WHMCS ClientMaps v2.0 Released with cool features! (Earlier: Client City Mapper)

[deathrequest]

ClientMaps v2.0 Stable Release

Earlier version thread

Over the last 2 months, I have been working on various features of the earlier Client City Mapper module, which was a client area addon.

I was not satisfied with the installation, implementation and other various features of the above module, and hence, have combined all the work I have done in these 2 months, to come up with v2.0 and have renamed the module to: ClientMaps.

 

Demo

A demo can be seen here: ClientMaps v2.0 :: Demo

 

Download Information

The module is available for purchase via Our Client Portal.

The Pricing has been increased due to the extensive feature list, easy of use for the new release, and especially since unlimited Maps are now supported.

Clients who have already signed up for v1.0 will soon be notified and upgraded to the new version without any extra charges.

Note that, I am also planning to release Lite and/or Free/Trial versions of this Module, within the upcoming few days (which will be stripped down versions of the current release)

 

-------------------

 

As Promised, I have released some new versions for ClientMaps

(all versions are encrypted, and licensed):

 

 

Pro Version

All features, Unlimited ClientMaps, Owned Version

$24.95 USD One Time

 

Pro (Leased) Version

All features, Unlimited ClientMaps, Leased Version

$3.95 USD Monthly, $7.95 USD Quarterly, $12.95 USD Semi-annually

 

Lite Version

All features, Only ONE ClientMap can be created (however, you can edit it as per you prefer)

$9.95 USD One Time

 

Trial Version

Same as above.. Limited to 5 days Trial.

Free

 

 

I have also updated the ClientMaps Module to v2.1,

with the following changelog:

1. For clients with more than 2500 clients - Sync/Reset Tools notify you when the API Limit has been reached, and stops trying to geocode any more clients for that day. So, you can continue the syncing the next day, without any loss.
   
2. Added support for Leased, Lite and Trial Versions - Lite and Trial versions are limited to ONE ClientMap
   
3. Update Notification for ClientMaps is shown on Admin Homepage, whenever an Update is available - so that you never miss an update!
   
4. Local key for License verification is now saved in database. 'includes/assets/cache' folder has been removed.
   
5. Sidebar link for Licensing Details added for easy viewing of data related to your particular license (as well as displays notification for an update, if available).
   
6. Sync Tool gives a fair information to the user, when it has nothing to sync.
   
7. Country codes are obtained from the corresponding file included in WHMCS installation (includes/countries.php)
   
8. Fixed Bug: Addresses with special characters in them, were not being mapped to a location on ClientMap
   
9. Fixed Bug: Some versions of IE had an issue displaying the ClientMap due to CSS/jQuery incompatibility.
   

 

-------------------

 

ChangeLog

The Entire ChangeLog has been posted below:

 

Feature Additions

1. Multiple Map Support - Each Map has an ID and a Name, which enable you to reference that map. Mutiple maps can be created and used, simultaneously, without affecting each other.
   Maps are available as WHMCS Widgets, which lets you use Maps anywhere you prefer with simple JavaScript tags.
   
2. Extensive customization options for individual Maps from within the Admin Area.
   
3. AJAX enabled admin interface
   
4. Maps can be created/edited/deleted from within the Admin Area.
   
5. Previews of all (or new) maps can be seen in Admin Area
   
6. Added animations for Markers, as well as an easy option to use custom images as marker icons.
   
7. Manually control the Map's Zoom level or Center. Otherwise, let ClientMaps auto-detect them for optimal display.
   
8. Client locations can be synced/resetted from within Admin Area using the Sync/Reset tools, whenever required. This helps in avoiding Geocoding requests at map loading time, and hence, drastically improving performance for map loads, as compared to v1.0. This is done with the help of AJAX, which ensures that if you have a larger client base (upto 2500 clients), a timeout is not reached, and all clients are added.
   
9. WHMCS Hook to add/update/delete client location from database, whenever the corresponding change is detected in WHMCS.
   
10. Extensive Customization and Localization for Maps now possible.
    
11. Optionally, enable Copyright link on your Maps, so that your Maps are now branded!
    
12. Optionally, enable Referral links (for ClientMaps) on your Maps, so that your Maps are converted into little income streams.
    
