GeoContent: a new Google Maps Joomla! component
I’m proud to announce the immediate availability of my new Google Maps Joomla component com GeoContent.
GeoContent Logo
GeoContent Logo
GeoContent is a new Joomla! 1.5 component that allows embedding Google Maps into a Joomla! website.
Standard Joomla Articles, can be bound to geographic features such as POINTs, LINEs and POLYGONs and the resulting maps can be shown in the article page and in an overview map.
A single article can be represented by more than one geographic type: so that you can have simultaneously a set of POINTS, some POLYGONS and some LINES for a single Joomla article.
Articles on the map are grouped by layers, appearance can be fully customized through layers configuration.
See the full manual.
See the demo site.
20/08/2009 – UPDATE: the new version has front-end map editing support
Download
ComGeocontent is open source software, distributed under AGPL software license and it is also free software, where “free” means that you can do (almost) whatever you want with this software but it does not mean that it costs nothing. We distribute the component only in bundle with paid 12 month support service that costs 45 €.
To receive a copy of GeoContent you are kindly requested to make a donation of at least 45 €, using the buttons located at the top or at the bottom of this page. You will receive a regular invoice at the end of the month.
The money you donate will be used to further develop GeoContent and to provide professional assistance and support to those that will need it.
Together with 12 months support you will get lifetime software updates, that means that you can pay just once and use the software forever in how many Joomla installations you like.
Please use the PayPal donation link at the bottom of this page, specifying the email where the component will be sent.
Thank you for supporting free software GeoContent project!
Why a new Google Map component? Don’t we have enough already?
Yes, there are many components out there that allow Google Maps embedding into a Joomla website, and most of them are gratis!. Nevertheless, I believe that none of them have the unique and full set of features that GeoContent has.
Ok, so what makes GeoContent so unique among Google Maps Joomla components?
Professional support
This component is professionally supported, this means that I will
- fix bugs
- provide reliable remote assistance and support on the component for 12 months from your subscription
- send you all the updates of the component, forever.
Advanced input methods: GPX and direct draw POINTs, POLYGONs and LINEs on the embedded Google Map
Perhaps the coolest feature, is the availability of two advanced input methods for your geographic objects:
- users can directly draw geographic feature from the control panel through an embedded Google Map editor
- users can load geographic data from a GPX (standard GPS format) file
KML export
Coming to the output methods, an interesting optional feature is KML export : yes, you can directly publish your GeoContent powered Joomla! website into Google Earth!
Fully configurable
Since articles are grouped by layers, you can change the appearance of a layer and have all map items that belong to that layer changed accordingly.
For each layer, you can style:
- Line color
- Line width
- Polygon line color
- Polygon fill color
- Polygon line transparency
- Polygon fill transparency
- Point icon
- Point icon size (KML only: not supported in the embedded map)
Of course you can configure several aspects of the main map appearance:
- Table Of Content (TOC) type (hidden, list, select)
- TOC position (left, top, right, bottom)
- TOC and main map width (onyl useful for TOC position left and right)
- Which layers should be activated at start (none, all, selected)
- Map dimensions
- KML icon (hide or show)
Flexible binding between geographic objects and Joomla articles
GeoContent allows you to bind articles to the map in several ways:
- a single article is not tied to a single layer (it can belong to many layers)
- a single article can be represented by one or more geographic objects: POINT(s), POLYGON(s), LINE(s)
Translations
They go in a language file, at the moment only English translation is in the distribution, but you have to translate no more than a dozen of strings to localize the front-end side of the component.
Screenshots
Here below you can see some screenshots of GeoContent editing interface and public map view, there is also a test site here (not much content so far though).
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- Layers can be switched on and off and fully customized
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- Appearance can be fully customized modifiying layer’s parameters
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- Listing items for the selected layer in the control panel
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- Editing an item
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- Choosing an article from the control panel, the title can be changed
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- The rich set of configurable options
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- The overview map showing all articles on all active layers
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- Several Geographic elements (points, a polygon and a line) bound to a single Joomla! article
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- GeoContent Logo
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- ComGeocontent Control Panel Map Editor
2009-05-21 at 6.32 am
Fantastic. Now, any hint of what to do if interested in this component? Download it somewhere? Log in somewhere so we can purchase it? Anything? Is this article just for informational purposes? Anyone? Anywhere?
2009-05-21 at 8.52 am
@Scott:
there should be a “Donate” paypal button here above and at the very top of this page…. can’t you see it?
After we have received a paypal donation we will send you the component via email. The process is handled manually, so you could experience a few hours delay if you donate while our office are closed (we are in Italy, GMT +1).
