CorFun is pleased to announce the release of its JMaps Joomla mapping suite 3.0 – now featuring custom map markers by SOBI2 Category! The JMaps suite includes plugins for mapping SOBI2 entries (Categories and Search Results), Community Builder members (User List mapping and export), and stand-alone mapping for custom XML files and feeds.

Nicholas Myrna, the CIO of the CorFun, explained the importance of the new custom map marker feature, “Right now, we are doing a directory of microbreweries in the US using SOBI2 and Joomla 1.5. Paid entries will show up on search and category maps using an icon that looks like a beer barrel.  The non-paid entries will show up using the standard Google Map Marker. This not only makes for an interesting, attractive map, but really highlights the featured (in this case paid) entries by making them stand out on the map.”

JMap Instance with Custom Map Markers

In addition to support for custom map markers, JMaps also have a new “pre-loader” feature for search related maps. “This has been a request for quite a while," explained Myrna, "When a SOBI2 search page is brought up, the map on the page has always been blank until a search is performed. The SOBI2 search plugin can now have a custom XML file loaded when the search page appears. This gives the webmaster the chance to showcase featured entries or other important entries that you want to show prior to the search.”

Other major enhancements for JMaps 3.0 are:

• Customizable map bubbles – Put any published SOBI2 custom field in the search bubble!

JMaps with Custom Markers showing a typical bubble configuration

• Optional zooming with a wheel mouse.
• Marker manager settings to keep markers from appearing above and below specified zoom levels.

JMaps 3.0 is available now for your Joomla mapping needs! To demo JMaps, please click here. To purchase JMaps, please click here.

About JMaps

JMaps is a Joomla module 1.5 native module with associated plugins for working with SOBI2 and Community Builder to provide mapping for:

• SOBI2 Search Results
• SOBI2 Categories
• Community Builder User Lists

In addition, JMaps has built-in mapping capabilities. By itself, without any plugins or accompanying software, the JMaps module can map:

• Custom XML files
• KMZ and KML files or feeds
• RSS Feeds