Introduction
When setting up an eDirectory website, it's crucial to plan the locations you want to use on your site. Locations play a significant role in enabling users to browse and filter listings based on their geographic preferences. Whether your directory is focused on a single region or covers multiple countries, adding locations correctly ensures a seamless user experience. This guide explains the steps to add and manage locations in your eDirectory system.
Default Locations
During the installation of your eDirectory system, you can pre-load the following default locations:
- United States (States and Cities)
- Canada (Provinces and Cities)
- United Kingdom (Counties and Towns)
- Australia (States and Cities)
- Brazil (States and Cities)
Adding default locations
This method is applicable if your eDirectory site is hosted on one of our shared servers and no locations have yet been created in your database.
Navigate to Location Settings
- Go to Site Manager → Settings → Language & Geography.
- Go to Site Manager → Settings → Language & Geography.
Select Locations
- At the bottom of the page, a form with checkboxes will appear. Select the desired locations to import.
- At the bottom of the page, a form with checkboxes will appear. Select the desired locations to import.
Note: If locations are already created in your database, this option will not be available. In that case, use one of the alternative methods described below.
How Can I Verify if Location Data is Already Added to My eDirectory Database?
To check if location data has been successfully added to your eDirectory database after uploading one of the default available location files, follow these steps:
- Navigate to Settings > Language & Geography > Location Data.
- In this section, you will see the uploaded locations if they have been successfully imported.
Important Notes:
- The uploaded locations will be displayed to users in hierarchical order when they add listings, classifieds, or events to the site.
- For example, when adding a listing under Content > Listings > Add Listing, the location hierarchy will be visible for selection.
This ensures a structured and organized approach to managing location data across your site. Please, check an example below:
If additional locations are needed, eDirectory offers three more methods for adding locations to your site:
1. Adding Locations Manually
You can manually create locations directly in the eDirectory Site Manager.
Access Location Settings
- Go to Site Manager → Settings → Language & Geography → Location Data.
- Go to Site Manager → Settings → Language & Geography → Location Data.
Add Locations
- Add the desired location (Country, State, City, or Neighborhood) based on your site's location hierarchy.
- Add the desired location (Country, State, City, or Neighborhood) based on your site's location hierarchy.
2. Adding Locations by Importing Data
Importing locations is possible using a CSV or XLS file. This method allows bulk location addition by importing listings with new locations.
Download the Import Template
- Go to Content → Import → Listings and download the CSV template file.
- Go to Content → Import → Listings and download the CSV template file.
Populate the Template File
- Fill the template with location data according to your site's location settings (e.g., Country, State, and City).
- Make sure these fields align with the location structure configured in Settings → Language & Geography. For example, if your site is set up to use Country, State, and City, ensure the template file contains data only for these enabled location levels.
- Fill the template with location data according to your site's location settings (e.g., Country, State, and City).
If you would like to learn more about how you can configure location settings, please, check out this instructional article: How to Configure Location Settings
Important: As it is not possible to import only locations, it is necessary to add the listing title information and import listings along with the locations. If you don’t intend to import actual listings, include dummy listing titles to enable the import process.
Start the Import Process
- Import the completed file back into the system. Follow the detailed steps in this article: How do I import listings?.
Remove Dummy Listings
- After the import is complete, go to Content → Import, locate the completed import, and click on the dropdown arrow to select Undo Import. This will delete the dummy listings but retain the locations.
- After the import is complete, go to Content → Import, locate the completed import, and click on the dropdown arrow to select Undo Import. This will delete the dummy listings but retain the locations.
3. Adding Locations via Customization
The final option for adding locations to the system involves a paid customization. To proceed, you’ll need to provide your Project Manager with a CSV or XLS file containing only the location data.
Your Project Manager can provide an estimate for a developer to create a script to import the information directly into the database. Please note that the time required to complete this process depends heavily on the organization and accuracy of the file provided.
If you would like to request a quote for this customization, please fill out the custom development form using the following link: Request a Quote
Conclusion
Setting up locations in your eDirectory system is a critical step in creating a seamless browsing experience for your users. Whether you choose to use default locations, add them manually, import them via a CSV/XLS file, or opt for a custom solution, each method is tailored to suit different needs and configurations.
By planning your location structure and leveraging the tools and options available, you can ensure that your site effectively supports users in navigating and filtering listings based on their geographic preferences. If you encounter any challenges or have specific requirements, our team is here to assist. Don’t hesitate to reach out or explore our additional guides and support resources.