13. Rewritten codebase with much more intelligent code.
    
14. Report Bugs or Submit Support Tickets from within your Admin Area.
    

 

v1.0 Failures & v2.0 Improvements

1. Using multiple maps required copying all files, creating directories, and was not smooth enough.
   V2.0 Improvement: You can create a new map or edit them, right from your WHMCS Admin Panel, so easy!
   
2. Used Client Area templates, which provide no display customization for the Map itself.
   V2.0 Improvement: Maps are available as Widget, with full Widget customization capability over the Map
   
3. Caching method used was fairly nice. However, clients with more than 500-1000 clients were experiencing issues on display of the Map.
   V2.0 Improvement: Caching has been improved, which should really enable customers with larger client base to use Client Maps. Moreover, syncing/resetting client location data is now done via Ajax inside Admin Panel rather than at Map Loading, which should help in improving performance.
   
4. Customization of Map required editing files by hand.
   V2.0 Improvement: Maps can be easily edited/viewed/deleted, as well as customized, from within your Admin Area. No need to use your FTP programs, at all.
   

 

Features deprecated in v2.0

1. Dropped support for Module: WDev Manager
   WHY? With the improvements in addon modules for WHMCS, WDev Manager has (kind of) become obsolete for its use. I have tried to port (nearly) all the features of WDev Manager with no additional module, with this version. Oh! I seriously wish, I could use it a little more. It was a real baby!!
   
2. Add or Remove Countries via POST
   WHY? Frankly, no one was using it! Moreover, with the new functionalities in v2.0, you can simply add/remove countries for a map, right from your Admin Panel.. Want more reason? Why not simply create a new Map, since we have multiple map support in v2.0.
   NOTE I'm sorry, if you were using this feature. If, however, this feature is really important for you, simply drop me a mail (in your Admin Panel, via the links on the left, use: Submit Ticket)
   
3. Printing map with a {$printcitymap} template variable
   WHY? Trust me. I feel I must have been living on weeds, when I used that route to display maps. Deprecated in favor of WHMCS Widgets.
   NOTE The simplest way to switch to new version can be found in the Docs. (look for: Widget Usage)
   

[deathrequest]

* Clients who have purchased v1.0 of this module, will be upgraded to the new version, without any extra charges.

* Lite Version (allowing you to display one Client Map and supporting a few lesser features) will be released within the next week, and will be available at $9.95 (all the features of the earlier version and still, much more easier and feature-rich)

* This Module is in constant development and I try my level-best to release newer versions with as much beta testing as possible, and hence, if you encounter an error/bug, please contact me via the Client Area and I will try to help/resolve as much as possible.

* The Community Addon Page can be found here.

[EasyWHMCS]

Hello

 

Looks very good! Well done!

 

Is it possible to limit the amount they can zoom in or anything? Eg we don't want customers zooming in alot to view the clients exact location (Client privacy)

 

Cheers

[deathrequest]

Hey Liam,

 

Thank you.. I have really spent some nice time re-coding this module

 

Client's actual location is never mapped, since even if we disable the zooming, anyone can easily see the location/geocoded data in the Javascript for Google Maps.

And, hence only client's city is mapped on these Maps.

[deathrequest]

Screenshots

[deathrequest]

More Screenshots...

 

Demo can be seen here.

[jeremyhaber]

Looks good. Is there a non-branded option?

[deathrequest]

Hey Jeremy,

 

Powered-by button is totally optional here (and is actually an affiliate link). And, can be simply removed by leaving blank the "Enable referral earnings" option, found at the time of module activation, as shown in the following screenshot:

 

The "Powered by" line will disappear once the above is done.

Moreover, uncheck "Copyright Text" will remove copyright button in the ClientMaps (however, note that the copyright is displayed for your Company, rather than Wicked Developers, itself)

 

I totally understand this is a Commercial module and hence, branding it was totally out of question

Regards

Nikhil Gupta

Edited February 27, 2011 by deathrequest

[EasyWHMCS]

Hi

 

Is the owned version encoded?

Also i'm presuming the maps need to be placed inside the whmcs directory ? eg can't be placed outside ?

 

Cheers

[jeremyhaber]

Thanks. As well do we need to register for Google Maps API?

[deathrequest]

Hey Liam,

 

Yes, the Owned version is encoded.

Maps can be placed anywhere you prefer, including external domains. (and thats the reason, why I came up with displaying Copyright texts), like any other WHMCS widget.