2009-05-22 at 12.52 pm
Is there a demo? To understand what is exactly does i hoped there would be some kind of demo.
2009-05-22 at 1.05 pm
@Pathos,
There is a test site:
http://joomla.studioarborea.it/index.php?option=com_geocontent&view=geocontent&Itemid=54
But most of the cool things are in the control panel, which is not accessible to the public.
2009-06-09 at 7.40 am
Hi, sounds very promising but there are some questions:
1. Are the icon images that you upload via media manager?
2. Is the front-end language easy to adjust into other langauges? Do I have to translate directly in the component?
2009-06-09 at 11.55 am
@Benny,
1. yes, you can upload icons in a folder under image/stories via media manager or via FTP
2. front-end translations is just 1 string but it uses a language file (standard Joomla localization system). You have to copy that file and rename with your language code (for example: from en-EN.com_geocontent.ini to it-IT.com_geocontent.ini) and translate the string inside that file.
2009-06-18 at 3.52 pm
Hi,
List it possible to link to external URL:s from points and polygons?
2009-06-18 at 4.34 pm
@Benny:
no, sorry. The link is always on the article.
2009-06-24 at 6.40 pm
Hi,
Is there a frontend component for users to add new positions?
2009-06-25 at 8.13 pm
I just paid for it, i really like the idea and was wondering if there is a way to expand upon it to allow users to add new positions – say if they are writing a blog they can add a position to the blog, or if they are talking about a route they can show the path of their route on the map and make these user submitted items a checkbox category? that’s what i need!!
2009-06-28 at 8.55 am
@Dom and Peter
UPDATE: the latest version of GeoContent has front-end access to map editor. Map creation and editing from the front-end are now fully supported.
No, there is no front-end component for the registered users to add positions.
I hoped that the sentence in the description was clear about the editing functions being accessible only from the control panel:
“users can directly draw geographic features from the control panel through an embedded Google Map editor”
Anyway this is something that could be planned for a future release even if there are many open questions and I suspect that a commons solution cannot be easily found.
Some open questions:
* which user level should be allowed to edit geometries (registered, author etc.) ?
* should the users be able to only CREATE new geometries or should they also EDIT and DELETE existing ones ?
* at which level the admin choose if the article has editable geometries (global config, layer, single article) ?
2009-06-28 at 6.47 pm
For my purpose:
- registered users should be allowed to create new geometries
- no need to allow to edit/delete (at present moment, but I can see how it could be useful in some situations)
- admin could maybe choose to restrict certain categories or sections where users shouldn’t be able to add/edit geometries
Actually I am building a website, where users will add their favorite locations (through frontend articles) with images and more, so I will have to modify the component anyway, so I am not so strict about what it should be able to do besides this: ‘registered users should be able to create geometries for the article they are publishing’.
Maybe I will just buy the component and have a go at this myself, if you are not planning to start coding the future release shortly…If I don’t succeed I will maybe have to ask you for some assistance. What is your hourly rate?
2009-07-02 at 2.04 pm
Hi,
I am interested in your extension. I have a travel website featuring reviews of restaurants, hotels, attractions, activities, etc. I use a component called Jreviews, which extends Joomla’s core content capabilities by adding Content Construction Kit functionalities. So I am interested in the link in the placemark balloon to point not to the article as rendered via com_content, but as rendered via com_jreviews. Is that possible? The balloon doesn’t need to include any jreviews fields, just the article contents is fine, but when clicked I need the link to point to the page rendered via com_jreviews not com_content …
2009-07-09 at 3.26 am
Interested in the front end component as well. Talking with a Search and Rescue team and it would be a great feature for front end users to be able to place emergency event information easily onto a map. Please keep me posted.
2009-07-10 at 6.45 am
I’m interested in the front-end as well. I need registered users to be able to add trails.
2009-07-10 at 1.30 pm
Hi !
Your extension sound promising. Still some questions:
I was wondering if it’s possible to show all markers on one article and then show only one or some category markers on other article ?
So can you deteminate in the url or somewhere the markers to be shown ? (Does the component yse iframe or something?)
2009-07-15 at 2.06 pm
Hi,
what you can do at the moment is insert the full map (all layers) wherever you like with a {geocontent} tag, no customization is possible at this time (it’s planned though).
UPDATE: the latest version of GeoContent supports parameters override on the {geocontent} tag
Another thing you can do is “automatic maps” through the provided plugin: automatically place a map in all georeferenced articles, zoomed and centered to the geographic features of the article itself and with the corresponding layer activated (no further customization is possible).
2009-07-20 at 2.11 pm
Hello,
The prog looks nice, but I’ve got a question before I buy it.
