Getting Started with Store Locator Plus®

This article covers the first 3 steps (2 if you are using our SaaS product) for getting started with Store Locator Plus®.

Store Locator Plus® makes it easy to add interactive location maps and directories on your website. Our latest technology is included in the Store Locator Plus® Maps and Directories SaaS offering. Some of our customers still prefer the self-managed WordPress plugins available via our Store Locator Plus® for WordPress plugins.

Regardless of which method you prefer, both can be setup quickly and have a fully functional site map or directory listing online in minutes.

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.

Store Locator Plus Additional Functionality

Store Locator Plus .     Store Locator Plus SaaS:  Enterprise level subscribers have a module that adds URL control functionality.

Upgraded  Premium Features

Enterprise / Premier Users

Territory Bounds module was moved from the General | Data tab to the General | Server | Web App Settings section.  Cluster Map Markers is useful for a large dataset in close proximity to each other on the map.

URL Control

A  URL Control module was been added to the application for Enterprise or premier subscribers.   Enabling this module will turn on the interface to allow additional data to be presented in a web page URL to impact how the locator behaves.

URL Control : Allow Location In URL

The first URL Control option is to pass a location ID in via a URL.   Adding ?location=<id> to the end of a web page address that hosts the locator will cause the page to load with the specified location being highlighted as if the map marker was clicked.  The default behavior is to show the info bubble for that location.

Google Map Style

The WPSLP Experience Add On and MySLP Professional support the  Google Map Style rules. These rules let you control the “inner style” of the map itself. Pre-defined map rules allow you to set a variety of styles via the  map settings on the SLP admin panel.

For MySLP go to Store Locator Plus > Settings > Map > Map Style

For WPSLP go to Store Locator Plus > Settings > Map > Map Style

The value of this entry is a Google Maps JSON style string.  Some of our Plugin Styles in the Style Gallery will set this for you.    You can also build your own with services like Map Style With Google.

Getting Started With Buy Here For WooCommerce

Buy Here For WooCommerce 520x520

Buy Here For WooCommerce is a free WordPress plugin that allows you to associate Store Locator Plus locations with WooCommerce products.   When customers search for physical locations they will see a list of products offered at that location.

This document describes the initial installation and setup for Buy Here For WooCommerce.

Install The Required Plugins

Login to your WordPress site and go to the Plugins / Add New screen.

Search for “Store Locator Plus” from the WordPress Plugin Directory.   Install and activate that plugin.

Search for “WooCommerce” from the WordPress Plugin Directory.   Install and activate that plugin.

Search for “Buy Here For WooCommerce” from the WordPress Plugin Directory.   Install and activate that plugin.

Note: Buy Here For WooCommerce requires Store Locator Plus 4.4.18 or higher and WooCommerce 2.4.10 or higher.  If either are not installed or are not activated the Buy Here For WooCommerce plugin will not activate.

Note: While this plugin is being reviewed by the WordPress Plugin team it can be “purchased” at not cost from the Store Locator Plus store.

Add Locations

From your WordPress admin login go to Store Locator Plus, go to the Locations tab and Add Locations.

Add Products

From your WordPress admin login go to WooCommerce  Products and Add Products.

Connect Locations To Products

While adding a new product, click the Locations panel in the Product Data section.

Start typing the name of a location or the postal/zip code.    When you type the 3rd letter a list of Store Locator Plus locations that match your search will appear.  Select a location that you wish to have associated why the product.

Create A Locations Page

Go to Pages and add a new page.     On that page put the [slplus] shortcode.

Open that page to see your location search form, map, and list of locations.

Locations that have product data associated with it will show the product data under the details column on the right side of the location listing.

BHWC Location Search Results
BHWC Location Search Results

Do More

There are a lot of add ons available for WooCommerce and Store Locator Plus to tailor the user experience to meet your needs.  For Store Locator Plus you may want to start with the Experience add on to customize the look-and-feel of the location listing results.

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