I'm not sure how useful ZIP or postal codes would be. A post code is a sizable area. I have my pushpin stuck where my apartment building is next to the street. There's no way that could have happened with a post code; the pin probably would be somewhere around the center of the area, which could potentially be miles from where I actually live. As for using it as a starting point, I didn't find it that hard to click the zoomed-out map pretty close to where I wanted it to center it, zoom in about half-way, re-center with more precision, zoom in almost all the way, and make a final adjustment.

I guess from a whole-world-zoom-level, it wouldn't make any difference if the pin is off by even a few miles, but when people start to zoom in, well maybe it's just me but I want the pin to be right on top of me.

ah cheers dude, this is the only thing keeping me from going live :D

(oh and the supermods are still the same colour as normal users?)

Does this map take information from the location field filled out by the users when they signed up. Will it automatically add the users that are already signed up.

This feature is not yet implemented. The location must be entered by clicking on your entry and zooming to the user location.

The reasons for this can be found in serveral posts in this thread.

Is it possible to change the default lat / long and zoom level when you arrive at the map? I run a regional site and showing the whole world when you arrive would mean there would just be a blob over Ottawa Canada.
Is there a way to do that as it is now or would that have to go on a wish list for a future release?

Ottawa: Look at the AdminCP options for this plugin. ;)

I was hoping for an answer prior to installing. Are you are saying it can be done as I am hoping? Thanks for your help.

Yep, you can set the starting position and zoom level.

Cool. That's perfect. Thanks.

In our case, zip code would be ideal - our users don't want to have their exact locations given away - we just want an overall survey of *generally* where people are, and zip code provides just the level of granularity we want.

We already track zip code as an extra user field, and I, for one, would be much more inclined to install this hack if it could take a list of member zip codes from our site and build the map from that, instead of lat/long.

Ironically, our members *do* know their lats and longs - they are pilots - but they arent technologically inclined and I'd rather not have them enter any more than they already have if I can avoid it (we ask them for zip code at registration).