You will only need to adjust the location of widget file in your HTML Code (best would be to use an absolute URL).

However, you will need jQuery to be present on that page.

 

e.g. to display the first map from the demo page on any page across the WWW, you can use the following code:

<!-- Load Google hosted jQuery -->
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.google.com/jsapi"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">google.load("jquery", "1.3.2");</script>
<!-- Load Google Maps v3 API Javascript -->
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/api/js?sensor=false"></script>
<!-- Create a container for our Map display -->
<div id="clientmap_default" style="width:550px; height:370px"></div>
<!-- Call our ClientMap Widget -->
<script language="javascript" src="http://wickeddevelopers.com/clients/widgets/clientmap.php?name=default"></script>

 

Regards,

Nikhil Gupta

Edited February 27, 2011 by deathrequest

[deathrequest]

Hey Jeremy,

 

No, You will not need to register for Google Maps API.

However, you will only be able to geocode 2500 clients/IP/day as per Google's API limits.

Effectively, since I do not have a client base that large, I am sorry to say that I am unable to determine the implications one would have above that Client base, but I would definitely want to work on it, if someone will like to help me here.

(Also, I am sorry, but I have should mentioned it in thread starting)

 

Regards

Nikhil Gupta

Edited February 27, 2011 by deathrequest

[jeremyhaber]

<!-- Load Google hosted jQuery -->
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.google.com/jsapi"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">google.load("jquery", "1.3.2");</script>
<!-- Load Google Maps v3 API Javascript -->
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/api/js?sensor=false"></script>
<!-- Create a container for our Map display -->
<div id="clientmap_default" style="width:550px; height:370px"></div>
<!-- Call our ClientMap Widget -->
<script language="javascript" src="http://wickeddevelopers.com/clients/widgets/clientmap.php?name=default"></script>

 

Just so you know, that loads an old version of jQuery.

 

It looks like you missed this, so I'll ask it again: Do we need a Google Maps API key?

[deathrequest]

Just so you know, that loads an old version of jQuery.

 

It looks like you missed this, so I'll ask it again: Do we need a Google Maps API key?

 

Hey Jeremy,

Yeah, I deliberately added v1.3.2, since that is the one being used in WHMCS.

However, v1.4.4 is equally supported (oh I so wish WHMCS would also come with v1.4.4, as I so missed some nice animation effects due to lack of 'delay' method and had to go the other way round)

 

And, as I have said above, you do not need a Google Maps API key.

 

Regards

Nikhil Gupta

[jeremyhaber]

Hey Jeremy,

Yeah, I deliberately added v1.3.2, since that is the one being used in WHMCS.

However, v1.4.4 is equally supported (oh I so wish WHMCS would also come with v1.4.4, as I so missed some nice animation effects due to lack of 'delay' method and had to go the other way round)

 

And, as I have said above, you do not need a Google Maps API key.

 

Regards

Nikhil Gupta

 

Oh yeah, sorry I must have missed that.

 

Yes, I know on my site I have been telling people to update their jQuery as some of my addons require the newest version of jQuery. So I feel your pain.

 

However, you will only be able to geocode 2500 clients/IP/day as per Google's API limits.

 

I think you can request an extension of the requests from Google if your site goes over that limit. But if you can't what would display there when you hit 2500 views per day?

[deathrequest]

Hey Jeremy,

 

ClientMaps module caches the geocoding requests by storing them inside the database.

I am afraid the API will start giving errors after the first 2500 conversions, and would require the Sync Tool to be re-run the next day, until all the clients have been geocoded and added to the database.

Once the above is done, we will not be hitting the API limits anymore, since we will only be geocoding clients that have been added/updated/deleted, after the initial run..

 

Please note that, the API is not limited on the page-views, but on the Geocoding requests (converting a client's location to latitude and longitudes)

Therefore, if lets say you have around 6000 clients, the Sync Tool will need to be run on 3 days (2500 + 2500 + 1000)

Also, an extension can not be requested on my behalf, since API is limited per IP basis, and hence, will not be practicable for me to ask for that.

However, I can make this pretty easier to use, if someone with more than 2500 client base can help me test this.

 

In short, the Module will work perfectly nicely, with the sole exception of requirement of running the Sync Tool more than once, manually - if you have a client base of more than 2500 clients. Also, the API is note limited on PageViews or on the number of visitors your page is getting.

