How the map itself behaves: where it opens, how far it zooms, which controls it shows.
Start location
The city or country used as the map’s centre before anyone searches. Required.
If auto-locating the visitor is switched off or fails, the centre of this place is used instead. If the field is left empty the start marker lands on the equator, which is the usual explanation for a map that opens in the Atlantic.
The coordinates for this place are looked up once and cached. If that lookup fails the field shows a warning — usually an API key problem rather than a spelling one.
Map type (Google Maps only)
- Roadmap — the default street map
- Satellite — satellite imagery
- Hybrid — imagery with street labels drawn over it
- Terrain — a street map with relief
Initial zoom level
How far the map is zoomed before any locations are added. This is what a visitor sees on arrival, so match it to the area your start location is meant to represent — a country needs a much lower number than a city.
Max auto zoom level
A ceiling on automatic zooming, used in two places: when the map adjusts itself to fit all the returned markers, and when a visitor clicks the Zoom here link in an info window.
Without a ceiling, a cluster of locations on the same street will zoom the map to level 21 and fill the screen with one rooftop. A lower value keeps the surrounding area visible, which is usually more useful than maximum detail. Set it to 21 only if you genuinely want street level.
Zoom control position
Left or right side of the map.
Load locations on page load
Shows locations immediately, before anyone searches. With this off, the map opens empty and waits.
Ignore the default start location on page load
Loads the locations without centring on the start location. The locations shown on page load then have no start marker, no distance and no directions link — all three come back after the first search.
Number of locations to show
Caps how many locations load initially. Only visible when Load locations on page load is enabled.
The data is cached after the first load, but a lower number still makes the map more responsive, because the browser has fewer markers to draw. Leave the field empty or set it to 0 to load everything.
Auto adjust the zoom level to make sure all markers are visible?
After a search, changes the viewport so every returned marker fits on screen — bounded by Max auto zoom level.
Show the street view controls?
Places the draggable street view icon in the corner of the map.
Show the map type control?
Lets visitors switch between map types themselves.
Enable scroll wheel zooming?
Allows zooming with the scroll wheel.
Show credits?
Adds a “Search provided by WP Store Locator” link below the map.
Related
- Search— auto-locate, which overrides the start location
- Markers — clustering, which interacts with auto zoom
- User Experience — the Zoom here link that uses the max auto zoom level