Make the map accurate before making it busy
Maps, standard filters, browser location and radius search are included in Free. The map can search within the visible area or within a chosen distance of its centre. Accurate results begin with reviewed latitude and longitude values on every physical listing; no visual treatment can compensate for incorrect location data. Pro adds the visual field and filter builder for custom, reusable dynamic filters.
An address still needs a confirmed pin
Geocoding can turn an address into coordinates, but similar street names and incomplete postcodes can put a marker in the wrong place. Preview the pin and correct it before publishing.
Choose a tile and geocoding provider deliberately
The settings UI offers OpenStreetMap, Mapbox, and Google Maps Tiles. OpenStreetMap styles include standard, HOT, topographic, and CARTO-based light or dark choices; Mapbox and Google choices require their relevant credentials. A custom tile URL, subdomains, and attribution can also be configured.
Map and geocoding requests may send visitor network and location-related data to the selected provider. Review the provider’s terms, privacy policy, quotas, attribution rules, and production credentials before launch. Never paste live secret values into public documentation or client-side content.
Understand viewport search and distance search
With automatic search enabled, moving or zooming the map refreshes results within the visible bounds. The distance control offers 10 km, 25 km, 50 km and 100 km around the selected centre.
The “near me” action asks the browser for the visitor’s location, centres the map, and searches from there. Location permission can be denied, unavailable, or inaccurate, so keep text search and manual map movement available as alternatives.
Tune filters and request size without hiding useful context
Global visibility settings control Search, Type, Mode, Tag, Price, Official, Date, and Distance filters. Shortcode attributes such as show_distance, show_type, show_list, map_height, density, and mobile_filters can refine a specific map while respecting globally disabled filters.
The map result setting accepts 12 to 250 items per request, while the shortcode max_events defaults to 200. Start conservatively, use marker clustering, and test on a real phone. More records per response are not automatically a better visitor experience.
Publish a map visitors can trust
Choose the provider and style
Open NexDirectory → Settings → Design & Maps, choose OpenStreetMap, Mapbox or Google tiles, add any required credentials and keep the provider attribution visible.
Connect the dedicated map page
Publish a Page containing [nexdirectory_listings_map], paste its address into Routing & Page URLs and open it from the site navigation.
Check a representative location set
Review urban, rural, postcode-only and online-only listings. Confirm that every physical marker lands on the right building or area.
Show filters your content can answer
Enable Search, Type, Date, Distance and other standard filters only when listings contain useful values. Use Pro’s visual builder when the experience needs custom fields or dynamic filters.
Test all discovery routes
Move and zoom the map, search by text, try each radius, allow and deny browser location, clear the filters and repeat the journey on a phone.
Map quality checklist
- Map Page URL is connected
- Provider credentials are valid for the current mode
- Attribution is visible and correct
- Published physical listings have valid coordinates
- REST endpoint returns a successful response
- Radius values return plausible results
- Denied browser location has a usable fallback
- Mobile filters and result cards remain accessible
Questions you may have
Which distance units does NexDirectory use?
Radius search uses kilometres. The built-in choices are 10, 25, 50 and 100 km.
Why does a listing appear in the archive but not on the map?
Check that it is published and has valid numeric latitude and longitude. Then clear the Type, Date and Price filters, move the map to the listing area and check the result limit.
What happens if a visitor denies location permission?
Near-me centring cannot run, but the visitor can still use text filters, manual map movement and the other controls. Treat geolocation as an enhancement, not the only route.
Can I hide the list and show only the map?
The map shortcode supports show_list="no". Test the resulting layout and accessibility carefully, because the list provides a useful non-map way to scan results.