Locator

A component visitors use to find local services

Summary

The Locator takes a spreadsheet of information about places- clinics, county offices, historic sites, or picnic shelters- and turns this data into an interactive, searchable display on your page. Upload place data as a CSV file for the Locator to build your map or directory. Choose from one of three views to display your information. Visitors can search by ZIP code, city, or county to quickly find the services they need. 

Audience

Editor, Publisher, and Web Manager

How to Create a Locator

  • 1

    Ask "What do visitors need to do?"

    The Locator offers three different views. Each view offers a distinct display mode that changes how the user interacts with the Locator search. Choose the view that best matches your data, or edit your data so that it will work with the desired view. You can change the view mode at any time. Always consider your visitors' needs. 

    Accordion

    Visitors need to...

    Choose the Map View

    Map view lets a user search for the location closest to them. On larger screens, a map is shown. Use it for real places people travel to, like vaccine providers or clinics. Each location is shown at its street addresses. If a street address is not in the data, it will be placed using whatever location information is in the data (for instance, its ZIP code or city/town). 

    Your CSV Data Needs:

    Street addresses

    Locator display mode with the map view selected.

    Map View Example

    Users can search for pinned locations on a map.
    Choose the County View

    County view (or By county) shows a map of North Carolina's 100 counties. A visitor can search by zip code, city, county or click the map. One location can serve several counties at once. The county view is similar to the NC Map component, but more advanced.

    Your Data Needs:

    A county column or street addresses.

    Locator display mode with by county selected

    County View Example

    Users can search or select a county shape for information.
    Choose the Directory View

    Directory view is a searchable, sortable table with no map. For example, a roster of accredited professionals. It needs only a name per row; addresses and other columns are shown and searched when you include them.

    The directory view is similar to a Data Table, except it can be searched by ZIP code, city, town or county.

    Your CSV Data Needs:

    A name; location is optional.

    Locator component display mode with Directory option selected

    Directory View Example

    Users can search a list of data without a map.
  • 2

    Prepare your data for the desired user experience

    There's no fixed template for your spreadsheet. You don't have to rename your columns. The tool reads your headings and figures out which is the address, the county, phone number, and so on. You'll confirm or correct its guesses.

    For best results, follow these guidelines:

    1. Don't include anything private- Visitors will be able to download the original spreadsheet, so remove things like personal cell numbers or internal notes before you upload.

    2. Give every column a friendly heading- Headings (the first row of the spreadsheet) are shown to visitors as-is. If your spreadsheet has headings like "site_name" or "PHONE1", consider renaming them to something friendlier.

    3. Avoid adding HTML or code- Unlike the traditional NC Map component, the system will automatically link websites, emails and phone numbers.

    4. Try your spreadsheet in a test map- This is the fastest way to see what needs to change. 

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    Use the Sort & Filter menu in Excel to more easily manage data in your CSV file.

    Use the Sort & Filter menu in Excel to turn on Filters for column headings. This makes it easier to update and maintain data. Filters allow you to: 

    • Uncheck a category to temporarily hide that information so you can focus on what you do need to update.

    • Group like information together more easily. 

    • Easily sort a column alphabetically by selecting A-Z. 

    Sort CSV data alphabetically in Excel so it appears in a logical way for users.
  • 3

    Add Locator

    • Add a new 1-Column Band to a Landing Page or Site Page.
    • Inside the column, select the Add Component button.
    • Select Locator from the Choose Component dialogue box.
    • Select Build a locator on this page from the Add to this page dialogue box. 
    User interface with radio buttons to Build a locator on this page.
  • 4

    Upload your CSV File

    Locators can be added to Landing Pages and Site Pages. Create the page first, then add a locator.

    1. Export your spreadsheet as a CSV (comma-separated value) file.

    2. In Drupal, create or open a Landing Page or Site Page.

    3. Add a component and choose "Locator," then "Build a locator on this page."

    4. Begin the wizard that lets you upload the CSV file and configure the locator.

    Accordion

    These ready-made spreadsheets show each view in action. Download one, upload it, and experiment.

    FileView it suitsShows off
    nc-health-departments.csvCounty viewOne service per county
    nc-lme-mcos.csvCounty viewOne organization serving many counties
    vaccines-for-children.csvMap viewHundreds of pinned addresses + a filter
    crisis-services.csvMap viewA facility-type filter
    accredited-asbestos-professionals.csvList viewA searchable directory
    swift-team.csvCounty view (color)Color-coding by coverage

This page was last modified on 10/01/2026

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