ZipCodeSearch 1.1 is now available for purchase from RGB World, Inc.
You can use this plugin to calculate the distance between two postal codes, or to
find Links within a certain radius. For example, if your database contains motorcycle
dealers, visitors can find the nearest shop to their location. Another example is a dating
site, where users can search for persons that live within a certain distance from them.
This plugin is for Gossamer Links 3.0.1 and higher.
Feature List
* If using the built-in Country popup, there is no need to have City, State in your Links table.
The Country dropdown menu can be used on almost any template.
Setup Options
Searching
All search options are available via the ZipCodeSearch form or via a url.
For instance, you can specify: query, dist, mh, sb and so by passing those
parameters into the zipcode_search script. See below.
Example:
zipcode_search.cgi?t=luna&d=1&query=53140&dist=50&mh=25
Other
There are utility functions included to get the distance between any 2 zip codes.
Example: <%Plugins::ZipCodeSearch::GetDistance($zip1, $zip2, 'M')%>
Search results are only as accurate as the zip code data in your Links table.
Links with missing or innacurate Zip Codes will not display in the results.
There are some issues with regard to duplicate zip codes in different countries.
I am working on a solution. See the Read Me for more information on this.
To Do:
Allow additional search parameters for other standard fields in Links table.
Try using Google Maps API and MapQuest Open API. These allow you to embed
maps in your pages using latitude and longitude coordinates which are part of
the ZipCodeSearch plugin already. Have Fun!
Your comments, suggestions and feedback are appreciated.
Chris
RGB World, Inc. - Software & Web Development.
rgbworld.com
You can use this plugin to calculate the distance between two postal codes, or to
find Links within a certain radius. For example, if your database contains motorcycle
dealers, visitors can find the nearest shop to their location. Another example is a dating
site, where users can search for persons that live within a certain distance from them.
This plugin is for Gossamer Links 3.0.1 and higher.
Feature List
- Includes over 43,000 US zip codes and sample Canada postal codes.
- Allows importing of Additional Zip Code Data for other countries.
- Units of measure in Miles, Kilometers or Nautical Miles.
- Search the entire site or limit results to a specific category.
- Setup option to include a category menu on ZipCode search form.
- Built-in Country drop down menu for use on 'Add' and 'Modify' Link pages. ISO 3166 standard.
- Advanced installer/uninstaller allows upgrading without having to re-install the zip code data.
- Logging of search queries to the standard search logs.
- <%ZCS_tags%> for displaying City, State, Zipcode, Country and Distance info on your links*.
- Admin utilities for viewing the status of your link's zip code entries.
* If using the built-in Country popup, there is no need to have City, State in your Links table.
The Country dropdown menu can be used on almost any template.
Setup Options
maxhits - The number of results to display per page.
maxdist - Maximum distance for search results. Set by admin..
sort_order - always ordered by distance, choose ASC or DESC.
sort_by - appended to sort_order. Add 'LIMIT' to limit number of results.
units - Miles, Kilometers or Nautical miles.
show_dropdown - Adds a category dropdown menu to Search form.
show_counts - Displays numer of links in each category in dropdown menu.
cat_id - Which category id to display in dropdown menu. 0 for main categories.
logging - Enable logging of queries including the distance, zip and results found.
Searching
All search options are available via the ZipCodeSearch form or via a url.
For instance, you can specify: query, dist, mh, sb and so by passing those
parameters into the zipcode_search script. See below.
Example:
zipcode_search.cgi?t=luna&d=1&query=53140&dist=50&mh=25
Other
There are utility functions included to get the distance between any 2 zip codes.
Example: <%Plugins::ZipCodeSearch::GetDistance($zip1, $zip2, 'M')%>
Search results are only as accurate as the zip code data in your Links table.
Links with missing or innacurate Zip Codes will not display in the results.
There are some issues with regard to duplicate zip codes in different countries.
I am working on a solution. See the Read Me for more information on this.
To Do:
Allow additional search parameters for other standard fields in Links table.
Try using Google Maps API and MapQuest Open API. These allow you to embed
maps in your pages using latitude and longitude coordinates which are part of
the ZipCodeSearch plugin already. Have Fun!
Your comments, suggestions and feedback are appreciated.
Chris
RGB World, Inc. - Software & Web Development.
rgbworld.com