Plugin for Regionalization???

[kickass]

I would love to integrate this directory script into a regional portal I wish to build. There's gotta be a way to integrate postal code/ location into this, so it becomes sort of like a "yellow pages" for those looking for a local service or business in their area. Of course, then we'd need also Address/location fields in the dbase. Here's some links to give you some ideas re how this might work. These links are just US related, but I'm sure it could be made to work for most areas of the world, though it might have to be done differently for other places without postal codes.

http://civicspacelabs.org/home/zipcodedb
http://www.darkshire.org/~jhkim/public_html/programming/zipcodes/
http://www.micahcarrick.com/v2/content/view/4/3/

The regional portal I'm building will be touristy related, and will cover a geographical area approximately 150 square miles, so say for instance people are looking for a Bed and Breakfast Inn in East Jibippy PA, there would be an advanced search form with dropdown choices for types of business/service and then a town and state choice, which, when submitted, would give the person closest Bed and Breakfast Inns on top, and getting further away as you move down the list. At least that's how I envision it. It has to be tied to the town, since most tourists coming into the area will not know the postal codes, but they will have an idea of the town they wish to visit.

Can this be made to work? I think so. I also know it isn't easy, and I am NOT a programmer. I am, however, good at documentation and am willing to put some time into other things that need doing around here in exchange for this functionality. I suggest a plugin module since most people wouldn't need this much info in their directory.

[David]

Yes, I have done some apps that use a search function based on zip code or city using this database. I think it would be in the neighborhood of $500 to integrate this functionality (at the wholesale price point).

This would include adding extra fields for the links to be able to add address information, use of the database, and the search functions. It might be able to be done for a little less, but to do a good job, I think the price is pretty solid.

Maybe some programmers can chime in about the amount of time involved, etc.

[kickass]

That's more than my budget will allow at the mo, though I can't say I wasn't expecting this, I know it's time consuming.

I'd be willing to trade skills and work though, along with a bit of dough. I'm a helluva copywriter/editor, have pretty decent design skills, am a whiz at web graphics, and I've become pretty proficient at css/xhtml layout and templating (which hopefully you will see shortly, as soon as I'm done arguing with this smarty template) I'm also an expert at finding the bug in the operation of any program (it's a truly bizarre and razor-sharp talent) though I can't say I can offer fixes. I've managed to get my site up to a PR4 in Google without much effort, and in only around 8 months, so I can also offer some SEO and SES skill. Any of you who can benefit from a trade like this and do the work, feel free to write me directly -- bj at kickasswebdesign dot com. You can also poke around my website to see some of the things I've done, my portfolio is there, and I have a themeswitcher on the blog.

[David]

I've done some extensive work with this, and I know I can get it done. They with this idea. Keep bringing it up. I'm even willing to kick in a little dough. I'll PM you a site that uses this data now (I have several).

[kickass]

David, I had PM'd you back early yesterday, and hadn't heard from you. I'd very much like to communicate with you further on this.

My customized directory is up and running here without tables and all css (except for payment page and that will be done today):
http://kickasswebdesign.com/webgeekdir/

Feel free to email me directly at bj at kickasswebdesign dot com

[kickass]

David, I know you and the team are busy. But I've been getting some inquiries off the board as to whether this mod is happening. I think if we can just simply add fields to the database (or a tie in to a separate dbase?) and add form fields for address and zip, and do the tie-in to the zip code base, like is talked about here it would be "good enough":

http://www.micahcarrick.com/v2/content/view/4/3/

Please consider this and let us all know if it can be done. It would be a nice thing for you to have on the regional directory you're working on, wouldn't it?
:D

And those of you reading this thread who are interested in this, please post and say so!

[vkaryl]

I'd really love to see this as well, since regional is the direction I'm headed with one of my phpLD installs. It would be so much better to have just one program to deal with as far as the directory/resources angle!

This is such a great program so far, and this sort of "regionalization" would be another step upward....

[mortgage-pro-seo]

I am onboard as well. This would be a great additional to the directory script.

[Nobody]

I'm on it. 8)

[David]

I'd be in favor of this, but I just need to get this websvn back on track first. We can't keep modding without version control.

[kickass]

There's plenty of this type of project tracking software out there, especially on sourceforge. Since this one seems to keep breaking . . .