Adding Maps and Locations to Services
You can add maps to your app by capturing and uploading screens from your device's native map app: Google Maps for Android devices and Apple or Google Maps for iOS (both are supported). Although an uploaded map in the App Manager is a static image, the map can interact with the native map app to provide localized information using real GPS coordinates.
After adding maps, you can identify locations on the maps to be visible to relevant end-users. For example, you can publish the location of the graduate studies department for graduate students or the registration location for all students. You group locations by categories (libraries, residences, parking lots, and so forth). Locations are also used for other purposes, such as positioning iBeacons (for more information, contact Ex Libris customer support); these locations are usually set to not appear on the map.
End-users view locations on maps by selecting the location category and then, optionally, the location. The app displays the relevant map with all locations of the selected category, or the selected location highlighted. You can define specific actions that the end-user can perform on the map at the location, such as view library hours or a count of empty parking spaces.
Maps on end-user devices are relevant to the end user's current location. End-users can also select a default map.
For more information, see Maps and Locations. (4:43 min)
Adding Maps
You add a map on the Select Campus Maps to change pages (App Settings > Maps/Locations > Campus Maps). This page presents a list of your maps; for information about working with lists, see Working with Lists. You can reorder the entries on this page using the up and down arrows.
For each map, configure:
- Description - The name of the map, as it appears in various other places in the App Manager.
- Show Map Image / Image - Select the checkbox and select a map that you previously uploaded to the Asset Manager. For more information, see Uploading Files.
Example MapThe map must be oriented north and to a scale so that it can be overlaid onto Google Maps for the GPS coordinates. The map must be less than 1 MB. It is recommended that the length of the longer side be less than or equal to 1500 pixels. - Last Updated - Optionally configure a date and time for the map. If the date/time you configure is more recent than the date/time of the map on the end-user's device, the app downloads the newer map.
If you update the location categories and/or locations associated with the map, you must manually publish the map.
- Sort order - The order in which this map appears in a list of maps in the app.
- GPS top left / bottom right - latitude / longitude - You must identify the top-left and bottom-right coordinates in order to enable interaction between the map image and the native map app. You can find the coordinates in Google Maps, for example, by selecting on the corners of the area. If you require assistance with this, contact Ex Libris customer support.
- Profile owner - Optionally select a profile. When selected, only users associated with this profile can manage this map.
- Roles - Associate the map with the required app roles. For more information, see Customizing End-User Access to Services.
Adding Map Locations
After adding maps, you add locations on the maps that are relevant to various types of end-users. To add locations, you first add location categories, then you add the locations, and then any specific activities that you can do at these locations.
Adding Map Location Categories
You most likely configure location categories together with Ex Libris during installation.
However, you can continue to manage location categories on the Select Location Categories to change pages (App Settings > Maps/Locations > Location Categories). This page presents a list of your categories; for information about working with lists, see Working with Lists. You can reorder the entries on this page using the up and down arrows.
For each location category, configure:
- Description - The name of the category as it appears in the dropdown list when configuring locations and in the app when the end-user is looking for certain types of locations.
- Image icon - An image to identify all locations of this category on the map within the app. Select an image you previously uploaded to the Asset Manager; see Uploading Files.
Locations on the Map in the App - Sort order - The order that the categories are presented in the app.
- Profile owner - Optionally select a profile. When selected, only users associated with this profile can manage map locations associated with this category.
- Roles - Associate the map with the required app roles. For more information, see Customizing End-User Access to Services.
Adding Map Locations
You manage locations on the Select Positions to change pages (App Settings > Maps/Locations > Positions). This page presents a list of your locations. For information about working with lists, see Working with Lists. You can filter the list by searching the list or by selecting a location category and/or an associated map on the right.
For more information, see How to Add a Position to a Campus Map.
For each location, configure:
- Description - The name of the location.
- Show position on map - Whether the location appears on the map.
- Customer Location Reference - This is a code used by your institution's backend server if any. This code enables your backend server to map locations to campusM locations. Contact Ex Libris customer support for assistance.
- Sort order - The order that the locations are presented in the App Manager and the app.
- Last updated - Optionally configure a date for the location. If the date you configure is more recent than the date for the location on the end-user's device, the app downloads the newer location when you publish the app or when the app downloads the map to which this location is associated.
- Image - An image for this location when the end-user selects the map to view details about the location. Select an image you previously uploaded to the Asset Manager; see Uploading Files.
Typically this is a picture of the building, event, or similar. The image should be approximately rectangular in shape, 200-400 pixels wide and 200-400 pixels high. It is recommended that the image be 50 KB or less, so as to not be too large for downloading to mobile devices over 3G.
- Latitude / Longitude - GPS coordinates for the map.
- Altitude - Include this information if it is useful.
- House no / Flat / House name / Street name / District / Town / County / Post code - Address information.
- Note - Text that appears to the end-user when they view details about the location.
- Comments - Internal note that does not appear to the end-user.
- Categories - Select categories for the location one-by-one (see the on-screen text for instruction).
- Maps - Select maps for the location one-by-one (see the on-screen text for instruction). Each map you select must include the coordinates of the location within its map area.
Adding Actions at Map Locations
A location action enables the end-user to select a map location and open a campusM URL, which presents some other service in the app. For example, the end-user selects a library on a map and views open hours for that library.
Location actions only work in native apps; they do not work when accessing the app in a web browser.
For more information, see How to Add Position Actions.
You manage location actions on the Select Position Actions to change pages (App Settings > Maps/Locations > Position Actions). This page presents a list of your location actions and their associated locations; for information about working with lists, see Working with Lists.
For each location action, configure:
- Position - The associated location.
- Description - The name of this action as it appears in the list in the App Manager.
- Image - An image for this action when the end-user selects the map to view details about the location. Select an image you previously uploaded to the Asset Manager; see Uploading Files.
- Location reference - This is a code used by your institution's backend server if any. This code enables your backend server to map locations to campusM locations. Contact Ex Libris customer support for assistance.
- Url - The URL to open. See Working with App URLs.
- Roles - Associate the action with the required app roles. For more information, see Customizing End-User Access to Services.
Bulk Upload of Maps, Categories, and Positions
You can upload maps, categories, and positions in bulk using an Excel file.
For more information, see How to Add Position Actions.
To upload maps, categories, and positions in bulk:
- Download an Excel file with your current Maps, Categorizes, and Positions by selecting Export from the Import/Export Positions page (App Settings > Maps/Locations > Import/Export Positions). (If you do not have any data yet, this file can be used as a blank template with the columns ready-made.)
Bulk Upload of Maps, Categories, and Positions - For each tab of the Excel file (Maps, Categories, Positions) edit or add information according to the fields described above.
- campusM adds a Code column to your data for internal purposes that cannot be changed.
- Deleting data is not possible with the bulk upload feature.
- Select Choose File and select the Excel file with your data. Select Submit to load it into campusM.
Your maps, categories, and position data is available in campusM.
Adding Maps and/or Locations to the App
To add a map or map location in the app, add a redirect from a service (basic, static content, or banner) to the map or location URL. See Configuring Services and Working with Static Content and the Content Menu. See Working with App URLs.