How to Build a CMS-Powered Interactive Map in Webflow

In this tutorial, we'll be covering how to build a CMS-powered interactive map using Webflow. With this tutorial, you will be able to create an interactive map allowing users to hover over dots to display the name of each location and click on the dots to navigate to the location collection page. This interactive map is great for companies that need to showcase multiple locations and provide users with more detailed information about each one.

Setting Up the Structure

First, let's start by setting up the structure of our map inside Webflow.

1. Inside the "Hero" section, add a div named "hero-maps."

2. Inside the "hero-maps" div, add another div named "c-map" to act as the actual container for our map. Set the width of "c-map" to maintain a specific width.

3. Within the "c-map" div, set the position to "relative" as this will contain the image of our map.

4. Drag and drop the image of the map (it can be an SVG or PNG file) into the "c-map" div and name it "c-map-image." Set the image's width to span 100% of its parent and position it as "relative" with a z-index of 1.

Creating the Collection

Next, we'll create a collection to store the locations and their coordinates.

1. Create a new collection named "Locations."

2. Add fields such as "Location Name" and "Y-Coordinates" as number fields.

3. Set the Y-Coordinates field as required and allow decimal points without negative numbers.

4. Similarly, add the "X-Coordinates" field with similar settings as the Y-Coordinates field.

Adding Dots and Interactivity

Now, let's add the clickable dots on the map and configure the interaction.

1. Create a link block within the "c-map" div, which will hold the clickable dot.

2. Position the link block absolutely on top of the map and set its z-index higher than the other elements.

3. Style the dot using EM values for size and positioning to maintain scalability across different devices.

4. Add the circle element within the link block to represent the dot and style it according to your design.

5. Create an interaction for the hover effect, allowing the dot to scale up and adjust the opacity. Additionally, include an animation to display the location name when the dot is hovered over.

6. Set up a clickable area based on the collection using a custom code embed to dynamically generate the dots on the map.

Making the Map Responsive

To ensure the interactive map is responsive across various devices, make necessary adjustments for mobile and tablet views.

1. Set the "c-map" div as a width of 100% and add top margin to adjust positioning.

2. Update the font size for proper scaling on different devices.

Testing and Deployment

After setting up the interactive map, it's important to perform thorough testing, including testing the hover states and responsiveness on different devices.

Publish your project to see the interactive map in action and ensure that the clickable dots and hover effects work as expected.

Now, you have successfully built a CMS-powered interactive map in Webflow, allowing users to interact with and explore various locations seamlessly.