Craig W
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OK. Thanks. I get the concept. Not exactly what I need though. Guess it will take some custom code to do I want.
Thanks for your reply Guust.
Could you clarify “but if users can add listings too, then the API used will create other locations every time.”
Does that mean a new record is added automatically to the list of Locations in Location Manager for each new Country + State + City + Zip combo in the listing records created for Places, Event venues, and other post types?
Just as a follow up …
If you could provide instructions how to:1. For Location Manager Location records, to selectively:
a. Use City Name field for “County Name” or the Name of Geographic Area.
b. Make Postal Code field not a “required” field.2. For front end, selectively Display / Hide the Postal Code field on Location items.
Hi Stiofan, thanks for taking a minute to reply.
Yes, these are sites I own, so yes I can get via membership.Thing is it seems that multiple reCaptcha plugins are needed since each one only addresses certain front-end forms. Was really hoping to simplify and reduce number of plugins … which helps to reduce potential conflicts, possible security issues, speed up site, etc. Plus, there is the additional costs of multiple premium plugins.
Any suggestions / recommendations of a good way to simplify and minimize cost?
FYI — appears to be limited to the archive template. Single post displays featured image.
Just turning off notifications for this thread ….
Thanks for the clarification, Guust.
This reply has been marked as private.OK great! Thanks Paolo!
This reply has been marked as private.This reply has been marked as private.Quite true.
Thanks StiofanIt’s not pretty, but it is a workaround / solution to the GDPR issues with share with a friend.
Simply do not send the email from the website; instead, have the visitor send it directly.Make the Send-to-a-Friend a standard html “mailto:” link that opens the visitor’s default email client to compose / send the email. Does not the mailto: link can include specific attributes for to: cc: subject: body: ?
This may not provide “ideal” functionality, but it should provide a useful workaround.
Thoughts?
Craig W.
Good call Paolo. While the information so far does not seem to prohibit the primary use cases of GeoDirectory, it seems it is wide open for Google’s review and interpretation — and possible suspension or termination — on a site by site, case by case basis. So awareness is key, and so is having a backup plan.
As justmark points out, Google and Facebook are both notorious for suddenly changing directions … typically toward the direction of monetizing something their bases of loyal users have helped them develop, improve and perfect. At least Microsoft and Apple make no secrets about their intentions to charge fees for licensing. And the new Apple Maps .js SDK … I see the article states it will require an Apple Developer account ($99/yr) to obtain an API key.
Based on the reply Stiofan received from Google’s sales dept, and from what I read on the main Google Maps Platform’s Pricing page (https://cloud.google.com/maps-platform/pricing/) I expect that Google may be willing to offer “Enterprise” agreements for sites that offer more than just NAP directories that offer functionality similar to Google MyBusiness / Bing Places.
For sites that are somewhat similar to Google MyBusiness listings … even if a very local focus or vertical industry focus … I’m willing to bet that those domains will be barred from using the Google Maps API at some point. Not sure how soon. And, I wouldn’t be surprised if Google doesn’t press legal action if it is a big enough site.
Just my 2 cents. I may not rely on Google at all until we get clarification how they define:
“substantial, independent value and features beyond the Google products or services”.Thanks again for your efforts!
CraigYes, Paolo, there are now a number of competing scripts, plugins, and themes. And all of them MUST use one (or more) of the relatively few mapping data / GIS data providers. And again, the Big Tech companies are wielding their market power (and in some cases, monopoly power) to stifle competition and innovation.
For instance, in Office 365 Business Premium Microsoft includes “Business Central” which offers the ability to automatically generate listings for the Organization’s billing address on Bing Places, Google MyBusiness, and Yelp!. Microsoft has also tied in Facebook pages.
The way the definitions in Section 20 at the bottom of the TOS are defined and the wording they use throughout lead me to believe that their desire and intent is to kill the small / low volume directories you mention and any other directory that does not offer (in their words) “… substantial, independent value and features beyond the Google products or services” per 3.2.4(c).
Thus, the critical question is: what does Google consider to be “substantial, independent value and features beyond the Google products or services?”
Because Google retains the right to review the Customer application (use / use cases) and retains the right to suspend service with / without notice and specifically refers to violations of Section 3.2 at that point … it would seem that Google’s opinion and interpretation is the only one that matters.
Hopefully Google will reply to Stiofan’s inquiry soon with clarification and good news.
The best news of all though is that GeoDirectory has an alternative source (OpenStreetMaps) and is willing to add others who will play nicely with us on our playground. 🙂
Thanks to both of you for your attention to this and hard work!
Craig
