CSV Import Zip / Postal Codes formatting

Note: IMPORT requires  Power add-on for the stand alone WPSLP plugin  or if you are using MYSLP SaaS, the  Professional level or higher plan. 

When creating a CSV import file make sure the zip / postal code column is properly formatted as text so you do not lose leading zeros.

The column header for postal/zip codes is zip or sl_zip.

In the United States many northeastern postal codes start with zero.   Many sheets, Microsoft Excel in particular, LOVE to leave off the leading zero if you enter a zip code as 03907 and save as CSV.

Invalid Postal Codes
Invalid Postal Codes

In Excel, and many other apps, you can force a field where you are typing in numbers to be text by starting your entry with an apostrophe (‘).  Type ‘03907 when entering the data NOT 03907.

A good test to see if this is happening to you,  open your CSV file in Google Sheets and see what it looks like.  Does it look like the sheet above missing a zero and right aligned?

Another indicator that this column is set to a numeric type and not an text type is the data is on the RIGHT SIDE of the cell.  Text is left-justified (like sl_state) and numbers are right-justified.

MySLP SaaS: Deploying On WordPress

These instructions are for MySLP SaaS users only.  

MySLP is a monthly subscription service that allows you to deploy a locator map on ANY platform including WordPress.   It is a managed service where we handle the hosting of the locations, settings, and map software as well as handle the Google API key.   We keep the software updated so you don’t have to worry about it.

These instructions DO NOT APPLY to the stand alone, self managed WordPress plugin(s).

For our buy-it-and-own-it solution you will want to look at the WPSLP plugins instead of this page.

If you are NOT using My Store Locator Plus® you should think about it.

If you are using MySLP, read on…

You’ve already added your locations and generated your embed code per the instructions in our Getting Started post.  Now you are ready to deploy on your WordPress site.

Here we are going to deploy the script in a new page on our site.

MySLP : Deploying With Basic HTML

My Store Locator Plus can be deployed on any website technology that can publish basic HTML pages.   The functionality of the service depends more on the browser technology used by your site visitors than your web stack.

The most basic deployment is a local HTML file that is opened by your web browser.   Your desktop or laptop and even some mobile devices will allow you to create a basic HTML file on your device.   You can then open this file using that device’s web browser.

Deploying A SquareSpace Map

Deploying a SquareSpace map is a simple process that uses the SquareSpace embed block and a simple My Store Locator Plus (our SLP SaaS solution) JavaScript snippet.

Setting up a SLP  SaaS account, adding locations, setting up a SquareSpace account, adding the map, and deploying a site can take as little as 15 minutes.

Squarespace map.
Using Store Locator Plus to deploy a SquareSpace map.

Removing distance fields and editing Results

Settings > Results > Results Layout

Removing the distance from the results can be done by editing the Results Layout. You will see the results layout box if you have the Experience add-on for WPSLP or have the professional level plan or higher for MYSLP.

For MySLP go to Store Locator Plus > Settings > Results > Appearance
For WPSLP go to Store Locator Plus > Settings > Results > Appearance

With the Results Layout setting find the HTML span tag with the slp_location distance shortcode.

Delete that line.

Scroll To Map

By adding the scroll_to_map class on any of the Results Layout HTML elements, WordPress Premier or MySLP Enterprise subscribers can enable the scroll to map functionality on any Store Locator Plus plugin style.    When the class has been added to an element in the results layout that element becomes clickable.  Clicking that element will scroll the map back into view and open the map marker and info bubble for the location that was clicked.

We have used this feature in the new Bennett plugin style.

To add the feature to other styles you will need to have the Premier plugin installed for WordPress. Under Settings/Map in the functionality section see the check box ,

For MySLP Enterprise users the feature is already enabled.

Go to Store Locator Plus (MySLP) or Store Locator Plus (WPSLP) | Settings | Results | Results Layout.

Results Layout With Scroll To Map
Results Layout With Scroll To Map

Edit the layout and add scroll_to_map to an existing class on an html element you want to trigger the scrolling feature or add class=”scroll_to_map” if the HTML element does not have a class assigned.

Learn more about other Premier / Enterprise features like the new Category Button Bar.

Category Button Bar

Bennet Plugin Style with Button Bar

*Included with  WPSLP Premier subscription or MySLP Enterprise level Subscriptions. 

The category button bar is a  category selection interface available to WordPress Premier and MySLP Enterprise subscribers.   This feature is enabled under the Store Locator Plus menu  select Settings | Search | Appearance | Category Selector.

The button bar will show clickable links that display the icon and category name for the category which will filter locations that match.    The styling for the display will vary based on which plugin style you select.  Currently the Bennett style from our Settings/View /Gallery CSS is configured to appear when you have an active Premier or Enterprise  subscription.

Bennet Plugin Style with Button Bar
Bennet Plugin Style with Button Bar

Functionality is based on a single-category selection. Clicking a new category will turn off all other categories.

The map center, either the Center Map for initial map loading or the address a user entered, is retained as is the initial or current radius.  The map will zoom in-and-out to show all locations that match within the radius of the center point.

Shown is the button bar using the Bennet  Gallery plugin style on a modified version of Exists theme  deployed on the Bennet Trim Tabs site.  This video is on our development servers.

 

 

Learn about other Premier / Enterprise features.