Adding Locations to Events

Adding locations to your events in EventON enhances user experience by displaying addresses, maps, and directions on your calendars. This guide covers everything from setting up your Google Maps API key to adding locations in events, generating maps, and verifying them on the frontend. Locations are reusable, with automatic latitude/longitude (lat/lng) population for accurate mapping.

Key Benefits:

• Display interactive Google Maps in event cards.
• Reuse saved locations across events for consistency.
• Customize defaults for easier workflow.

Prerequisites:

• EventON version 5.0+ installed and activated (see Installation Guide).
• At least one event created (see How to Add and Publish Events).
• Admin access to WordPress and a Google Cloud account for API key.

For a full setup overview, check our Quick Starter Guide.

Step 1: Setting Up Your Google Maps API Key

EventON uses Google Maps for location mapping, so an API key is required for maps to display correctly. Without it, maps may appear grayed out or not load.

1. Get Your API Key:
   • Go to the Google Maps Platform.
   • Create a Google Cloud project if you don’t have one.
   • Enable the Maps JavaScript API in your project.
   • Generate an API key from the Credentials page (restrict it to your domain for security).
   • Note: You may need to set up billing, but Google offers a free tier for low usage.
2. Enter the API Key in EventON:
   • In your WordPress dashboard, go to EventON > Settings > Google Maps API.
   • Paste your API key into the Google Maps API Key (Required) field.
   • Optional: Toggle Disable Google Maps API if you don’t want maps loading (but enable for locations).
   • Click Save Changes.

Tip: If maps don’t load after saving, check for errors in your browser console or verify the key in Why is Location Google Map Grayed Out?. You can also customize map styles (e.g., Roadmap, Satellite) here.

Step 2: Adding a Location to an Event

Locations are added in the event editor and can be new or reused from saved ones.

1. Open the Event Editor:
   • Go to Events > All Events and click Edit on an existing event (or Add New).
2. Navigate to Location Section:
   • In the Main Event Details metabox (usually in the sidebar or below the editor), scroll to the Location tab.
3. Add or Select a Location:
   • New Location: Click Add New.

Location Options Explained.

Option	Description
Visible Only to Users	Make event location only visible only to registered users of your website.
Hide Location Name	Hide location name from eventCard location box.
Generate Google Map	Generates a google map from the location address in eventCard. Must be added in EventCard Designer.
Location Info over Location Image	If you add a location image for the location, this will show location name and description over the location image. — Location Image must be added to EventCard via EventCard Designer.

Adding a New Location

• Enter the Location Name (e.g., “Conference Center”) and Address (full street address for accurate mapping).
• Add optional details: Latitude/Longitude (leave blank for auto-population), Location Image (upload via + button), Link for Location (e.g., venue website), Related Locations, and Location Type (e.g., venue, online).
• Click Save—if the Google Maps API is set, lat/lng will auto-populate using the address.
• Existing Location: Search and select from saved locations. Edit if needed (changes apply globally).

Adding new Location Options Explained.

Option	Description
Latitude/ Longitude	Leave empty when creating a new location. It will be automatically populated once the location is saved. When editing a location, you will see a new button to populate location (Next to save changes).
Location Image	Set location images by clicking on the + box, which will open WP Media Library.
Link for Location	Add http:// url for the location you would like to be opened from location information sections.
Related Locations	If you have added other locations, you can select those in here that are related to this location. This will show on location archive page and location lightbox.
Location Type	Select whether this is Physical Location or Virtual Location. This will be populated in event’s SEO Schema data.

Note: When editing a saved location, a Generate Location Coordinates button appears next to Save Changes to refresh lat/lng if the address changes.

Step 3: Enabling Google Maps for the Event

To display a map in the event card:

1. In the Location section, check the Generate Google Map option (under Location Options).
2. Optional: Enable Location Image, Hide Location Name, or Location Info over Location Image for custom display.

Step 4: Setting Default Options in EventON Settings

To make “Generate Google Map” checked by default for all new events:

1. Go to EventON > Settings > Location.
2. Look for the Enable generate google maps from address for all newly created events, by default.
3. Enable the option to auto-check Generate Google Map for locations.
4. Save changes.

This saves time when creating multiple events.

Step 5: Ensuring Location Displays in Event Cards

Locations won’t show until added to the event card layout:

1. Go to EventON > Settings > EventCard > EventCard Designer.
2. Drag the Location fields (Location, Location Image, Google Maps, Get Directions) into your layout (e.g., below description).
3. Save changes.

For more on customization, see How to Make Sure EventCard Data is Visible.

Step 6: Verifying Locations on the Calendar

1. Publish or update your event.
2. Add or view a calendar on a page using a shortcode like [add_eventon] (see Adding Calendar to Your Site).
3. On the frontend, click an event to expand the card—check for the address, map (if enabled), and image.
4. Test interactions: Click the map for zoom/directions (requires API key).
5. On mobile, ensure responsiveness.

If the map is grayed out or missing, revisit your API key or check browser console for errors (see Why is Location Google Map Grayed Out?).

Troubleshooting

• No Lat/Lng? Ensure API key is set and address is valid—use Generate Location Coordinates button.
• Map Not Showing? Confirm Generate Google Map is checked and location field is in EventCard Designer. Clear cache.
• API Errors? Check Google Cloud Console for quota issues or restrictions.
• Conflicts? Disable other map plugins or test with a default theme.

Next Steps

• Explore Calendar Types: Display locations in lists or maps with Calendar Display Types.
• Add Organizers: Similar process for organizers in How to Add and Publish Events.
• Enhance with Addons: For full event maps, try Events Map Addon.
• Customize Shortcodes: Use the Shortcode Generator for location-focused calendars.

Need more help? Browse our Documentation Hub or submit a support ticket. Happy mapping!