Auto-expanding Categories Filters

Auto-expanding categories is a feature that allows parent categories to automatically expand when a user initially opens an interactive map. This guide explains how to enable this feature, its benefits, and how to customize it for specific use cases.

Enabling Auto-expand for All Parent Categories

To enable auto-expand for all parent categories:

1. Navigate to Categories > Categories Filter
2. Enable the auto-expand option

Benefits of Auto-expanding Categories

1. Improved Discoverability: Users can immediately see all available filtering options, reducing the risk of missing relevant categories or levels that might be hidden.
2. Quick Overview of Options: Expanded filters give users a full overview of the available choices, potentially speeding up decision-making and reducing the need to click through multiple layers.
3. Enhanced Accessibility: Users with limited dexterity or those using assistive devices benefit from having all options visible at once, minimizing the need for additional interactions like expanding sections.

Considerations

While auto-expanding categories can be beneficial, it may increase visual clutter, especially for maps with numerous categories. In such cases, it might be preferable to auto-expand only specific parent categories.

Auto-expanding Specific Parent Categories

To auto-expand only certain parent categories, you can modify the map URL by adding a query string:

1. Construct the query string: ?expand_categories=<categoryID1>,<categoryID2>,<categoryID3>
2. Replace <categoryID> with the actual category IDs you want to auto-expand.
3. Append this query string to your map URL

Example: https://viewer.mapme.com/7be1dce3-b9f8-4d4d-a405-7fc60f0e8f63?expand_categories=23023ea5-c927-4f9c-b3c8-64076a2f56a4,6115d508-0acc-4f4d-91f6-2e9eaf886cf1

In this example, the first two categories will be auto-expanded when the map loads.

Finding Category IDs

To locate a category’s ID:

1. Select the category in the editor.
2. Look at the URL in your browser.
3. The category ID is the last part of the URL.

By using this feature effectively, you can create a more user-friendly and accessible map experience while maintaining a clean and organized interface.