Template:Location map/Creating a new map definition

This guides explains how to create map definitions for the {{Location map}} family of templates.

Map definition data

The templates utilize any one of a set of map definitions. These are not forks but rather auxiliary pages and must have names following the pattern "Module:Location map/data/location" or "Template:Location map location", where location is the name of the area covered by the map. The template space is supported only for backward compatibility; all new map definitions should be created as modules. Important: If a new map has the same projection and boundaries as the old map (such as File:Iraq location map.svg and File:Iraq location map2.svg), a new definition should not be created; instead, the old definition should be used with the AlternativeMap parameter. To create a simple map definition module using an image of a map with an equirectangular projection having the equator as its standard parallel (aka plate carrée, “unprojected”, lat/lon projection):

1. Create a new map image and upload it to Wikimedia commons or find an existing map on the same site.
2. Create a module named Module:Location map/data/location, copy the content below into it and substitute the appropriate values.
3. Create a page named Module:Location map/data/location/doc and follow the instructions under #Documentation.

As an example of a map that uses an equirectangular projection, we use Module:Location map/data/Belgium. Please do not experiment using active templates.

return {
	name = 'Belgium',
	top = 51.8,
	bottom = 49.2,
	left = 2.2,
	right = 6.9,
	image = 'Belgium location map.svg',
	image1 = 'Belgium relief location map.jpg'
}

Parameter	Description
name	The name of the area covered
top	The latitude of the top edge of the image using decimal degrees
bottom	The latitude of the bottom edge of the image
left	longitude of the left edges of the image
right	longitude of the right edges of the image
image	The name of the image file on Commons
image1	The name of an alternate image, usually a relief map, which can be accessed using the relief parameter.

Maps of this type will work for small to mid sized areas. Module:Location map/data/USA Alabama is another example of a map description that uses an equirectangular projection. Notice that the image of the country is not what most would expect.

Advanced projections

Maps that use other projections, such as Module:Location map/data/USA, which uses an equidistant conic projection. require formulas which are used to calculate the x and y coordinates for the location mark. Understanding these formulas requires a familiarity with the subject, so you are more than welcome to skip this section.

The input $1 is the latitude and $2 is the longitude, both in decimal form. The expression follows the syntax of ParserFunction "#expr". The two output coordinates are defined such that the formula for x evaluates to 0 for the left edge of the image and 100 for the right edge; the formula for y evaluates to 0 for the top edge and 100 for the bottom edge.

Documentation

It is easiest to use the de facto template at Template:Location map data documentation to generate the documentation page. Here is another example of what the documentation might look like:

<!-- Categories and interwikis go at the bottom of this page. -->
{{Location map data documentation|image=[[File:Belgium-CIA WFB Map.png|thumb|250px|Map of Belgium]]
|examples=
=== Location map, using default map (image) ===
{{Location map | Belgium
| width   = 200
| lat_deg = 50.85
| lon_deg = 4.35
| label   = Brussels
}}
<pre style="width:30em">
{{Location map | Belgium
| width   = 200
| lat_deg = 50.85
| lon_deg = 4.35
| label   = Brussels
}}
</pre>
{{clear}}

=== Location map many, using relief map (image1) ===
{{Location map many | Belgium
| relief   = yes
| width    = 200
| caption  = Two locations in Belgium
| lat1_deg = 50.85
| lon1_deg = 4.35
| label1   = Brussels
| lat2_deg = 51.22
| lon2_deg = 4.40
| label2   = Antwerp
}}
<pre style="width:30em">
{{Location map many | Belgium
| relief   = yes
| width    = 200
| caption  = Two locations in Belgium
| lat1_deg = 50.85
| lon1_deg = 4.35
| label1   = Brussels
| lat2_deg = 51.22
| lon2_deg = 4.40
| label2   = Antwerp
}}
</pre>
{{clear}}

=== Location map+, using AlternativeMap ===
{{Location map+ | Belgium
| AlternativeMap = Belgium relief location map.jpg
| width   = 200
| caption = Two locations in Belgium
| places  =
  {{Location map~ | Belgium
  | lat_deg = 50.85
  | lon_deg = 4.35
  | label   = Brussels
  }}
  {{Location map~ | Belgium
  | lat_deg = 51.22
  | lon_deg = 4.40
  | label   = Antwerp
  }}
}}
<pre style="width:35em">
{{Location map+ | Belgium
| AlternativeMap = Belgium relief location map.jpg
| width   = 200
| caption = Two locations in Belgium
| places  =
  {{Location map~ | Belgium
  | lat_deg = 50.85
  | lon_deg = 4.35
  | label   = Brussels
  }}
  {{Location map~ | Belgium
  | lat_deg = 51.22
  | lon_deg = 4.40
  | label   = Antwerp
  }}
}}
</pre>
}}
<includeonly>
<!-- Categories go here, and interwikis go on Wikidata: -->

[[Category:Belgium location map templates|Belgium location map templates]]

</includeonly>

Parameters

This is the TemplateData for this template used by TemplateWizard, VisualEditor and other tools. See a monthly parameter usage report for Template:Location map in articles based on its TemplateData.

TemplateData for Location map

Generates documentation for location map data modules having names starting with "Module:Location map/data/"

Template parameters[Edit template data]

Parameter		Description	Type	Status
image	image	An additional image to display (other than the one the location map uses) on the right side of the documentation page. If not specified, no additional image is displayed. Example [[File:Example.jpg]]	Content	optional
projection	projection	The type of projection the location map uses. Default an [[equirectangular projection]]	String	optional
name	name	The name to display in the map's documentation. The name is linked by default. If not specified, the actual name of the location map is used. Default [[{{#invoke:Location map|data|{{#titleparts:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|1|3}}|name}}]]	Content	optional
precision	precision	Replaces the default Precision section	Content	optional
examples	examples	A section containing examples of the location map's usage. A {{tl|clear}} template is automatically placed at the end of the examples. If not specified, no examples are output. Example === Location map, using default map (image) === {{Location map|France|width=200|lat_deg=48.857|lon_deg=2.351|label=Paris}} <pre style="width:30em"> {{Location map|France|width=200|lat_deg=48.857|lon_deg=2.351|label=Paris}} </pre> {{clear}}	Content	optional
see also	see also	Fills the See also section. Empty section if not specified	Content	optional

All information about the map will be automatically taken from the map's definition itself