Google Maps Simple Module User Guide
From Fishcakes Wiki
Google Maps Simple Module User Guide
User Guide for the Exponent Google Maps Simple Module developed by Fishcakes.
For development info about this module, see the Google Maps Simple Module development page.
Contents |
About Google Maps Simple Module
This module will display Google Maps on an Exponent website using a Google Maps Link or an external KML File. The module folder is googlemapsimplemodule with sub-folders containing files as indicated below.
Note: All screenshots are from a site which uses the Fishcakes Revenge Exponent Theme. Actual page layout will vary with themes.
Using the Module
Add the Module to Page
- Use the Exponent Container Add a new module here button to add content to your page.
- The Module selector page will now load.
- Use the Module selector to select Google Maps Simple Module.
- Use the View selector to select either Default or List View.
- Set the Module Title or leave empty if you don't want a title to appear.
- Click the Use Existing Content link if you want to use content from an existing module.
- Use the Description field for your notes (this field is not displayed to end users).
- Click 'Save. Your module should now be added to the page.
Module Configuration
- Click on the Configure this Module icon to load the Module Configuration page.
- Set the Google API Key for your domain or sub-domain. To get a key visit Get Google Maps API Key.
- Set the Google Country you want the maps to be generated from. See the Google Maps Country Domains section of this Wiki for more info.
- Click 'Save. Your module is now ready for maps to be added.
Note: If you try to add a Map before you Configure the Module, you'll get an error message.
Map Configuration
Create a Map
- Click on the Create New Map link to load the Map Setup page.
- Either input your Google Map Link or click on the Browse button to upload a KML File.
- For more info about Google Map Links or KML Files see the Google Maps My Maps and KML Files section of this Wiki.
Set Map Size & Controls
These controls are for Google Map Link generated maps. If you use a KML File these settings will be ignored.
- Set your Map Width and Map Height.
- Tick the Width as % box if you want the Map to fill the width of the page, table or div which houses it.
- Select whether you want the Map Controls to appear on your map.
- Select weither you want the Map Markers to appear on your map.
- For more info about Map Controllers see the Google Maps Control Widgets section of this Wiki.
Set Map Description
- Give a Title to your map, or if you don't want a title, leave this empty.
- Input the Body Text you want to appear with your map, or if you don't want and body text, leave empty.
- Input any Notes which you want to keep but don't want end users to see.
- Click 'Save. Your map should now appear on your page.
Changing Map Order
Once you have added a few maps to your module, you can use the Move Up and Move Down links below each map to change the order in which they appear on the page.
Module Views
Default view
- File
views/Default.tpl
Displays from 1 to X Google Maps on a single page. The Module Title is displayed if not empty. The Map is displayed with a Title and Summary text, though both will be ignored if left empty. Note: You should avoid displaying too many maps on a single page as this can cause problems for some users.
List View
- File
views/List View.tpl
Displays links to 1 to X Google Maps on a single page. The Module Title is displayed if not empty. The Map is NOT displayed, but the Title and Summary text are displayed with links to the map which is displayed by View map. If the Title is empty, then it will be generated as Map + Module Map ID, e.g. Map 1.
View map
- File
views/_viewgooglemapsimple.tpl
Displays a single Map. The Map is displayed with a Title and Summary text, though both will be ignored if left empty. A back button will return the user to the previous page (usually the List View, but whatever the last Exponent page the user was on before linking to the View map page.
Edit Map view
- File
views/_form_editgooglemapsimple.tpl
Displays the Edit Map view for adding Maps to the Module.
Setting Up a Google Map or KML File
For detailed instructions on setting up a Map or KML file see Setting Up Google Maps My Maps and KML Files in the Google Maps category of this wiki.
Exponent CMS Resources
Official Exponent Resources
- exponentcms.org — official website.
- exponentcms.org Download — get Exponent.
- sourceforge.net Exponent — get Exponent from SourceForge.
- exponentcms.org Download Themes — change the look.
- exponentcms.org Download Modules — extend Exponent.
- exponentcms.org Forums — for advice.
- exponentcms.org FAQ — How Do I guide to common questions.
- exponentcms.org User Guides — PDF downloads.
- exponentcms.org Designers Guide — doesn't really exist yet!
- exponentcms.org Developers Guide — doesn't really exist yet!
- exponentcms.org How To Create a Module — basic module structure explained.
Unofficial Exponent Resources
- phpxref.com Exponent — online browsing of Exponent 0.96.3 source code.
- netstepcms.com eXponent Overview — good review of what's on offer.
- zimmertech.com Tutorials — excellent tutorials on variety of topics, including great Themes tutorial.
MySQL Resources
- mysql.com — MySQL official website.
- mysql.com Documentation — official user guide.
- wikipedia.org MySQL — good history and definition.
- php.net MySQL Functions — using PHP and MySQL together.
PHP Resources
- php.net — PHP Hypertext Processor official website.
- wikipedia.org PHP — good history and definition.
- w3schools.com PHP Tutorial — excellent online tutorial.
- php.resourceindex.com — index of PHP code snippets for the seriously techie.





