CM Maps Route Manager (CMMRM) - Free Version Tutorial

CM Route Manager - Free Version Tutorial

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CM Route Manager

Learn more about CM Route Manager Pro

This article covers only features present in the free version of Route Manager. It shows you how to create a directory of routes on your site.

Example


Table of Contents

  1. Installation guide
  2. List of Features
  3. Using the Plugin - Overview
  4. Initial Setup
    1. Google API Key
  5. Settings
    1. Navigation (Routes URL and Edit Form)
    2. General (Template, Units, Map Behavior, Custom CSS)
    3. Index Page
    4. Route Page
    5. User Dashboard

Installation guide

Here are the steps needed to install the plugin:

  1. Download - To manually install the plugin, you must first download it from CreativeMinds to your computer.
  2. Navigate to the Plugins tab in the WordPress Admin Panel to install the plugin.
  3. Activate the plugin. 

TIP: Register for Benefits

If you like, you can register your plugin to receive information about updates and our latest offers. You can complete your registration at any time. 

If you don’t want to register right away, you can select the Skip button.

List of Features

Free Edition Pro Edition
Add unlimited routes Add unlimited routes
Google Maps integration Google Maps integration
Index page with all routes Customizable index page with all routes
- Maps have themes, layers and tiles
Users can post routes and have dashboard Users can post routes and have dashboard
Route has thumbnail and video Thumbnail, video and image gallery
Routes have generic icon Every route has a customizable icon
- Tags and categories to organize routes
- Import and export all routes via CSV
Search by route name Search by name, ZIP code and current user location
Interface in English Translate the plugin with customizable labels
No support Plugin can be used forever; one year support and updates

CM Route Manager

Learn more about CM Route Manager Pro

Using the Free Plugin - Overview

TIP: Automatic Index and User Dashboard Pages

The plugin automatically creates:

  1. A Routes index page - All routes will be shown there. New routes are added automatically.
  2. A user dashboard page - Users can manage their routes and add new ones from there.

Admin - Adding and Managing Routes

You can add and manage routes from the back-end. Head to Admin Dashboard → CM Map Routes → Routes.


User Dashboard - Adding and Managing Routes

Every route is "attached" to the user that created it, including the admin!

The user dashboard page lists all routes added by the currently logged-in user. As such, the content changes depending on who accesses it. There's also a handy Add route button.

What Does It Look Like to Add a Route?

All users (including the admin) can add routes from a front-end form. It includes a series of fields, including a Google Map where the user can draw the route. Here is a sample of the form:

Initial Setup

A core aspect of the plugin is showing routes on a Google Map. To do so, you require creating and then add a Google Maps API key into the plugin.

Important

  • Starting from July 2018, Google Maps, Routes, and Places require billing information, such as an associated credit card.
  • The pricing system also changed, but in practice, the services are still free for limited use.

Read more

Google API Keys - Obtaining the Google API Key

To obtain the Google API key, follow these steps:

  1. Head to the Google Developers webpage
  2. Log in to your Google account
  3. Go to your project or create a new one
  4. Head to APIs & Services and then Library
  5. Select one of the API from the list. You may have to search for it by using the search bar.
  6. This page is important. In it, you can enable the API and find resources about it. Click "Enable"
  7. Repeat steps 6 and 7 for all the API keys you need to enable:
    1. JavaScript API
    2. Geocoding API
    3. Places API
    4. Static API
    5. Elevation API 
    6. Directions API
  8. After you have enabled all the API Keys, activate the sidebar menu and click on Credentials. You will find the API key there, ready to be copied and pasted into the plugin's settings.

Billing

Also, if you have still not enabled billing, you can do so by activating the sidebar menu and then selecting  Billing. Then click Link a billing account and follow the steps.

Adding Key to Plugin

Once you have the key, adding it to the plugin is easy. Head to the Setup tab and copy it to the Google Maps App key field.

In the same setting, you can click Test Configuration to ensure the connection is working.

Still in the same Setup tab, you have an important setting.
  • Permalink prefix - The prefix of the index and routes' permalinks.
    For example, "map-routes" will generate permalinks such as: site.com/map-routes/mountain-trail.
    By default, it's "map-routes".

Settings - General (Template, Units, Map Behavior, Custom CSS)

In this tab, you can configure the overall plugin behavior and appearance.

Template
  • Page template: Choose the page template of the current theme or set default.
  • Other page template file - Enter the other name of the page template if your template is not on the list above.
    This option has priority over the selected page template. Leave blank to reset.

    Advanced!

    Editing templates is an advanced process that may require HTML, CSS and coding skills.

    Make sure to back up all files before saving changes. This article provides examples of changes, but they are illustrative and not meant to be followed literally.

    General Support - Advanced - Creating and Editing Custom Templates
Appearance
  • Default map view - Choose between
    • road map
    • terrain
    • pure satellite without labels
    • hybrid: satellite + labels
  • Zoom map when using mouse wheel - If enabled, scrolling the mouse when it's over the map will zoom out or zoom in.
Custom CSS

You can enter a custom CSS which will be embedded on every page that contains a CM Map Routes interface.

Quick Read

What is CSS

CSS allows you to make changes that WordPress, themes and even the plugins don't support. Be sure to test all changes before applying! 
Learn more: General Support - Advanced - Custom CSS

CreativeMinds Can Help

If you prefer not modifying CSS and visual elements by yourself, CreativeMinds can help to adapt CM plugins to your theme.
Learn more: Plugin Installation Service for WordPress by CreativeMinds

Units
  • Length unit - Choose between
    • meters
    • feet

Settings - Index Page

You can configure everything related to the index page in this tab. 

Pagination, order, search
  • Routes per page - Limit the routes visible on each page. The default is 10.
Appearance
  • Information visible on the index page - Show or hide
    • Distance
    • Duration
    • Max elevation
    • Min elevation
    • Climb
    • Descent
    • AVG Speed
    • Featured image
    • Publish date
    • Author

      • Where The Fields Are

  • Text on top - Enter what is displayed on the top of the index page, below the page title.

    Highlighted Example

  • Route's featured image - Choose between
    • First route image
    • Map thumbnail
  • Route's default image - Useful for branding

    • Settings - Route Page

    You can configure everything related to the route page in this tab. 

    Tip: Description is Always Show

    You can show or hide some elements, but the route description will always be shown.

    Appearance
    • Information visible on the index page - Show or hide
        • Distance
        • Duration
        • Max elevation
        • Min elevation
        • Climb
        • Descent
        • AVG Speed
        • Location altitude
        • Location address

          • Highlighted Example

           

    • Enable WP Comments - Disable to hide the comments fields

    Settings - User Dashboard Page

    Editor
    • Enable rich text editor - Allow or not users to use the WYSIWYG editor when creating the route description. If disabled, a simple textarea will be displayed.
    Map default position
    • Editor default route's latitude - By default, 0.
    • Editor default route's longitude - By default, 0.
    • Editor default zoom - Higher number means closer.
      By default, 5

    More information about the CM Route Manager WordPress  Plugin

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