Joomla is the most popular Content Management System on the Internet.  SOBI2 is the most popular (deservedly so) directory component for Joomla. Community Builder is the most popular profile/user management system for Joomla. Bundle all of these things together, and there is only one thing missing – really outstanding Google Mapping!

CorFun was the first (and so far only) developer to offer mapping for SOBI2 search results. In that SOBI2 plugin, we used changes to the vCard template to show a Google Map on the SOBI2 search results page. This plugin has been wildly successful. Companies such as Aqualung used the mapping to show retailers where their products were available. Non-profits used it to show maps of their affiliate locations. Franchises used the mapping plugin to show their locations around the country and the world. 

20 countries, thousands of Websites, and still available for sale – Google Mapping for SOBI2 Search Results added a whole new dimension to directories built using SOBI2. But while this plugin was awesome, CorFun decided to take the development of Google mapping to a whole new level with the development of the JMaps Google Mapping Module.

JMaps is a Joomla Module which combines with SOBI2 using plugins to provide full mapping of SOBI2 Search Results and SOBI2 category entries.  Because JMaps is a Joomla Module, it can be used in any module position within a Joomla template. It is no longer necessary to introduce changes to the vCard template with JMaps. That means the flexibility is absolutely unlimited. You can put the map above, below, or to the side of the Search results – all without any knowledge other than how to publish a Joomla Module. Especially for developers with extensive vCard customization already in place, this is a big plus.

Further, JMaps can be used with the Category Mapping SOBI2 Plugin to provide mapping for your SOBI2 categories. This can be used to show mapping on the Category pages. When published to a category page, the map shows the markers with numbered pins automatically next to the vCard listings. JMaps gives you the flexibility to publish different instances of the JMaps Module on different regular Joomla pages to highlight different categories. What some site designers have done is use the Category mapping option to completely do away with the vCard view! Imagine building a custom page, featuring a map of SOBI2 entries, that allows site visitors to select from there the individual profiles they want to visit.

JMaps also allows you to create “Featured” entries that can be shown in a different color and even with an optional “star” graphic. The option to be “featured” can be controlled by the admins, or it can be sold as part of an entry in SOBI2.

JMaps automatically looks for Latitude and Longitude settings on each entry, and uses those for mapping if present. If not present, the JMaps Module automatically falls back to using the full address.

JMaps can also natively map based on an XML file, and can add entries to any map based on RSS/KLM feeds. This is a tremendous amount of mapping power.

JMaps can be combined with popular SOBI2 plugins such as Radius Search and the SOBI2 Search Module. JMaps can even work with the special URL queries that lots of site designers use to direct users to special pages of pre-defined search results!

Besides its own native mapping capabilities and SOBI2 mapping when combined with SOBI2 plugins, JMaps can also work with Community Builder Users List.

The flexibility and power afforded to SOBI2 sites using JMaps will revolutionize directory site development. Site designers will be free to create robust, beautiful pages centered on maps that leverage the data power of SOBI2 for information display. To see JMaps in action, please visit the Demo site here.

JMaps is available in various packages depending on the functionality you need for your project:

• JMaps Module with all plugins for Mapping SOBI2 Categories, SOBI2 Search Results, and CB Users Lists
• JMaps Module with SOBI2 plugins for Search Results and Category Mapping
• JMaps Module with plugin for SOBI2 Category Mapping Plugin
• JMaps Module with plugin for SOBI2 Search Results
• JMaps Module only