Google Maps

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Google Map is a great way to display your members with a map of their locations.

Settings

There are a few settings for the map available in MMS configuration:

• Map Zip: this is where the map is centered (Ex: if you enter 50216, the map would be centered around Panora, IA)
• Map Zoom Level: this determines how the map shows up initially (whether it shows street-level, city-level, etc.)
  
• Map Accuracy Threshold: As you enter and update member records, the address info is fed to Google's geocoder, which converts address info to latitude and longitude. The geocoder will provide latitude and longitude and an accuracy rating.  Accuracy of 8 is ideal, that would be accurate to the address level. (5 is zip code, 4 is city, and so forth... a full list is on the member geocoding report available in admin reports)

Managing member map locations

Periodically, you may want to check and see if all of your members are getting geocoded properly. To do this, you can use the member geocoding report available in quick reports. This report shows all your members; as well as their latitude, longitude, and accuracy rating. Accuracy ratings less than the threshold are highlighted.

Frequently, the problem with low accuracy is that a PO box is listed or a misspelled street or city name is in the address. If you can verify with your member for accurate info, and update their info, frequently this will correct the problem

Sometimes, however, the Google geocoder has a difficult time figuring out an address. In these cases try spelling out the street name removing abbreviations (Road instead of Rd). Or, if there are two valid addresses for the same place; try the other one (in cases, for example, where 123 W Main might also be 123 W. Highway 44)

If you still have difficulty, contact us and we will take a look and see what we can do. Ultimately though, we don't have control over the Google software, so in some cases we may not be able to help.

Map Pins

Map pins typically appear in two different colors: red or blue.
Red pins indicate a result that is listed on the page of search results below the map.
Blue pins indicate a result that is listed on another page. 
A blue cluster with a number inside indicates that there are too many results grouped together to be shown independently at the current zoom level of the map. Zoom in on the cluster to see these as individual pins.

Links for different map formats can be found in Configuration > System Links > 17. Maps > 17.1 Click Here to Build a Custom Map