Need to add the precise boundary of a city, state, country, or even a landmark to your map? Drawing complex geographical shapes by hand is time-consuming, but the new Shape Library tool in version 10 solves this problem by allowing you to search for and import geographical shapes directly onto your map with a single click.
How to Use the Shape Library #
The Shape Library is accessible directly within the map editor, allowing you to quickly add various geographical elements:
Maps > Edit your map > Shape Library
You can search for your desired geographical entity (e.g., “Kansas,” “Eiffel Tower,” “Nile River”), preview the result to make sure it is correct and finally import the shape.
During the import we will automatically determine what kind of shape it is and store it as a polygon, polyline, circle or rectangle within the map editor.
Data and Attribution #
The Shape Library is powered by Nominatim, a service that provides geographical data for millions of places.
⚠️ Nominatim Usage Notice: As this feature relies on an external, community-sourced service powered by Nominatim, its usage is subject to the service’s limitations. These limitations are put in place to ensure fair access and prevent abuse. Please be mindful of your search frequency and usage
When you import a shape from the library, it does more than just draw the boundary on your map. It also imports the public information about that geographical entity (such as the name and type) directly into your new Polygon, Polyline, Circle, or Rectangle as standard shape metadata. This ensures your imported shape is immediately labeled and functional.
We also automatically attribute the correct sources as a part of the import, ensuring you are fully compliant in the usage of this data. This can still be edited, but we strongly encourage you to retain any attributions within the content of the shape data as this may be required for usage.
Why Am I Not Receiving Search Results? #
If you are attempting to use the Shape Library and are not receiving any search results, there are two primary reasons for this issue:
- Search Term Accuracy: First, double-check your search term for spelling errors or try a slightly different phrasing. The library performs best when searching for clear, established entities (countries, states, major cities, landmarks).
- Nominatim Restriction: If your search term is correct and you’ve recently used the feature heavily, you may have been temporarily restricted by the Nominatim usage limits. This restriction can manifest as the library returning no results.
- Temporary Block: If the block is temporary, it will often reset on its own after a period of time (usually 24 hours).
- Permanent Block: In rare cases of extreme or prolonged over-usage, the block may become more permanent. If this occurs, you will need to reach out to the Nominatim service directly to address the issue, as the restriction is enforced by their service and not by WP Go Maps.
