Geographical Based Sites (Locations) - Location / Alternative Address - A Solution

[seymourjames +]

Many 68C site owners need the following functionality and structure for their site which is based around alternative locations. It has been a struggle to even approach a solution for their type of application until now.

In summary, the registration address is not necessarily where the item needs to be listed geographically. This causes problems not only in the display of a listing but in search too. For example, boats are usually moored in a different location, personals type sites, services in general, real estate, etc. Any type of site where the item/service is listed/offered in a different location to the registration address.

I don't wish to show the site publicly where a solution can be viewed but will show it privately to those interested in a real solution at last to this familiar problem of dealing with locations.

The modifications require no core code changes but allow the visitor to enter an alternative location (state and/or city) for their advert.

1. Adverts display the geographical location correctly. Not the registration address.
2. The searchresults and category listings also show the location of the item correctly. Not the registration address.
3. Search is configured so that you may have your normal categories but there is a drop down that allows you to search by the alternative location. I attach a screen shot of that.


Please contact me if you need a structure of this type for your site. In the example shown, alternative locations were needed for states and major cities but there is nothing to stop a complete list of cities being inserted into each state. The solution offered also comes with a preconfigured database so it is not necessary to enter all the states and cities again.

To make the point clear: suppose the seller of the service lives in A but offers their service city B or all of State X.

[seymourjames +]

Well the 2nd customer came forward and it is appropriate to put his site in the forum.

SellKing.com

As you can see, all the geographical information presented is entered by the user per advert and what is being searched on and presented on his site are not the registration details the actual locations of the items.