• Geocoder Background Job

  Many users manually geocode data by clicking All Records > Geocoder and then Start Geocoding. For users with access to our Backgrounding features, a job can be configured to Geocode any new records found in the system. Configuring the Geocoder Job Create a new Job under Background Jobs. ​ [](https://downloads.intercomcdn.com/i/o/yn1vvwtq/1344758376/618a72b615f64367fFew readers

• Image Import Background Job

  Occasionally our customers provide Image URLs that are not appropriate for serving content on the Web. They may be private or from a CRM that does not support hot-linking. For this use case, MetaLocator can download the images provided in the customer data and update another field with a new URL with a local copy of the image, hosted on MetaLocator's fast CDN. This requires configuration of the Pull Images background job. This background job handles the bulk import of images, allowing forFew readers

• Duplicating a MetaLocator Account Configuration

  Duplicating a MetaLocator Account Configuration This refers to an account having a basic configuration. Contact the help desk if there are add-on features. 1. Export data from current account Do this for each table. For example if there is a ‘products’ or ‘persons’ table in addition to the default ‘locations’ table, export each. Refer to this article for more information. [https://support.metalocator.com/en/articles/1655848-introduction-to-exporting-data](https://support.metalocator.com/enFew readers

• Strategies for optimizing performance with 1 million or more locations

  MetaLocator.com has the power to host an Interface with over 1 million locations.  This can take some careful planning to avoid any slowness or difficulty planning your implementation. Work with your account representative and our support staff to get the most out of your MetaLocator subscription. Overall, it is important to properly organize your data, and plan your interface configuration, especially the search and sort options. As row counts increase, planning andFew readers

• MetaLocator Staging Environment

  Periodically customers will require a sandbox or otherwise non-production environment for experimentation and testing in MetaLocator. MetaLocator offers staging accounts to our Enterprise clients. A staging environment is designed to give our customers a safe space to test configurations, experiment with features, and preview changes without impacting the live production system. To access to your staging account, login to your MetaLocator account and click the Staging link as shown below: ​Few readers

• Nearby Widget

  The MetaLocator Nearby Widget is available to subscribers to our REST API add-on and users in Pro and higher plans. This widget calls the MetaLocator API to produce a compact display that can be used in your Website's header or other location where you want to display a single location which is the closest to the user. To get started, create a new Interface, and choose the Nearby Widget. For users with accounts created after April 10, 2020 Click Interfaces, New, choose **StorFew readers

• Deep Linking and Dynamic Options

  You can display links on your Website that link directly to specific searches of your interface.  To do this, you can add URL parameters to the page on which the MetaLocator code is hosted.  These special URL parameters will be passed into the MetaLocator interface code on that page and interpreted as part of the search. In this example, an interface is displayed on https://www.yourwebsite.com/locations.html using the provided installation code.Few readers

• Security scanner false positives

  Security scanning tools are a great resource to broadly monitor many IT assets across the enterprise, including Web applications like MetaLocator. Every such scanning tool uses a database of signatures associated with vulnerabilities. When those signatures match a detected resource, the vulnerabilities is considered present and can produce an alert inside the scanning software. MetaLocator monitors our application closely for security issues and we perform our own scans using in house testing,Few readers

• Making the directory table layout responsive

  Multiple columns in each result can cause the user to side-scroll when viewing search results that have more width than the device can accommodate.  To address this issue, you can update your interface as follows to include responsive behavior.  The instructions vary based on whether you are using our Spreadsheet Layout, or you have simply included additional results columns as found under Layout Settings > Columns. Spreadsheet Layout Update the Advanced > Footer setting with the followiFew readers

• Featured Locations and Prioritization of Results

  Many MetaLocator users often want to feature certain locations in the search results based on their status.  They may be a "Gold" level dealer or a "Featured" location and should be displayed at the top of the list of search results, possibly using different colors or styles.  They may also be a location with the greatest sales figures.  As such, there are two ways to handle prioritization.  First, you can prioritize results at the category level (E.g. "Gold" dealers" or you can prioritize bFew readers