When I go cycling, I record the route with met Garmin Etrex. Can I import my gpx file onto my article, so everybody can see the route I did?
2009-08-11 at 9.09 am
Like this too if solved
“Following your proposal,
* we could have a set of config parameters to globally choose which user level is able to Create, Edit, Delete geometric features from the Front End
* we could add a per-layer configuration option to fine tune this possibility, overriding global parameters”
Make this work with ACL Noix ACL would be great for restrictions of users..http://extensions.joomla.org/extensions/access-a-security/backend-a-full-access-control/7010
2009-08-11 at 9.36 am
@James and SSnobben,
The new beta version does this:
* front-end integration: users will be able to add/edit map items to existing articles from the front-end
* {geocontent} plugin tag options: most of the configuration parameters can be overwritten through {geocontent parameter1=”value1″ parameter2=”value2″} tag attributes
See the new manual here:
http://www.itopen.it/geocontent_readme_online.html
2009-08-23 at 9.01 am
@Alessandro Pasotti Says: 2009-06-28 at 8.16 pm
“Ok, I don’t promise to implement this, but I like discussing ideas.”…
Dear Sir,
With all due respect for your work, I don’t think the way you put it up there sounds customery, or like any marketing approach at all…
Adding another reply:
“The brainstorming has started, if anybody else is interested in this development, just drop me an email.”
it looks you’re less interested in refining the component and provinding a good service, but much more in exhibiting your own hobby, and perhaps, accomplish some (potential) customers surveys. …Why not, then, set up a poll, and post it upfront in the page?!
Furthermore, questioning like:
* which user level should be allowed to edit geometries (registered, author etc.) ?
* should the users be able to only CREATE new geometries or should they also EDIT and DELETE existing ones ?
* at which level the admin choose if the article has editable geometries (global config, layer, single article) ?
is not only futile, but I guess even offending, as anyone any bit familiar with a Joomla component “mechanics” knows that once you’ve managed to get to this point of interaction with the core script code, it’s just a walk in the park to complete the mentioned remaining improvements.
Well, point is I’m interested too in the component, even though I need to say it’s pretty much, especially as no further assistance and customization is guaranteed.
Definitely, front-end user level editting access would be a great plus for this product, and only so, it might get close to the required amount.
Please be so kind as to provide all the above (I mean all the users’…) requirements. And, if you don’t mind, try to approach the market and specifically this blog, on a more positive and enticing manner.
Excuses for any likely disconfort or inconvenience.
2009-08-24 at 9.15 am
@Webcro,
thanks for your insight, I’m sorry that my knowledge of the English language is not enough to allow me to express my ideas as I would like to do.
As you could have easily guessed if you’ve read this page or the manual carefully, front-end editing is already implemented in the version I’m distributing to all new customers and to old customers that are willing to test it.
It’s working very well so far.
I admit that I did not dedicate many efforts on the marketing side of this activity, I just prefer to invest my (limited) time developing the component and providing professional assistance to my customers.
And yes, you’re right, I should definitely install a poll plugin.
2009-08-28 at 4.35 pm
Hello Alessandro, I’m just wondering, is there a search option for the user? Let’s say I have this map full of markers, and I want the visitor to be able to enter their zipcode or address to narrow down the map and able to pinpoint the location near to their home. Is this possible with your component?
2009-08-28 at 5.04 pm
@Azira,
no, there is not such option at the time being.
2010-01-11 at 6.48 pm
buonasera Alessandro,
finalmente un italiano dirai…vero?
ti chiedo una informazione che non mi èmolto chiara, per quanto riguarda il front-end, l’utente ha la possibilità di aggiungere un segnalibro in una determinata via?
es. l’utente inserisce questo segnalibro nella via con una sua descrizione ed a me (amministratore) arriva la mail di questo nuovo segnalibro inserito. grazie, stefano.
2010-01-11 at 7.15 pm
@Stefano
No, geocontent permette di georeferenziare (associare linee, punti o poligoni) ad articoli di Joomla.
Dal front-end gli utenti (se autorizzati) possono creare articoli, e (sempre se autorizzati) possono associare punti, linee e poligoni agli articoli che hanno creato o sui quali hanno permessi di modifica.
2010-01-25 at 1.11 am
Hi Alessandro,
the component sounds very interesting for me.
Is it possible to import KML-files (GoogleMaps compatible)into GeoConent maps?
Greetings
Jans
2010-01-25 at 10.06 am
@Jans
No, KML import is something we are thinking of, but are no real plans to add this feature in a foreseable time.
GPX import is already implemented (geometry).
