Google Mapping for SOBI2 Search Results
Version
2.0 (last update on Dec 28, 2009)
Rating
Compatibility
Votes
Favoured
14
License
GPLv2 or later
Commercial
Type
Views
27723
Date Added
15 December 2008
Editor's Note
- This extension requires registration to download.
1) Complete instructions with screen captures to illustrate how to install and configure the plugins.
2) A new SOBI2 template that includes the changes necessary for Google mapping. You can use this template as a basis for desired customizations.
3) A SOBI2 plugin to control your mapping.
4) Javascript which you can implement to have the map 'float down' the page as the user scrolls down the list of entries.
You may see this in action at the demo site.
In the current version (2.0) - no hacks required! All plugins install using the native SOBI2 install functionality.
Please note: SOBI2 version 2.9.0 or higher required.
Mapping works with and without the Radius Search plugin. Mapping also works with the special search URLs allowing you to build special pages with mapping that are linked to a menu!
This is an excellent add-on for Sobi2 and a must have for displaying geographical data from the Sobi2 search function. The extension is well documented and supported by the developers. I have been using the extension for more than a year now with out any real issues. Definitely recommended.
Be aware of the following:
1. In order mapping to work correctly ALL your SOBI entries must have valid google map addresses. If this is not the case mapping will be messed up. Entries with non valid address will still be marked with a map bubble on the V-card, but the same bubble number on the map itself will use the address/geo-coordinates from the next SOBI entry in the V-card. I would have expected non valid addresses or entries with missing geo-coordinates to be ignored by the code, therefore I call it a BUG. However my opinion was not sheared by the developer. That means you should not include in your SOBI listings Companies without valid google address. It makes no sense because this days plenty virtual companies do not publish physical address at all.
2. The map will be populated with 5 bubbles maximum. Therefore it works correctly only if your SOBI general configurations are set to display max. 5 lines per V-card page. This very much exposes a limit to SOBI V-Card settings.
3. Under IE7 and IE8 browser error is displayed " Message: Object doesn't support this property or method" when the map is loaded. The developer said no error shown on their sites.
4. I could only get it to work with geo-coordinates available (geo-coded SOBI entries)
1. In order mapping to work correctly ALL your SOBI entries must have valid google map addresses. If this is not the case mapping will be messed up. Entries with non valid address will still be marked with a map bubble on the V-card, but the same bubble number on the map itself will use the address/geo-coordinates from the next SOBI entry in the V-card. I would have expected non valid addresses or entries with missing geo-coordinates to be ignored by the code, therefore I call it a BUG. However my opinion was not sheared by the developer. That means you should not include in your SOBI listings Companies without valid google address. It makes no sense because this days plenty virtual companies do not publish physical address at all.
2. The map will be populated with 5 bubbles maximum. Therefore it works correctly only if your SOBI general configurations are set to display max. 5 lines per V-card page. This very much exposes a limit to SOBI V-Card settings.
3. Under IE7 and IE8 browser error is displayed " Message: Object doesn't support this property or method" when the map is loaded. The developer said no error shown on their sites.
4. I could only get it to work with geo-coordinates available (geo-coded SOBI entries)
Owner's reply
1) This extension uses either valid addresses or geocodes. This is disclosed on the product page. We have an extension that is more advanced that can handle combining entries with non-valid addresses and valid addresses called JMaps. You chose this package. You could have easily chosen the other one if you had both physical and virtual businesses to map.
2) This is not true, as is easily seen on our demo sites and on customer sites which we linked to. If you experienced a limitation, then the problem is somewhere on your site.
3) Not only did we not experience this problem on any of our demo sites, but we checked at least 10 different sites which have purchased this software. Not one of them was showing this error.
4) If your fopen option in PHP (as per the documentation) is not set to allow, then Google will not return mapping by address. That is Google's limitation. That is why you had to have geocodes. If you had fopen allowed on your server, then address mapping will work.
We are sorry for your problems, but did not give us the chance to work with you to solve any of them. As you can see from the glowing reviews on this page, our Google Mapping software has been well received and these problems you are reporting do not exist for the others who have reviewed the software on this page.
This extension is fantastic addition to SOBI2 search results. It looks really cool and works very well.
The developer knows SOBI2 inside out, he has since written me a modification to one of SOBI2 commercial plugins (radius search).
Highly reccomend him for any commercial work
Thanks Cedric!
