Module talk:Mapframe

Module:Mapframe is permanently protected from editing as it is a heavily used or highly visible module. Substantial changes should first be proposed and discussed here on this page. If the proposal is uncontroversial or has been discussed and is supported by consensus, editors may use {{edit template-protected}} to notify an administrator or template editor to make the requested edit.

This is the talk page for discussing improvements to the Mapframe module, and the related Maplink template.

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Frequently asked questions (see also: mw:Help:Extension:Kartographer)

Q1: Where to file a bug report when there is a problem with the base map? (e.g. a missing lake)

A1: If the problem also occurs on OpenStreetMap, it needs to be fixed there. If the problem is only on Wikimedia's maps, it can be reported on Phabricator (you can log in with you Wikipedia account). See mw:How to report a bug for instructions (for the tags, use Maps). (Alternatively, you can try mw:Help talk:Extension:Kartographer)

Q2: Where to report other bugs or problems with the maps?

A2: This may be a problem with the Wikipedia module, or it may be an underlying software bug (there are lots of those).

If the problem also occurs when using plain <mapframe>...</mapframe> tags, then it should be reported on Phabricator (you can log in with you Wikipedia account). See mw:How to report a bug for instructions (for the tags, use Maps). (Alternatively, you can try mw:Help talk:Extension:Kartographer)
If the problem only occurs with Wikipedia's template/module, or you're not sure, report it here. (Alternatively, you can try Wikipedia:Village pump (technical))

Q3: Why does the thumbnail map render as a static image when viewing pages, but is interactive when editing pages?

A3: On Wikipedia, and most wikis other than Wikivoyage, the emdeded thumbnail is a static map, and the full screen map needs to be opened before the map can be zoomed or panned. This is for for performance reasons, and to present some content if javascript is disabled, and for printing.
That preview mode shows an interactive map is a bug, phab:T203863 (and also a performance issue). Further explanation can be found in the comments on phab:T202793.

Q4: Why is a line or shape feature from OpenStreetMap not being shown?

A4: There are several possible causes:

The feature on OSM needs to be tagged with the Wikidata id, per mw:Help:Extension:Kartographer/OSM. It is not enough to just set OpenStreetMap relation ID (P402) on the Wikidata item.
Only certain OSM relations (those with type=multipolygon, type=route, type=waterway and type=boundary) can be used, and not others like buildings and public transport master routes. See mw:Help:Extension:Kartographer/OSM#Limitation and phab:T156433.
It can take 1 or 2 days after tagging on OSM before the data is available here.
Wikimedia occasionally has problems replicating OSM data (e.g. phab:T218097), or intentionally disables replication due to other problems (e.g. phab:T243609)

Q5: Why are line, shape, or point features are not shown after editing or adding a map, even though they were shown in the page preview?

A5: This is a bug related to generating thumbnail map images. It should fix itself in an hour or two. See phab:T269984 for details.

Q6: A page using mapframe's |raw= parameter is showing error messages of "The time allocated for running scripts has expired." What can be done?

A6: If the amount of raw data to be processed is too large, that timeout message may be shown. You can try moving the raw data to Commons (example) or replacing the mapframe template with the equivalent wikitext using Special:ExpandTemplates (example)

To help centralize discussions and keep related topics together, Template talk:Maplink and related subpages redirect here

Inconsistent map box

The same source produces a correct result on User:OceanLoop/sandbox/map but not Indian Creek (Elwha River tributary): the frame is not positioned properly. Does anyone know why this happens? OceanLoop (talk) 00:55, 24 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Fixed. Regs, The Equalizer (talk) 19:10, 24 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

How avoid text that appears when hover mouse cursor over the map?

Site of Cook's death in Kealakekua Bay

In Talk page at Talk:Death_of_James_Cook#Comments_from_Noleander I put a map. I've replicated the map here. When the mouse cursor is hovered over the map (desktop computer; Windows OS, Firefox browser) a popup window appears containing the text "The intuitive WP:UE/WP:COMMONNAME page title for this would probably be Death of James Cook. Just saying." which is the text (unreleated to the map) at the top of that Talk page.

That text popup window does not appear here, in this Talk page, when hovering over the map.

Does anyone know why that text is appearing? and if there is a way to prevent that popup from appearing? Noleander (talk) 18:29, 10 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Likely have the Wikipedia:Tools/Navigation popups gadget switched on in your preferences, as that line is the very first topic on the talk page. Regs, The Equalizer (talk) 19:21, 10 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

You are correct ... that fixed it. Thanks. Noleander (talk) 19:36, 10 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

{{maplink}} could probably set the 'nopopups' class to avoid that navigation popups triggers. —TheDJ (talk • contribs) 08:10, 11 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

If there is a way to disable this popup issue, permanently, by a change to the maplink template, that would prevent this issue from arising in the future for other editors & readers ... so it seems like a good idea. Noleander (talk) 12:33, 11 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Avoid polluting Category:Pages with script errors

Rather than using assert(lat_d, "Unable to get latitude/longitude from input '"..coords.."'."), which shows an unhelpful level of detail and places pages into the generic Category:Pages with script errors, is there a way to just return something like <strong class="error">Unable to get latitude/longitude from input XXX. Specify coordinates using {{tl|Coord}} template.</strong>[[Category:Pages with mapframe errors]] that would be more helpful and use a dedicated category? Only complication would be if there are other modules that try to parse the output of mapframe, but the common ones such as Module:Infobox mapframe just concatenate the output string to something else and should work fine. --Ahecht (TALK
PAGE) 14:25, 4 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

coord compatibility

Why does Template:Maplink/testcases#Coord compatibility happen? It's not often, but it trips me up every now and then. If the coord template can tolerate lowercase cardinal directions, why can't maplink? --Joy (talk) 14:50, 23 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Map labels for some place names in Telugu language partly rendered with rectangular boxes

I filed a bug affecting small number of place labels for Telugu language on Phabricator (https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/T408884). Request other users with similar problem in their native languages to add comments. Arjunaraoc (talk) 01:46, 31 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Raw GeoJSON preferably stored locally rather than on Commons

On {{Maplink}}, regarding the raw parameter, why does it say for GeoJSON to be stored locally here rather than on Commons? The text is: "(specify raw GeoJSON, preferably transcluded from a subpage of Wikipedia:Map data)". A technical issue, or fear of vandalism on Commons, or something else? Commander Keane (talk) 03:58, 13 November 2025 (UTC)[reply]

The instruction to use Wikipedia's Map Data predates the updated licensing conditions on Commons, clearly it was overlooked and has not been updated since. It also states preferably. Regs, The Equalizer (talk) 17:26, 15 November 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Discussion at Template talk:MergedMap

You are invited to join the discussion at Template talk:MergedMap. -- Joy (talk) 12:34, 27 November 2025 (UTC)[reply]