Contributors: wpkaren
Donate Link: https://karenattfield.com/giving/
Tags: google maps, viewranger, buddybeacon, live maps, map routes, live tracking, shortcode
Requires at least: 4.4
Tested up to: 5.8.1
Stable tag: 1.1.2
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html
Serving map tracks in real time via ViewRanger BuddyBeacon.
Update April 2022: The Maps for BuddyBeacon plugin is no longer available via the WordPress.org plugin repository. The decision to remove it was made because the ViewRanger API that it is based on is no longer functional in the same way. Outdooractive now own BuddyBeacon but the information available via their API won't allow past beacon data to be shared, which was the basis for this plugin. It is still available (and will remain available) to download here, from GitHub, if you have old beacon data that you want to continue to display.
Maps for BuddyBeacon is a plugin that allows you to display map tracks over a set time period or live via ViewRanger's BuddyBeacon capability. The markers are shown on a Google Map, with an optional info box displaying map title, date range and distance covered. Info Windows provide information for each beacon (date, altitude, longitude and latitude).
Customization options range from map type (eg. roadmap, satellite, terrain, hybrid), to beacon and route colours, beacon shape, map alignment and size, and beacon time adjustment.
To display a map in a page or post just add the shortcode: [bb_maps id="{id}"] where {id} is the id of the map you want to display, for example [bb_maps id="3"]. For more information see the 'FAQ' section.
- Display map tracks live or over a specified date range on a Google map.
- Customize your map route display - beacon shape and colour, route colour.
- Customize your map display - satellite, hybrid, terrain or roadmap.
- Display map route information - total distance covered (in km or miles), date range, map title.
- Display individual beacon information via Google Maps InfoWindows (showing latitute, longitude, altitude and date).
- Delete beacons from routes.
- Adjusting beacon times based on your timezone.
- Manage all your maps from the manage maps settings page.
- Use a shortcode to display your chosen map in any page or post.
- Upload
maps-buddybeaconto the/wp-content/plugins/directory, or install the plugin through the WordPress plugins screen directly. - Activate the plugin through the 'Plugins' menu in WordPress.
- Go to the Maps for BuddyBeacon main menu page, where you will be guided through how to create your first map. in the admin to set whether you'd like each portfolio item to be available on a page of it's own by default.
[bb_maps id="{id}"] will output the map you want to display (for example [bb_maps id="3"]).
Do I need a Google Maps API Key as well as ViewRanger API key and BuddyBeacon username and pin to make this work
Yes, in order to retrieve your beacon information including dates, locations and altitude from ViewRanger, and to show this on a Google Map, you need to provide this information. Links are provided to help you go through this process.
Yes, you can add as many shortcodes per page/ post as you want, displaying as many maps as you want.
Currently the limit is fixed at 500.
Feel free to get in touch with any ideas you have, or even better contribute to this plugin. You can get in touch with me at mail AT karenattfield DOT com. Note - since the initial development of this plugin I have very little time for upkeep / changes but am still keen to hear from you.
- Refactoring front end JavaScript for better performance
- Implementing a fix for a PHP warning in PHP 8.0
- Added ability to make adjustments to beacon times based on different timezones
- BuddyBeacon username field (on settings page) now validates whether an email address has been entered or not
- Ensuring all echoed strings are internationalised
- Resolved 'The response is not a valid JSON response' error message when saving a shortcode using a shortcode block
- Updating JavaScript variable declarations
- Fixing the display issue with the datetimepicker to make sure the calendars open next to their respective input fields
- Added a troubleshooting section to the 'How to use' page
- First stable release
- Editing map route: adding beacon to start of route
- Adding capability to delete beacons from individual maps
- Initial release
- Refactoring front end JavaScript for better performance
- Implementing a fix for a PHP warning in PHP 8.0
- Adds ability to make adjustments to beacon times based on different timezones, plus a few settings display fixes and more helpful guidance notes.
- First stable release. Adding beacon to route start, and adding capability to delete beacons.
- Initial release, no upgrade notice