Mapping Extensions is a fork of the official Omeka S Mapping module (v2.2.0). It retains all the core features of the original module and serves as a full replacement, while introducing enhanced capabilities for linked item mapping, group-based visualizations, and journey maps.
This module expands the mapping functionality in Omeka S by adding new configuration options and visualization modes. It allows users to map not only attached or queried items, but also their linked items, group items with custom colors, and visualize journeys of geo-located resources.
Warning
The Mapping Extensions module is designed to function only as a full replacement for the official Omeka S Mapping module. It cannot operate alongside the original Mapping module. If the official Mapping module is currently installed, it must be fully uninstalled before installing Mapping Extensions.
- Download a ZIP package from one of the releases.
- Extract the ZIP into the modules directory of your Omeka S installation.
- Rename the folder to 'MappingExtensions'.
- In the Omeka S admin panel, go to Modules and click Install next to “Mapping Extensions”.
For more details, refer to the Omeka S module installation guide.
Caution
DON'T uninstall the older version of the module, or you will lose all your existing maps and configurations.
As the v1.0.1 release resolves the namespace conflict with the original Mapping module, the directory name of the module has changed from "Mapping" to "MappingExtensions". To upgrade from v1.0.0 to v1.0.1, follow these steps to manually update the module without losing your existing maps and configurations:
- Back up your Omeka S database and the "Mapping" module directory in your Omeka S installation.
- Remove the "Mapping" module directory in
modules/from your Omeka S installation. - Download the v1.0.1 release and extract the zip file into the
modules/directory. After this step, you should have a new directory named "MappingExtensions" inmodules/. - Go to the Omeka S MySQL database and open the database table
module. Find the record for theMappingmodule (id='Mapping''), then update theidfield toMappingExtensionsand theversionfield to1.0.1. - Go to the "Modules" page in the Omeka S admin panel and verify that the "Mapping Extensions" module is listed with version 1.0.1 and is active.
Map by attachments and Map by query blocks show their timeline at full width below the map. In the block's Timeline settings, choose Timeline layout to switch to a side-by-side layout on larger screens. Both layouts stack on small screens. The timeline shows only the date navigation; the separate slide/detail area is hidden. Selecting a timeline item highlights its map pin and opens its popup (or the configured marker sidebar). The map focuses on the selected item's locations using the Fly to maximum zoom (13 by default).
The timeline keeps its default font and colours unless an override is supplied in the block editor. Set Timeline font family to a
font stack already available on the site (for example Georgia, serif). Timeline text colour
and Timeline background colour accept three- or six-digit hex colours such as #333333.
Leave these fields blank to preserve the default timeline appearance. Each override applies independently.
Use Group timeline rows by to organise dated items into labelled bands by Resource template or Resource class. Each row belongs to one category; overlapping events can use adjacent rows within the same category. Items without a template or class appear in a separate labelled band. Category labels stay in a fixed column so sliding event cards cannot cover them. The timeline grows when more categories need space, and the bands stay aligned when zooming or resizing. Choose None (automatic rows) to keep the original layout; this remains the default for existing and new blocks.
Row grouping is independent of the map filters. Selecting an event still highlights its map pin and opens its details, subject to the active filters. In linked-items mode, the category belongs to the displayed linked item.
The initial map shows all items with locations matching the block query or attachments, including items without dates. The timeline includes only items with a valid numeric timestamp or interval in the selected date property. Selecting a timeline event narrows the map to that event (and any contemporaneous events when enabled); returning to the initial timeline view restores all mapped items, subject to the map filters, without resetting the current map view. In linked-items mode, dates belong to the displayed linked items.
Closing the sidebar with its close button, Escape, or a click on the map background restores all mapped items matching the active filters, including undated items, and zooms out to fit them. The timeline stays at its current position; clicking its selected event again refocuses that site. Changing a filter still preserves the current map center and zoom.
With Show contemporaneous events enabled, selecting an event shows every mapped item whose interval overlaps it, including timestamps within that interval. This works with both the default and configured Fly to zoom settings; the map focuses on the selected item's locations while the other matching features remain available. Multiple date values on one item are checked individually, and each matching item is shown once. Map filters still apply.
Map by attachments and Map by query blocks can display a compact filter panel in the bottom-right corner of the map. In the block editor, open Map filters and use Show map filters to enable or disable the panel. Use Add template filter, Add class filter, and Add property filter to configure any combination of:
- Resource template or Resource class: coloured category buttons. All categories start selected; clicking a button turns it grey and hides that category. Click again to restore it.
- Property values: select a property, such as
schema:category, to list its values as compact clickable tags. Click tags to select any combination; click again to deselect. Every distinct value found on the mapped items appears, including multiple values on one item. No selection means all values, including items without that property. Linked resources and URI values are supported as well as text values.