2010-01-25 at 10.32 am
Alessandro,
thanks for the fast reply.
How do you manage to import polygones, lines and points from standard GIS formats (shapefile) into GeoContent ?
Jans
2010-01-25 at 10.47 am
@Jans
the main goal of GeoContent is to allow direct drawing on the map, but as I said you can use GPX to import geometries. Many tools can convert between shapfile to GPX.
But keep in mind that only geometries are imported, you will loose z-axis information and all attributes.
2010-01-25 at 11.01 am
Alessandro,
ok, I slowly get an imagination…
I am very interested in the option of drawing on the map. What does “drawing” mean? Is it possible for example to create and edit a polygon directly on the screen and export it to KML so it is recognized by Google Earth as a polygon?
Jans
2010-01-25 at 11.17 am
@Jans,
Yes exactly, please read this page and take a look at the screenshots, it’s everything explained (at least, I hope it is).
2010-02-04 at 7.16 pm
The latest update looks like it is not publishing all regions and or all layers, maybe this because the latest Google API changes?
Regards.
2010-02-05 at 10.14 am
@Me
There has been a recent change in Google Maps API which broke KML generation, I think this is now fixed in the latest GeoContent version (v. 2.5), if not, please file a detailed ticket on the bug tracking system.
2010-02-16 at 11.40 am
I’ve been asked to look into how to get people to map important areas using google maps. It sounds like this extension might do just that, but it needs to be easy to use for the public. Is there any way of updating the demo site so that we can register to see how the front-end map editing works?
2010-02-16 at 11.50 am
@chris
Yes, just enabled. Login form is in the “GeoContent Manual” page.
2010-02-16 at 3.29 pm
Hi, thank you for the prompt action. I’ve registered an account and confirmed it, but sadly am receiving the following permission error:
“Access denied by Simple ACL rules (HTML allowed)
Default action policy…”
It would be great to be able to see how the map editing works before committing to buying the module. The demo output looks perfect, but the challenge for us is how the user enters the output. I have been looking at several other components and options and so far they all have had problems or have been far too complex!
We literally want the ability for someone to register, browse the map, and click and create a point marker which can store 2 values. It would be great if there is an option to make it so that registered users can only see the markers they have created, as this is going to be used in a survey so we do not want people seeing what other people have entered. The markers positions and the values entered will then be copied into a GIS program for analysis.
Thanks again, so far I am impressed with what I have seen and the communication!
2010-02-16 at 3.45 pm
@Chris
Yes, sorry, the demo site is a test site we use internally for our other component Simple ACL. I’ve disabled it right now. You should be able to edit maps now.
GIS export is fine: data are stored in OGC-compliant WKT format.
2010-02-16 at 3.56 pm
Hi, wow, thanks again for the prompt response!
The editing function looks really good! How does the user add data to the markers? I see it is easy to add the data to different articles (which we could use to ensure each user can only see their own data) but in your demo when a point or polygon is clicked data comes up? Is it possible/easy to add data via the front end too?
If this is possible I’ll be talking to my boss to see about purchasing the component!
2010-02-16 at 4.11 pm
@Chris
It’s the other way round: user add geodata to articles, so it’s not possible to specify balloon content, it is the same for all geodata that belongs to the same article.
Front-end editing is possible, see some tests here:
http://joomla.studioarborea.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46&Itemid=55
… and give a look to the manual:
http://joomla.studioarborea.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=1
2010-03-08 at 6.48 am
hello…, thanks for this map component.., I’m interested in buying and using this component, but before, I have a several question
1. is it possible to import/load KML file? not only GPX?
2. is it possible to use custom marker?
3. what is map’s width parameter is used? in px or %? I prefer to use width parameter of its map in %.
4. When we input data, where will it be saved? is it on our own hosting or in another location? Because, I’m worried the data is not 100% guaranteed to be the same in long time purposes.
5. how many layers are allowed to be stored? is it unlimited?
6. And is it possible to use routeplanning between each point?
thanks again, looking forward to your responses
2010-03-08 at 10.12 am
@Sam
1 – not in the current version
2 – for each layer, you can choose the Icon image
3 – map width is in %
4 – they are saved in a DB table in WKT format
5 – unlimited
6 – no
2010-03-10 at 5.37 am
hello, I’ve purchased this component. Overall is amazing, I’m so amazed by its ability to draw directli into google map. But, I have little bit problem here, I’ve configured lattitude and longitude in the parameter. my front end default map can’t display my configured map. it displays italian map. but, in back end, when I press/click “open google map editor” it can display my configured map as the default. So, how to make my front end map display correctly associted to my configured map?
thanks
2010-03-10 at 9.45 am
@sam
you can set center and zoom in menu item component parameters, this way you can have different default zoom and center for each map.