I will release a Minor upgrade release, as soon as I am able to work out with somebody on this.

 

Regards

Nikhil Gupta

Edited February 27, 2011 by deathrequest

[othellotech]

In short, the Module will work perfectly nicely, with the sole exception of requirement of running the Sync Tool more than once, manually - if you have a client base of more than 2500 clients. Also, the API is note limited on PageViews or on the number of visitors your page is getting.

I will release a Minor upgrade release, as soon as I am able to work out with somebody on this.

Wht is it you need, just an installed copy on a WHMCS with > 2500 clients, or "access" to the WHMCS admin side ?

[deathrequest]

Just noticed that IE is somehow not behaving correctly with the v2.0

I will be debugging the module today and update to a bug-fix for the same today.

 

@othellotech... I either need access to use the Addon Module on admin side, or want someone to update me with the output produced by the Module, for about 3-4 consecutive days. OR do you have some way to mimic 2500+ clients, using a sample database or something (my last option is to do some custom coding to add bulk sample data to WHMCS)

Edited February 27, 2011 by deathrequest

[othellotech]

to create "n" clients is relatively trivial, just add the with random countries into tblclients

 

if you have an unencrypted something you'd like run on a large real DB, that I can provide you some debug info each day for, PM me with some contact information

[deathrequest]

As Promised, I have released some new versions for ClientMaps

(all versions are encrypted, and licensed):

 

 

Pro Version

All features, Unlimited ClientMaps, Owned Version

$24.95 USD One Time

 

Pro (Leased) Version

All features, Unlimited ClientMaps, Leased Version

$3.95 USD Monthly, $7.95 USD Quarterly, $12.95 USD Semi-annually

 

Lite Version

All features, Only ONE ClientMap can be created (however, you can edit it as per you prefer)

$9.95 USD One Time

 

Trial Version

Same as above.. Limited to 5 days Trial.

Free

 

 

I have also updated the ClientMaps Module to v2.1,

with the following changelog:

1. For clients with more than 2500 clients - Sync/Reset Tools notify you when the API Limit has been reached, and stops trying to geocode any more clients for that day. So, you can continue the syncing the next day, without any loss.
   
2. Added support for Leased, Lite and Trial Versions - Lite and Trial versions are limited to ONE ClientMap
   
3. Update Notification for ClientMaps is shown on Admin Homepage, whenever an Update is available - so that you never miss an update!
   
4. Local key for License verification is now saved in database. 'includes/assets/cache' folder has been removed.
   
5. Sidebar link for Licensing Details added for easy viewing of data related to your particular license (as well as displays notification for an update, if available).
   
6. Sync Tool gives a fair information to the user, when it has nothing to sync.
   
7. Country codes are obtained from the corresponding file included in WHMCS installation (includes/countries.php)
   
8. Fixed Bug: Addresses with special characters in them, were not being mapped to a location on ClientMap
   
9. Fixed Bug: Some versions of IE had an issue displaying the ClientMap due to CSS/jQuery incompatibility.
   

Edited March 3, 2011 by deathrequest

[deathrequest]

40% Discount available on initial payment of all ClientMaps Versions, before March 15th, 2011.

 

Use Coupon Code: CMAPADVENT

[vincent1]

I may be missing something obvious, but why would I need more than one ClientMap?

Looks good, be sure to order this.

 

- Vincent

[deathrequest]

@vincent1..

for example.. when you want to display different areas/countries to your customers...

consider this scenario: you are pretty nice host in some particular countries, when a visitor comes to your site, you can show them a map of the particular country he is in, or show him the whole world map.. depending on your situation, etc.

 

I was constantly being asked for developing a way to integrate more than one clientmaps, esp. for customers who explicitly wanted to display only Country Maps when the visitor was from one of the listed countries, else showing the overall world map, and still wanted to list all these Maps in their Client Portal via a link, etc.

 

Regards

[vincent1]

OK, last question.

Is there a configuration option to enable/disable non-active clients, either overall or by Country?

Many thanks,

 

- Vincent

[deathrequest]

Hey vincent1,

 

I have updated ClientMaps to v2.2 to include an option to display ACTIVE or ALL clients per ClientMap.

Therefore, you can chose to display active clients or all clients for each map.

This, surely, does not affect the ability to ignore some specified clients.