• Managing Multiple Data Sources with Import Mapping

  When you work with multiple data sources (e.g., Salesforce, Google, SFTP), it’s critical to control which records synchronize with which feed. Without careful management, one import could accidentally overwrite or delete records from another source. MetaLocator solves this by allowing you to create a custom field called Segment and use Import Mapping to scope records by their source. This appFew readers

• Setting a custom session timeout

  In the Owner User Account, click My User Profile. Click Toggle Advanced Settings Scroll down to find the custom_session_timeout setting. Provide a number of seconds after which the system should log the user out, for example 3600 seconds for a full hour. [](https://downloads.intercomcdn.com/i/o/788934637/aeb0478199c08be76434bcc6/image.png?expires=1794513600&sigFew readers

• Allowing Automatic Category Permissions Inheritance

  Introduction When access to categories is not rigorously controlled or restricted, sometimes it is preferable to automatically grant any Group Administrator, Group Data Administrator, or Group Manager access to a category they are trying to import. Typically, when a user is trying to import data into a category they don't have access to, they will see a warning similar to the following: Permissions violation. Existing category (name: Test id: 1) is not in user's available categories.Few readers

• Exporting and Importing a Language File

  This article explains the steps to preserve or restore the content of a language file. This uses the Bulk Language editor where the formatting of the constant and values are in a raw form. Take care in not adjusting the content itself as this can render the Language file unusable. ​Preserving the Language Content Access the Language topic and select from the Language Overrides. ​ [![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/4/f/2/4/4f2460142a7fec00/9d839bf3-f214-44f6-a92b-95Few readers

• Make this "My Store"

  This article covers an example application where a user can click a link to "save" a certain location as their "favorite" or preferred location.  This information can be sent to an eCommerce application for use in shipping, checkout or in-store pickup. This involves some fairly advanced topics, and should be performed with the help of a Webmaster. Disclaimers aside, we have a few challenges to overcome. First, we will encounter an error when trying to transmit information regarding the user'sFew readers

• Importing first and last name fields

  MetaLocator has had only one long-standing "required" field for each record, and that is the "Name" field. Technically speaking, you can still import records without it, but if you attempt to manually edit a record, the system will require a value for the name field. For users importing the name as two separate columns, this can be a bit frustrating. This article describes the best practices for importing the name column as two fields. Automatically set the Name field to First Last: UsFew readers

• Webhooks in MetaLocator

  Webhooks are requests to 3rd party HTTP endpoints that are configured to listen for GET and POST requests containing information about an event that has occurred in MetaLocator. This feature is available to Enterprise users only. MetaLocator staff can configure Webhooks for the following events: Where to Buy eCommerce Transaction [Lead](https://support.metalocaFew readers

• Enabling developer settings

  Some settings are not available to end users in the Interface Builder. To access and enable these settings, the Bulk Interface Settings Change feature can be used. This option should only be used under specific direction from MetaLocator staff. To enable a setting, select the interface and choose "Change Settings in Bulk" If there is any confusion please reach out to support@metalocator.com. [![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/4/a/a/Few readers

• Can I limit the zip code field to 5 digits?

  MetaLocator's default location search option, typically labelled "zip code" can actually take any user input that can be interpreted as a location. This means users can search for 53211 Milwaukee "City hall" 12345 N My Home Address, Denver, CO 80205 McDonalds on North Ave. Sometimes, users in the United States would prefer that a full 5-digit zip code be required as input. This requirement isn't viable when supporting those queries listed above, or when international or alphanumeriFew readers

• CDN Cache tool

  Enterprise Users Only MetaLocator manages cache expiration as part of internal data update operations.  Sometimes, there is an urgent need to expire the cache to force certain content offline.  For that purpose, we have introduced a cache invalidation console. To simply invalidate all assets, click Tools > CDN Cache, then enter an asterisk (*) in the first available text box and click Save in the upper right. To expire a single location page, enter the url without the domain naFew readers

• Integrating MetaLocator & OneTrust

  When configuring MetaLocator to work with a consent management platform like OneTrust there are a few use cases to consider: A new user has visited the page with MetaLocator installed, they are presented with a OneTrust consent banner, and the MetaLocator UI also loads. In this case MetaLocator should be loaded with cookies disabled, and cookies should be enabled dynamically if the user chooses to allow them. ​ An existing user who has previously provided consent answers has visited theFew readers

• Can I trigger javascript when the map marker window is opened?