Leave the fields blank to inherit defaults.
2010-04-22 at 8.33 am
It is a very interesting component, the Front End editing sounds promising – I just have some questions.
Is it possibly to let the front-end user change just the balloon text? and is it possibly to have 3-4 lines of text in that balloon?
Is it possible to have the article as an popup-window when clicking in the balloon, leaving the map as is in the background?
2010-04-22 at 9.17 am
@Mikael
> is it possibly to let the front-end user change just the balloon text?
No, this is limitation in the current version, the balloon text is automatically built from the articles’s title. You can change the title of the balloon and make it different than the hyperlink (which always comes from the article’s title) only from the control panel.
> and is it possibly to have 3-4 lines of text in that balloon?
Not in the current version.
> Is it possible to have the article as an popup-window when clicking in the balloon, leaving the map as is in the background?
Also, this is not possible in the current version, even if it could be quite easily implemented using Joomla’s mootools js library.
Sorry, it seems like GeoContent is not for you.
2010-04-30 at 3.50 pm
is it have simlar funtionality like this one
http://www.wikimapia.org
2010-05-05 at 8.46 am
@alessandro
Hi
I’d really like to be able to add/import KML files.
It would be very useful if you could prioritise this feature
Thanks
2010-05-05 at 8.51 am
@Hogan:
please file an enhancement request under bugs.itopen.it (project: GeoContent).
Please give the most detailed description you can for the intended new funcionalities.
Thanks
2010-05-27 at 5.14 pm
Hi there,
Thanks for providing a fantastic component, I will surely leave you some great feedback in the Joomla extensions directory.
One thing I would like some help with. The component > items seems to ‘force’ you to link to a standard Joomla article. I want the items to link with entries in my SOBI2 directory (I don’t want to recreate articles for every business listed in the directory). Can you please tell me if this is possible and how I can do this?
Thanks
Phil Holt
2010-05-27 at 5.32 pm
@Phil,
Thank you for your nice comment!
I’m very sorry that I cannot give you a positive answer: GeoContent component was built to give a “geographic” dimensions to Joomla articles, kind of a “geographic” index, for this reason the binding to com_content articles is so strict and this cannot be easily changed. The reference to com_content items is at the DB level, you would need major rewriting of the code to adapt it to something different.
BTW: what is SOBI2 ? I’ve never heard of it.
2010-05-27 at 5.52 pm
Hi Alessandro,
Thanks for the quick reply, much appreciated.
SOBI2 is a directory style component, similar to Mosets tree, which I think powers the extensions.joomla site. I use SOBI2 to create a directory of local business, and I want to cross reference the directory listing with an icon on the map. Is it possible to have an icon marker, without it connecting to anything at all – i.e. no article? I could probably then hardcode a link from within the pop up to my directory listings.
Cheers
Phil
2010-05-27 at 6.03 pm
@Phil,
No, this is not possible.
-Map is a container for layers
–>Layers are containers for items
—>Items must point to a Joomla content item (article)
What you could try to do (but would require some PHP programming) is to modify GeoContent to use items from a different DB table (the table used by SOBI2, just guessing…).
Not a trivial work though.
2010-05-27 at 6.06 pm
Ok, thanks for that. Will discuss with our programmers and will let you know how we get on. This could be a major plus for the product.
Thanks.
Phil
2010-06-04 at 11.38 pm
Hi there;
Great software – thanks!
I am having a difficult time getting the map to centre on my coordinates (Lat 50, Long -119) when it opens. I have set it up properly (I think) in the GeoContent button but it just won’t move from your initial set up in Italy. Am I doing something wrong or is it a bug?
2010-06-05 at 10.29 am
@sushi
You can override default position in the menu item component’s parameters, the default is taken from component’s configuration parameters, this means that if you created the menu item before setting the global parameters, you must correct them in the menu item parameters too.
2010-07-19 at 7.23 pm
Buongiorno Alessando
ma “geocontent permette di georeferenziare (associare linee, punti o poligoni) ad articoli di Joomla” quindi da front end posso permettere ad utenti registrati di disegnare punti su mappe e abbinare sempre da frontend item ad articoli che scrivono loro? sarebbe bello utilizzare i marker ma in fondo non cambia molto così..o sbaglio?
grazie
Eros
2010-08-24 at 9.44 pm
Does this component allow you to export data into a .GPX file? Can a member hit a “Send to GPS” button??
2010-08-25 at 12.12 am
@Michelle,
no sorry, GPX export is not supported, GPX import is supported.
The only export format is KML.