postcode search

[kay]

Got a client who wants a postcode-based store locator. I did one years ago but the client inputted postcode ranges around each store manually.

There's services that do it for you these days though, right? Has anyone used one and can recommend?

[indhyper]

The Google Maps API seems to be able to geocode (get the map coordinates for an address) using just the postcode eg: "6060 australia". I just tried it the example geocoder here: http://code.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/examples/geocoding-simple.html

You could then use the gmaps API to geocode all your store addresses, and use it to find the nearest stores and display them on the maps as markers.

By the way I'm available for gmaps API consulting if anybody is interested ;)

[Roffo]

Hey Kay,

This one looks swell: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wordpress-store-locator-location-finder/screenshots/ -- I'm yet to play around with it proper.

A while back I did do a lot with this dudes stand alone one: http://crystaldawn.net

It was mostly accurate and had the option of being able to add in coordinates when it wasn't. It was good for learning how to do reverse geo lookups with Google maps as well.

There are some quirks to it and the interface isn't all that crash hot but its free so who are we to complain.

[kay]

Interesting, thanks for the leads guys. Looks like Google have really taken over the market :)

[indhyper]

Yes Google make it pretty easy to whip up a lot of simple map applications.

BTW this is an interesting alternative. A javascript API that abstracts the differences away between all the major ajax map APIs so you can switch without recoding: http://mapstraction.com/

[kay]

This one looks swell: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wordpress-store-locator-location-finder/screenshots/ -- I'm yet to play around with it proper.

Um, wow. That's like, exactly what we would need to do, and we're already using WordPress. I wonder how easy it is to customise how it looks...

Thanks for the link, Roffo!