing address.

Not sure that helps or not, but I hope it does.

actually it didn’t automatically add the geocode in the entry page, but when I go to the directory listing it still shows the map centered on what appears to be the middle of the US which must be the default location.

for example

https://dev.hanamaui.com/directory/name/serve-hawaii-llc/

RE: actually it didn’t automatically add the geocode in the entry page,

That is correct, with this code snippet active, it will not longer geocode automatically.

RE: shows the map centered on what appears to be the middle of the US which must be the default location.

Assuming this entry was already geocoded… edit the entry and remove the address. Add the address again but without geocoding it manually.

You should not longer get a map displayed.

I hope this helps, please let me know.

I added a brand new test entry. Added a PO Box address. No geocode, but default map location still shows up in individual entry page.

https://dev.hanamaui.com/directory/name/testing-map/