Troubleshooting Marker Ordering and Display Issues in WP Go Maps

If you're using WP Go Maps (formerly WP Google Maps) and struggling with how your markers are ordered or displayed, you're not alone. A common issue reported by users is the inability to control the z-index (stacking order) of markers or to sort them in a specific sequence, such as by a custom field like ID or date. This article will explain why these issues occur and outline the most common solutions based on community discussions and official plugin responses.

Why Do These Marker Ordering Issues Happen?

The core of these problems often lies in the plugin's functionality. The basic version of WP Go Maps does not include advanced features for manually sorting markers or controlling their display priority (z-index). Furthermore, users have reported bugs where the sorting functionality, even when available in the Pro version, does not work as expected—for instance, markers not obeying ascending or descending order rules.

Common Solutions and Workarounds

1. Awaiting a Plugin Update for z-index Control

Based on official responses from the WP Go Maps team, a native solution for controlling marker z-index is in development. If your primary need is to bring a specific marker to the front of others, the recommended course of action is to keep your plugin updated. The team has confirmed this feature is slated for a future release.

2. Addressing Bugs in Pro Version Sorting

If you are a Pro user and find that ordering markers by a field like ID or date is not working correctly (e.g., descending order appears regardless of your selection), this has been acknowledged by the plugin's support as a known bug. The team has stated they are working on a fix for this issue in an upcoming release. Ensure you have installed the latest version of the plugin, as the fix may already be available.

3. Using Custom CSS for Marker Positioning

For users who need to adjust the visual position of a specific marker due to a custom icon, a common request is for the ability to add a unique CSS class to a marker. While the basic version may not offer a direct UI for this, the plugin's code suggests a labelClass property might be configurable. However, implementing this typically requires custom development work. A potential alternative suggested by the team is to leverage the Google Maps API directly by setting the optimized property to false on the marker, which can provide more control over its rendering and styling.

4. Understanding the Limits of the Basic Version

It's important to recognize that many advanced display and sorting features are part of the Pro add-ons. The WordPress.org support guidelines restrict plugin authors from providing support for premium features on their forum. Therefore, questions about sorting marker listings by custom fields, displaying listings on separate pages, or filtering by categories often cannot be answered in the free support forum and must be directed to the plugin's official support channels.

Conclusion

Marker ordering and display challenges in WP Go Maps usually stem from the feature set available in your version of the plugin or from temporary bugs. The most effective solutions are to ensure your plugin is updated to the latest version, to monitor official channels for news on bug fixes and new features like z-index control, and to utilize custom CSS or API properties where possible. For issues related to Pro features, contacting the plugin's support team directly is the recommended path for assistance.