The NearestData.xls spreadsheet allows a user to upload, and manage, data to our server to give Nearest functionality easily. At the time of writing we support PHP, classic ASP and .NET.

   Nearest Requirements:

• Microsoft Excel 2000 onwards  

• Nearest Importer installed on each PC  [Download]

• Account open with us

• Have paid for a Store Location List   [Click here for Prices]

  Step1: Install Importer in default location

Having installed the NearestImporter.exe, the spreadsheet buttons will call this program to upload the data to our server.   If you opted to install in a different location to default, you will need to edit cell C10, on the settings tab.  

[Click here to Download Installer and Template]

  Step 2: Open an account with us

When you open an account, we will send you a License ID and Datakey.  These need to go in the "Settings" sheet.   

[Click here to open an account with us]

  Step 3: Buy a Store Location Pack

To allow you to upload data to our server you need to purchase a "Store Location Pack".  to trial the system, simply use LicenseID=0, this will give you access to the demo Store Data and Templates contained in the spreadsheet.    

[Click here for Prices] 

  Step 4: Integrate into your Web Site

Now you are ready to integrate into your web site.   Examples are included in the "Nearest" folder of the example downloads for many common web languages.  

[Click here for example downloads]   [Click here for integration notes]

[Click here for live Web Demo of Option 2]

  Step 5: Create Templates to merge your data

The Templates drive the system, please look at the web demo page and tick "show template information" to examine how the system works.  

 [Notes on Templates]

These templates can be imported by changing the contents of the "Template..." sheets.   The 7 examples in the downloadable sheet correspond to the 7 examples on the Demo web page.

[Web Demo Page]

  Step 6: Upload your data

The Templates drive the system, please look at the web demo page and tick "show template information" to examine how the system works.  

These templates can be imported by changing the contents of the "List x" sheets.

DO NOT ADD/REMOVE ROWS/COLUMNS in the sheets

  How it works

  Upload your data:

Firstly you use the "List" template to upload your data:

Please note: you must supplier a Unique ID for each item in the list, column D in the above example.

The full structure of data is listed at the bottom of this page.

  Edit and upload Template:

Having uploaded your data, you then edit the template to change the appearance of the data displayed.  In the example spreadsheet their are 7 example templates which correspond to the examples found on our demo page. 

[View Demo page]

Pick the one that matches your requirements best then edit that template.

Cells C7-C9 and C26, contain HTML with is merged with the Store data to return the results displayed how you want it displayed.

[Download Pins used in examples]

  Template Example:  

Header:

Click on Pin to view details<br><h2>Example 2: _recordcount_ Stores Found</h2><font size=1>page _pageno_ of _nopages_ _pageselection_ _previouspage_ _nextpage_</font><hr>

Please note we also have tags _recordcount_, _listcount_ and _pincount_.   They return different count of results.  _recordcount_ is the obvious choice of number count of results, but when filtering is used you may want to try using  _listcount_ or _pincount_ to return the desired figure. (see Tag notes below)

Details:

<b> _rank_ _km_km Store: </b>_postcode_ _yourdata1_<br><b>Details:</b>_yourdata2_ <font color=blue><b>Phone:_yourdata3_</b></font><br><a href="StoreDetails.aspx?id=_yourid_">Click here for more information</a><hr>

Footer:

<font size=1>page _pageno_ of _nopages_ _pageselection_ _previouspage_ _nextpage_</font>

Is merged to display:

...

If a template is made in C26 then when the user clicks on a pin then the user will see that template merged with your data.  More templates can be entered on C27 onwards, which will be displayed in Tabs. see "Temp 3 Map with Tabs" in example spreadsheet.

C10 of the Template sheet, contains the "NextPageURL". This template is merged with data to call the next page, when the list shows more than one page.

  Paging example:

demonearest.aspx?postcode=_targetpostcode_&page=_page_&example=2

calls "demonearest.aspx", which would be your web page, with the page number. Which in turn calls our server again to show list for page "_page_"

  Test your page:

Now select the "Test page", having set the settings in the settings page. 

  Integrate into your page:

Now integrate into your own web site, using the code in the "Nearest Store" directory of our example code.   At the time of writing we support PHP, classic ASP and .NET.

The code in the examples, simply calls our web server, which return two sections of code, which are simply written to your web page. Therefore you have total control of the appearance of the List and Map, whilst being removed from the complexity of creating the Nearest store list and creating the JAVA code to draw the Google Map with Pins which relate to the Nearest Stores.

[Click here for example downloads]

  How does it work on my own page?

The following generates a list of nearest stores and the code to display a Google map.   

HTTP call

  http://www.simplylookupadmin.co.uk/nearest/GetNearestToPostcodeMapXML.aspx

?licenseid=0&templateid=1&listid=1&password=&datakey=YourDataKey

&targetpostcode=PE132QL&withinkm=100&pagesize=10&pageno=1&typefilter=

&extraflags=&nopins=1000&mapkey=YourGoogleMapKey

&zoomlevel=10&showcontrols=1&showoverview=1&showmaptype=1

HTTP calls should only be made by server side script since they contain your password.

If error then returns error description:

<errordesc>"Postcode not found!</errordesc>

This call returns both the merged template data (list of stores) and the Google map code in XML.   This returned code is then simply displayed on your own page, using your own Google Map key.  

See the PHP or classic ASP example, in the "nearest" directory of our example code, to see how to use this.  The .net code simply uses a SOAP call instead of HTTP/XML, to achieve the same functionality.

  Our "Store" database structure is:

  Template Tags:

The tags used are:

For DetailsTemplate:

For HeaderTemplate and FooterTemplate:

For NextPageURL:

All must be in lower case

All the other parameters are used by mapping functions, and can be left blank if map is not needed.

IconsLocation is optional, but should point to web directory where pin icons can be found.   Icons should be named "icon" & type & ".png" so different icons can be used for different types of nearest property. Such as schools etc.  If blank will use default Google pin.  If type is not used you should give a "icon.png", and "shadicon.png" if shadows are on.    [See Example 5 shows type icons]

if ShowTargetPin then displays a ping for the Target Postcode "icontarget.png", and "shadicontarget.png" if shadows are on.     [See Example 2 and 3]

TargetPin_Details show if user clicks on pins.  Leave blank if not needed.  Click on target pin in example 2 and 3.

ShowShadowOnPins, if true then uses shadow pins.  Uses the same names as other icon with prefix "shad". Therefore "icontarget.png" becomes "shadicontarget.png".  If using filter on types then icon for shadow is called "shadiconfilterout.png".  All examples use shadows.

UseNumberedPins if True then uses "iconx.png" where x is the rank in the results.  This allows you to create pins representing 1-10 (or A-Z) and display them which match the text results (using _rank_ or

Target_PinIcon_Details,Included_PinIcon_Details and FilteredOut_PinIcon_Details 

should be a list of co-ordinates for each type of icon.  IconsSizeX, IconSizeY, ShadowSizeX, ShadowSizeY, IconAnchorX, IconAnchorY, InfoWindowAnchorX and InfoWindowAnchorY

TabTemplate1 template to merge with your data to show details when user clicks on pin.   Leave blank to just show pins.   [See Example 2]

TabTemplate2-4 extra tabs on pins.  Leave blank if not needed.  Use tag <tabname>Tab Name</tabname> to define tab names within TabTemplate1-4.   [See Example 3]

ExtraFlags allows extra functionality, as listed below:

Each value should be separated by comma

Other Interfaces Available:

Web Site Lookup Pop-up