  Yes.  In MetaLocator you can add Javascript to the Advanced > Header setting.  The below example will watch the ml_markeropened event and trigger custom code as needed. ​ <script>  jqLocator( "body" ).on( "ml_markeropened", function(e) {    alert('You opened a window!'); });  </script>Few readers

• Data driven links

  Each location in the results is rendered with a series of Field Templates. Each Field Template has access to the entire result object, search for states and URL parameters. See the Field Templates documentation for details and reference. Sometimes, our customers need to pass specific variables to a javascript function or create links dynamically based on data in the result. A simple example would be to create a link with theFew readers

• Enabling conditional mapping support for China

  Google has, somewhat famously, backed out of China due to restrictions on search and geographic data publishing. In order to display a functional locator to Chinese visitors, a few settings must be dynamically updated when the visitor's country is detected as China. Directions links should use Baidu Maps in China. Google Maps functions in China for those outside of China, but not for those within its borders. This teFew readers

• Special Results in Search Results

  Overview The Special Results settings allow you to reserve one result position in paginated locator search results for a specific type of location. This is useful when you want to ensure that a certain type of result appears in the results list without allowing that type of result to overwhelm the rest of the search results. For example, if your data includes a large number of locations categorized as Big Box Retailers, you may want to show only one Big Box Retailer per page of resFew readers

• No map is displayed when viewed on a mobile device or narrow layout

  When the available horizontal space for the interface gets below a certain threshold, MetaLocator responsively adapts to display a layout that works best for mobile devices. The map will appear smaller and the width of the search and results will grow to accommodate the width of the screen. [](https://downloads.intercomcdn.com/i/o/645554606/1ecafe90a80aac90431827ce/image.pFew readers

• Instructions for Generating and Sharing a Public Key for SFTP Access

  Key Requirements Your SSH key must meet the following requirements: Key Type: RSA Key Length: Minimum 2048 bits (4096 recommended) Private Key Format: PKCS#1 (RSA) The private key should begin and end with: -----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY----- ... -----END RSA PRIVATE KEY----- Option 1: Generate Keys on Windows (PuTTYgen) Step 1: Open PuTTYgen Download and launch PuTTYgen (puttygen.exe). Step 2: Configure the Key Select: Key Type: RSA (SSH-2 RSAFew readers

• Triggering host page JavaScript events

  Introduction MetaLocator provides a built-in mechanism for passing UI events from the embedded locator (iframe) to your website. This allows you to trigger custom functionality - such as analytics tracking, UI updates, or integrations - based on user activity inside MetaLocator. Overview When users interact with MetaLocator (e.g., performing a search, clicking a result, or submitting a form), MetaLocator can be configured to send a message to the host page using a standard event: **`ml-Few readers

• Configuring the ResponseScore background job

  The ResponseScore background job calculates a response score for each location based on lead interaction data. The score considers response rate, response time, and lead volume, and it updates a specified in your data. Configuring the ResponseScore Job Create a new Job under Background Jobs. ​ [](https://downloads.intercomcdn.com/i/o/yn1vvwtq/1344758376/618a72bFew readers

• Can the Interface be deployed via an IFRAME?

  Yes, with some limitations.  This method is not a supported use of MetaLocator's software. Some CMSs have issues using javascript. so this article provides a workaround. ​ When deployed via an IFRAME, the interface loses some functionality including the ability to control it's size, and the ability to receive incoming search requests from other pages.  Deploying the Interface via an IFRAME is outside our [Scope of Support](http://wwFew readers