How to use Google Maps Plugin

Installation

Download Procedure for Free Version
  • - Go to the Plugins Menu in WordPress.
  • - Search for plugin "ap google maps"
  • - Click "Install".
  • - After Installation click activate to start using the Google Maps.
  • - Go to Google Maps by ArrowPlugins from Dashboard menu.


Installation for Premium Version:
  • - Go to the Plugins Menu in WordPress.
  • - Click on "Add New" button and then Click on "Upload Plugin" button to upload the file you just downloaded.
  • - Click "Install".
  • - After Installation click activate to start using the Google Maps.
  • - Go to Google Maps by ArrowPlugins from Dashboard menu.


Usage

Creating a new map

Google Maps for WordPress can support multiple maps. To create a map, open the plugin's admin panel by clicking Google Maps for WordPress on your Dashboard. Click the New Map button to create a new map.


Editing a map

To start editing a map, click the Edit button next to it's name. The editor for this map will load and you can editing. Don't forget to press Save button when you are done editing! Check out the next section Working with the Editor!



Working with the Editor

1. Map Position

In this tab you can set the initial position of the map, when the user loads the page. You have two choices:

  • Manual - Drag and zoom the map to position it and press the "Get Position" button. When the user sees the map it will be on the exact same position and zoom level. After you press "Set Position" the position will be saved and you can freely drag the map around, to place markers for example.
  • Search Query - The map's position will be determined by the search query that you enter. You need to manually specify a zoom level. After you press "Search" the position will be saved and you can freely drag the map around, to place markers for example.

2. Markers

To place a marker, press the Edit Markers button. You will know that you are in Edit Markers Mode when the map gets a red border. While in this mode you can:

  • - Left-Click to add a marker

  • - Right-Click a marker to delete it

  • - Click and drag a marker to move it around

When you are done placing markers, press the Done button to exit edit mode. Then, you can click the Edit button next to it's name (in the Markers tab) to change it's title and add a custom icon if you wish. When you mouseover a marker from the list, it will start bouncing on the map.

By default, markers will animate in when the map is loaded. To disable that feature, uncheck Animate markers on map load in the Markers tab.

3. Info Windows

The info windows need to be attached to a specific marker. To add an info window, press the Edit Info Windows button to enter edit mode. In this mode, you can:

  • - Left-Click a marker to attach a new info window to it

  • - Right-Click a marker to remove the info window attached to it

When you are done, press the Done button to exit edit mode.

To edit an Info Window's contents, click the Edit button in the window list. When you mouse over a window from the list, the marker will start bouncing and you will know to which marker a window is attached.

In the Edit Window dialog you can edit the contents of the Info Window. There are a few preset fields that let you add styles contents like title, subtitle, phone, etc.. If you don't need any of these fields, simply leave them blank. In the last field - Content - you can add any HTML like paragraphs, images or videos.

4. Style

Google Maps for WordPress supports custom styles for the map. You can use any of the 100 presets, or create your own.

To use a preset, click the Preset button and choose any of the presets. The map will update instantly.

If you wish to use a custom style, which perfectly fits the colors if your site, you can use the Custom styles feature. Click the Custom button to choose that mode. Below the text field there is a link to a free third-party editor, which you can use to generate a custom styles array for your map.

5. Map Size

In the Map Size group you can set the map's width and height. You can also make it flexible, or "Responsive". Note that this will not be reflected in the editor, only in the front-end site.

6. Settings

In this group you can edit several aspects of the map:

  • Title - This is completely arbitrary and for your convenience. End users will not see it anywhere.
  • Shortcode - The shortcode that you are going to use to place the map in your site. Below the text field you will see a preview of what the complete shortcode will look like.
  • Language - Choose a language for the map. Please note that because of how the Google Maps API works, you can only have a single language for all maps that you create. For example, if you have 3 maps and you select "Spanish" for the first map, the rest of the maps will be in Spanish too.
  • Allow fullscreen - Check this setting if you want to have a fullscreen button at the top of the map. You can test this feature in the editor as well.
  • Auto Sign-In - If this is enabled, users will be automatically logged in with their Google accounts, if they have.
  • Disable Scroll - Check this box if you want to disable the mousewheel while the mouse is over the map.
  • Load Google Maps API - If you have other plugins which use the Google Maps API, you should uncheck this to prevent conflicts.