The developer knows SOBI2 inside out, he has since written me a modification to one of SOBI2 commercial plugins (radius search).
Highly reccomend him for any commercial work
Thanks Cedric!
This seems like an fine solution and I applaud the effort.
I would like to correct a statement made in a prior review. Sigsiu does offer their own solution for this requirement.
I would like to correct a statement made in a prior review. Sigsiu does offer their own solution for this requirement.
Owner's reply
Thank you for the kind words. To our knowledge, Sigsiu.net has a mapping feature for entries by Category, but has not yet implemented mapping for search results.
This component is an essential addition to Sobi2. Where Sobi2 is an effective databasing system it really lacks a good mapping system based on search results. Corfun has nailed what people really want in incorporating the google maps with their search results and in a very customizable way. It's also css based so style it however you like! And you won't find better/faster support or answers. HIGHLY recommend this isn't a strong enough statement.
Be aware that it is not a customizable plugin for SOBI2, but a zipfile with instructions (and sources) to change the existing sobi2 files to create a map for the searchresults.
The instructions need to be followed very clearly, and even then I still needed support to get things working, it most important. It works great! To tweak things its required that you know some php, or you'll be stuck with the standard view as Corshop implemented it.
Anyway, if you have basic PHP knowledge to customise things to your needs, it is highly recommended, since not having searchresults on the map is a serious downside of SOBI2.
Support is absolutely great, just ask your question in Corshop's forum and you'll get answers within a few hours and they continues the support until it works as it should.
The instructions need to be followed very clearly, and even then I still needed support to get things working, it most important. It works great! To tweak things its required that you know some php, or you'll be stuck with the standard view as Corshop implemented it.
Anyway, if you have basic PHP knowledge to customise things to your needs, it is highly recommended, since not having searchresults on the map is a serious downside of SOBI2.
Support is absolutely great, just ask your question in Corshop's forum and you'll get answers within a few hours and they continues the support until it works as it should.
SOBI2 is an essential Joomla component giving you amazing flexibility when it comes to the functionality and appearance of your directory.
I was surprised to see that SOBI2 lacks the ability to show the search results on a map. This can be very frustrating. In fact, I held back on purchasing the SOBI2 Radius Search just because it didn't have the mapping functionality (This in itself is surprising - I expected to see some advancement in the search functionality.)
After doing some research on the SOBI2 forum, I came upon CorFun.
CorFun is a company that developed Google Mapping For SOBI2 Search - an addition to the SOBI2 Component.
This addition is exactly what I was missing in the functionality of my directory.
Google Mapping by CorFun is basically tweaked configuration and template files, in addition to google mapping files, and custom graphics.
The package contains a very informative list of instructions on how to update and tweak your SOBI2 settings - Very simple, all you need to do is read the instructions, and your good.
I'd like to especially mention that the support I received was (and still is...) phenomenal. After posting a question on the forum, I received a quick response from the support team, and they didn't stop troubleshooting the problem until it got solved.
I am really happy with Google Mapping for SOBI2 , and would recommend it to any web developer / business owner who uses SOBI2. This will bring life into your directory, and site visitors will be able to make more sense out of your search results.
Again I'd like to send many thanks to Glen and Jerry from CorFun for the helpful support!
I was surprised to see that SOBI2 lacks the ability to show the search results on a map. This can be very frustrating. In fact, I held back on purchasing the SOBI2 Radius Search just because it didn't have the mapping functionality (This in itself is surprising - I expected to see some advancement in the search functionality.)
After doing some research on the SOBI2 forum, I came upon CorFun.
CorFun is a company that developed Google Mapping For SOBI2 Search - an addition to the SOBI2 Component.
This addition is exactly what I was missing in the functionality of my directory.
Google Mapping by CorFun is basically tweaked configuration and template files, in addition to google mapping files, and custom graphics.
The package contains a very informative list of instructions on how to update and tweak your SOBI2 settings - Very simple, all you need to do is read the instructions, and your good.
I'd like to especially mention that the support I received was (and still is...) phenomenal. After posting a question on the forum, I received a quick response from the support team, and they didn't stop troubleshooting the problem until it got solved.
I am really happy with Google Mapping for SOBI2 , and would recommend it to any web developer / business owner who uses SOBI2. This will bring life into your directory, and site visitors will be able to make more sense out of your search results.
Again I'd like to send many thanks to Glen and Jerry from CorFun for the helpful support!
