Add locations

In Progress Map Ultimate, each location is a WordPress post (or custom post) that has latitude and longitude. The map reads those posts through its Query settings and draws a marker (and usually a carousel / list item) for each one.

What appears on the map for each post

Post data Typical use on the map
Title Infobox title, carousel / list title
Excerpt (preferred) or content excerpt Infobox & carousel text
Featured image Infobox & carousel thumbnail
Latitude / Longitude Marker position
Optional custom marker icon Per-post pin image

Recommendation: Always fill the excerpt. If the main content starts with a gallery, video, or shortcode, using the full content as a fallback can break or clutter the infobox.

If thumbnails look soft or cropped oddly, regenerate image sizes (WordPress tools or a regenerate-thumbnails plugin) so Progress Map’s image sizes exist.

Prerequisites

  1. The post type is selected under Progress Map → Plugin settings → Post types.
  2. You have a map whose Main post type matches (or whose query includes) that type.
  3. Geocoding / Maps APIs work — see Google Maps API key.

Add a location (single marker)

  1. Create or edit a post of the connected type (Posts → Add New, or your CPT menu).
  2. Add title, content, excerpt, and featured image as usual.
  3. Open the metabox Progress Map: Add Locations (wording may be similar depending on version).
  4. Open GPS Coordinates.
  5. Set latitude and longitude using one of the methods below.
  6. Optionally open Marker icon and upload a custom pin for this post only.
  7. Click Publish / Update.

Only after coordinates are filled should you rely on the front-end map — saving without lat/lng means no marker (unless you allowed “locations with no coordinates” for the carousel only).

Three ways to set coordinates

1. You already know lat/lng

Paste values into Latitude and Longitude. Do not click extra geocode buttons afterward unless you intend to overwrite them.

2. You know the address (geocode)

  1. Type the full address in the location search field.
  2. Click Search — the preview map moves to that place.
  3. Click Get Pinpoint to write latitude and longitude into the fields.

Without Get Pinpoint, the address search alone may not persist coordinates.

3. Use your current position

  1. Click the target / geotarget control on the metabox map.
  2. Allow the browser to share your location.
  3. Click Get Pinpoint to store those coordinates.

Useful for field work or quick local testing; less ideal for production listings that need a business address.

Custom marker icon per post

In Marker icon, upload an image for this location only. Leave empty to use the map’s default marker (or category-based icons if configured under marker category settings).

Prefer PNG/SVG with transparent background; keep file size small for performance when many markers load.

Multiple locations on one post

Ultimate can attach several coordinates to a single post (secondary locations). Use this when one “business” or “property” must show several pins but share the same content.

High-level workflow:

  1. Set the primary GPS coordinates as usual.
  2. Use the multi-location / secondary locations UI in the same Progress Map metabox (when enabled for your setup).
  3. Save the post, then confirm every pin appears on a map that queries that post.

Start with one location per post until your main map works end-to-end; then introduce multi-location where the content model needs it.

Bulk / existing content

  • If coordinates already live in ACF or other custom fields, point Ultimate to those field keys in plugin settings — see Connect post types.
  • Import/export of maps and locations between sites is covered under Tutorials when that guide is published.
  • After large imports, use regenerate-markers / cache tools if markers do not appear immediately.

Checklist when a new location “doesn’t show”

  1. Post status is Published (or allowed by the map’s status query).
  2. Lat/lng fields are filled and not swapped.
  3. Map Query settings include this post (taxonomy, author, custom field filters, include/exclude IDs).
  4. Map is not a search map waiting for a search before showing pins.
  5. Front-end cache was cleared after publish.

Next steps

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