It’s now real simple to add a Google Map to your blog!
The Google Maps plugin allows you to easily embed, customize, and use Google maps on your Edublogs blog. You can also display local images and let your site visitors get directions in seconds.
To start using first go to the Plugins menu and activate the Google Maps plugin.
Configuring your default Google Maps options
1. Go to Settings > Google Maps
2. Select your preferred Google Maps defaults from the options available.
- Make sure you change your default map zoom to Continent or region (this makes it easier to zoom in on your place marker).
3. Click Save Changes.
The default map type controls which type of Google Map is embedded. Changes to Default map type applies to newly created maps only; not previously created maps.
Default image size and limits controls the Panoramio images for your map location. This can be pretty nice for locations that don’t have Street View option in Google Maps.
You control whether a map does or doesn’t display the Panoramio images widget below the map using the Map Options in the Add Map window.
Adding a Google Map to a Post or Page
1. Click on the Add Map icon.
2. Add the address of the location you want to add and then click Add.
- This adds a place marker to your map and displays the location at the bottom of the map.
3. To add more location(s), just add the address(es) and then click Add.
4. Alternatively you can add a location(s) by zooming in on your map, click on Drop Marker to add a Marker to your Map and then drag/drop it to the desired location.
5. Next give your map a name.
6. Now zoom in on your place marker(s) so your readers have the best map view of your location.
- You can even change to street view by dragging the person icon onto the street location.
7. Click on the Place Marker if you want to change the Title of location or Information about the location.
- You can also click on the Icon to change the Marker’s icon.
8. Now click on Map Options, select your preferences , click OK to close the Map Options window.
- Select ‘Associate map with this post’ if you want to be able to create mashups with your maps.
- Select the checkbox next to ‘Show images strip‘ if you want to display the Panoramio images below your map.
Below’s an example of Google Map with image strip and Panoromia overlay.
9. Final step is to click Save changes to this map and then click Insert this map.
10. You should now see your map shortcode displayed and your Google map embedded in your Post or Page when published.
The Google Maps widget can be used to add an existing map, create a new map or add a mashup of maps to your site’s sidebar.
1. Go to Appearance > Widgets
2. Add the Google Maps Widget to the desired sidebar or widget area and configure the widget.
Creating mashups of your maps
Mashups can be easily created by either using Map Query shortcode (for posts) or by setting them up in Widget Options (for widgets).
You need to have selected “Associate map with this post” in the Map Options window when creating a map for that map to be displayed using Map Query tag shortcode.
The following shortcode can be used for the custom query in the Google Maps widget to create mashups:
[map query="tag=tagname"] – This shows all maps associated with any posts tagged with that tag on the site. For example, [map query="tag=New York"] displays all maps associated with posts tagged New York.
The following shortcodes can be used in posts to create mashups:
[map query="all posts"] - This shows all maps associated with any posts on the site.
[map query="current posts"] – This shows all maps associated with posts currently on the site.
[map query="random"] – This shows a random existing map. It always displays a single map.
[map query="tag=tagname"] – This shows all maps associated with any posts tagged with that tag on the site. For example, [map query="tag=New York"] displays all maps associated with posts tagged New York.
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