Click Add property filter again for each additional field. For example, one panel can contain a resource template filter, a resource class filter, a category field, and a language field, all working together. Adding a filter keeps the other configured filters.
The editor's property selector lists only fields with values on the current mapped items. Its choices refresh when the query, attachments, or linked-item settings change. A saved filter using a property that is no longer present is retained and flagged for review.
Each filter can have an optional display label. Selections within one filter are combined with OR; separate filters are combined with AND. Reset Filters clears every selection and restores all categories. Click a filter heading to collapse or expand that section; Hide and Show collapse or expand the whole panel. The options come from all items loaded for this map and remain available when another filter is applied.
Adding or removing filter selections, including Reset Filters, preserves the map's center and zoom. Filters apply to markers and shapes, including timeline selections. Timeline events remain available; an empty-state message appears when no mapped items match the current filters. In linked-items mode, filter values belong to the displayed linked item. Existing blocks keep their resource-template filter and its visibility setting until their configuration is changed.
The Mapping Extensions module introduces the ability to visualize linked items instead of only attached or queried items. This feature is available in both the Map by attachments and Map by query blocks.
- In your site, add either a "Map by attachments" or "Map by query" block.
- In the block configuration, check the option “Map linked items instead”.
- Choose properties (optional). Use the "Property" dropdown to select one or more properties that define which linked items should be included. If no property is selected, all linked items connected to the original item will be displayed.
- Configure the popup content. You can configure which additional properties of linked items appear in the popup.
Sidebar tabs let a Map by query block show marker details in a map sidebar instead of popup. This is useful when item records need more room for item property display
- In your site, add or edit a "Map by query" block.
- In the "Sidebar tabs" section, check "Show tabs in place sidebar" to open item details in a panel on the map.
- Optionally check "Show tabs in marker popup" if you want the same tab configuration to appear in the marker popup instead of the sidebar.
- Add one or more tabs. Each tab can have a label, popup content, and selected fields.
- Available fields include media, property values, linked-from items, and an external link to the full item record.
- If no tabs are configured, the module falls back to a default Details tab using the block's configured popup display properties.
The Grouping feature in Mapping Extensions allows you to visually organize items on the map by applying colors to groups. This makes it easier to distinguish categories of items at a glance.
- In your site, add either a "Map by attachments" or "Map by query" block.
- In the block configuration, use the “Group by” dropdown to choose how items should be grouped:
- Class – group items by their resource class.
- Resource template – group items by the template they use.
- Property value – group items by the value of a selected property. If you choose this option, an additional dropdown will appear to select the specific property.
- Configure Group Colors (Optional): After selecting a grouping option, you can assign specific colors to each group. If no colors are specified, the module applies a default sequence of colors automatically.
- Under Groups, uncheck Show legend to hide the map's colour legend. It is enabled by default; marker colours and resource template filters remain available when it is unchecked.
When an item contains multiple values for the temporal property configured by the map timeline, Mapping Extensions creates a separate timeline event for every matching value. This applies to both fixed timestamps and temporal intervals; the timeline is not limited to the first value on the item.
All timeline events created from the same item remain linked to that item's map feature. Selecting any of its dates or intervals in the timeline therefore highlights and moves the map to the same marker.
When "Show contemporaneous events?" is enabled and "Fly to" uses the default view, selecting an interval also displays the map features for every item with at least one overlapping interval. The comparison checks all interval values on each item, not only the first value.
Use the "Maximum timeline marker rows" block setting to provide 4, 6, 8, or 10 rows for densely grouped events. Increasing the number of rows makes the timeline navigation taller and reduces marker overlap. The default is 4 rows.
The Journey Map block is a new visualization mode introduced by Mapping Extensions. It allows you to display sequences of geo-located items as connected journeys, making it ideal for representing paths, itineraries, or historical routes.
- In your site, add a "Journey Map" block. This block works similarly to the "Map by query" block, with additional options for journey visualization.
- Configure the query to select the items which contain the property with journey data.
- In the "Journey" configuration section, choose the property that contains the sequence of geo-located items. The journey will follow the order of values in the specified property, ensuring the path reflects the intended sequence.
- Use the Groups section to apply colors to journeys based on class, resource template, or property value.
- The map will draw markers for each geo-located item in the journey property.
- A polyline connects the markers in the order they appear in the property values.
- The popup for each marker displays the geo-located item’s information.
- The popup for the polyline displays information about the item that owns the journey property.
- Note: Geo shapes that are not markers (e.g., polygons, rectangles) are excluded from the journey.
Developed on top of the official Omeka S Mapping module.
This module is distributed under the GNU General Public License v3.0 (GPL-3.0).