Maps Marker Pro v4.0-beta3 is available

Maps Marker Pro v4.0-beta3 has just been released – thanks to all beta testers for your feedback which help fix some bugs we have missed!

Version 4.0 of Maps Marker Pro features a complete object-oriented rewrite of the codebase. While this process took quite a few months to complete, the long-term benefits are absolutely worth it. Not only does the new code dramatically decrease load times and enhance security, but it also makes it much easier for us to fix bugs or implement new features.

Please note that we are still optimizing the code during the beta phase. This version includes a fix for the migration tool from v3.1.1-beta1 for multi-layer-maps with the option “display all markers” enabled. If you had used such maps in v3.1.1-beta1, you need to re-run the migration tool in order to properly re-migrate your maps.

To avoid loss of data, please do not use beta versions for production sites and do not delete version 3.1.1 until 4.0 has been released, as more fundamental changes might be necessary!

Please be aware of some profound changes:

• changes to map concept: with v4.0 only maps and markers will be available anymore (the term layer maps is no longer used; marker maps cannot be created anymore – existing marker maps will be migrated).
• support for gpx elevation charts and waypoints has been added
• Leaflet.GestureHandling support has been added (Brings the basic functionality of Maps Gesture Handling into Leaflet and prevents users from getting trapped on the map when scrolling a long page).
• all settings for “Map defaults” in the Settings area have been removed – you can use the link “Save current values as defaults for new maps” instead when created a new map
• options to display the list of markers right or left to a layer map has been added
• MapQuest basemap support has been removed (due to MapQuest basemaps now requiring their own API, making them incompatible to be implemented into a standard Leaflet installation; existing MapQuest maps will be switched to OpenStreetMap automatically)
• (retired) Wikitude augmented reality API has been replaced with layar.com API
• (retired) Visualead QR code generator has been replaced with local QR code generator BaconQrCode

New features/changes/fixes since v4.0-beta2:

• support for HERE basemaps (tutorial)
• CSV/XLS(X)/OS import and export has been replaced with JSON import and export feature (documentation on how to convert JSON files using http://convertcsv.com/ into office file formats will follow with the final release of v4.0).
• add “show all markers” feature for maps
• add Google Maps styles setting
• optimized admin dashboard widget
• add edit map link to assigned maps on edit marker page
• add loading indicator and confirmation text to map, marker and settings pages
• use placeholder for empty names on maps/markers page
• use proper icons for navigation bars
• show where the map is used on edit map page
• improve SQL for collecting map shortcodes to cover more cases
• remove header, add headlines to admin pages
• change backend layout to flexbox
• optimized settings page
• consider language setting when registering google maps script
• fix markers not being assigned during migration on maps with “display all markers” enabled
• fix law of cosines for distance calculation
• fix highlight marker on fullscreen maps
• fix bulk action checkbox events
• fix delete link on maps and markers pages
• fix directions provider default value
• fix namespace in Geo_Sitemap class

The following feature has not been ported yet and will be added with v4.1:

• REST API

The design and interface on backend is also not final yet – the current focus is to test the new features and optimized code.

Let us you think about this new release & send your feedback by using our helpdesk (prefered) or directly via email to feedback@mapsmarker.com.

how to update to 4.0-beta3

Warning: Please note that we are still optimizing the code during the beta phase. This version includes a fix for the migration tool from v3.1.1-beta1 for multi-layer-maps with the option “display all markers” enabled. If you had used such maps in v3.1.1-beta1, you need to re-run the migration tool in order to properly re-migrate your maps.

To avoid loss of data, please do not use beta versions for production sites and do not delete version 3.1.1 until 4.0 has been released, as more fundamental changes might be necessary!

In addition we recommend to backup your site (especially the database) regularly so in case of an issue with this beta release you can always perform a full rollback if needed!

As technically speaking Maps Marker Pro 4.0 is a new plugin, the update process is a bit different than usually:

In order to be able to update to this beta release, you first have to set beta-testing in Settings / Misc to enabled:

As next step after saving your settings, navigate to Plugins and click on the link “Manually check for updates” next to “Maps Marker Pro”:

As next step click on the link “Update now” to update to v3.1.1-beta1.

After update to v3.1.1-beta1 is finished, you are ready to start the installation of “Maps Marker Pro” 4.0 as new plugin. So please click “please click here for more information” to proceed to the next step:

This will take you to the “Update to Maps Marker Pro 4” page. Start the installation as new plugin by clicking on the button “Sounds good! I want to update to Maps Marker Pro 4 now!”:

After the plugin has been installed, please first deactivate “Maps Marker Pro” (v3.1.1-beta1) before activating “Maps Marker Pro” (v4.0-beta3):

After activating v4.0-beta3, you will see an admin notice which will take you to the data migration tool page:

As next step, please start the datamigration by clicking the button “Start Migration”:

After migration is finished, you will see the message “Data migration completed successfully”:

That´s it – now you can start using Maps Marker Pro v4.0-beta3.

Please do not delete v3.1.1 at least unless v4.0 final is available, as there still might be changes to the database structure and the need to re-run the migration tool to update your data!

how to install 4.0-beta3 from scratch

For directly downloading and installing the v4.0-beta3 package as zip file, please click here.

Please make sure to also set beta-testing in Settings / Misc to enabled to get notified about future beta releases!

how to rollback to v3.1.1-beta1

If you want to use v3.1.1-beta1 again, please first deactivate Maps Marker Pro v4.0-beta3 and then activate Maps Marker Pro v3.1.1-beta1 again.

Please be aware that any maps which have been created with Maps Marker Prov 4.0-beta3 will not be visible with Maps Marker Pro v3.1.1-beta1, as a complete new database schema is used!