Wikipedia talk:Why mapframe maps?

Advantages of pushpin location maps

Add advantages of pushpin style maps to provide a balanced view. I agree that mapframe is useful in many context especially when a large scale is needed. They should be more widely used. It's good to see them promoted.

In certain cases, there are still advantages for "pushpush" location maps:

• Rendering speed - Static maps offers faster rendering speed over tiling servers.
• Default scale - For small scale way finding, a pushpin is preferred by some editors like myself. In the future, this might change, but given the current implementations of Dec-2021. For larger scales when locating a building like a post office or sports venue, then the mapframe has many advantages as outlined in the current essay.

Using your example of locating New York City, then a pushpin map on the map of New York State offers quick loading times and the basic information many readers are looking for. Below I added a sports venue with a side-by-side views for further discussion.

Comparing two styles

mapframe	pushpin
	class=notpageimage| New York City
	class=notpageimage| Madison Square Garden

- DutchTreat (talk) 13:14, 22 December 2021 (UTC)

Thank you for the input and counterpoints. I personally don't find either point to be significant. Modern laptops, desktops, and cell phones are increasingly affordable, with fast loading speeds. Internet and cell service is always improving and networks are growing. I have never had a problem with mapframe maps loading too slowly. If you have, I'd be keen to know what hardware and software you're using. This isn't 2001 anymore, I don't see how loading speeds still find their way into discussions on Wikipedia. As for default scale, sure, right now mapframe operates to a set scale around the object. State borders aren't always the most relevant element in a map, so this isn't necessarily a negative factor. But, it's very easy to set a mapframe map to any scale from 1 to 18, and easy to center a map around a shape like New York state. ɱ (talk) 17:34, 22 December 2021 (UTC)

I do still find the mapframe maps here to be preferable, and can list out reasons. Can I edit their formatting, to make them match up better to compare more accurately? ɱ (talk) 17:36, 22 December 2021 (UTC)

@Ɱ: Feel free to edit the maps above to make the comparison accurate. - DutchTreat (talk) 23:16, 22 December 2021 (UTC)

Unfortunately the state shape isn't rendering right now. It may later on, or I know an easy workaround. It's not ideal but the zoom and marker and shape benefits still are immeasurable, as is the ability to easily create new maps, etc. etc. ɱ (talk) 18:32, 23 December 2021 (UTC)

More similar now after your changes. There is still an open question on aesthetics. - DutchTreat (talk) 13:23, 24 December 2021 (UTC)

Shaded Relief

Is there a shaded relief version of mapframe?

Comparing two styles

mapframe zoom 6	mapframe zoom 17	pushpin relief
		class=notpageimage| Hautecombe Abbey

- DutchTreat (talk) 13:39, 24 December 2021 (UTC)

No, this isn't a feature yet. It's not necessary for the vast majority of articles (indeed with all of my article writing and editing I haven't found a need for it yet). But it's a possibility for the future, I can see OpenStreetMap already has topographical data. ɱ (talk) 16:31, 24 December 2021 (UTC)

Adding a topographical option to mapframe will be helpful. For some articles, I like to show how a historical site relates to the landscape of mountains and river valleys. Until it gets added, pushpin with relief is preferred for these cases. - DutchTreat (talk) 11:15, 28 December 2021 (UTC)

There's no requirement to use either on any article, so it's up to the primary editors of each article. I'll just note that most historical sites have nothing to do with mountains and valleys and other physical geography, unless it's a battleground, fort, primitive settlement, etc. Nearly all others will better-benefit from the immense amount of detail and context added in mapframe. Nearly all pushpin maps are frustratingly useless at showing location to an unknowledgeable reader. A location map for a place within California or Connecticut will appear the same as a location map of the entire city it lies in. ɱ (talk) 15:23, 28 December 2021 (UTC)

Let's take the example of "Hautecombe Abbey", a place I know nothing about, as many readers would. The relief map here tells me nothing. It's near the center of an area, presumably some district in France? And it looks to be in the foothills of some mountain range. Clicking to zoom in does nothing, as the dot disappears. Mapframe now - oh, it's a large complex of buildings on the edge of a large lake, near small areas (Billon, Ontex, Grumeau, etc.), and with Chambery as the nearest city. I can now see it's in southeast France, not far from the Swiss border. See how much more useful that is? ɱ (talk) 15:26, 28 December 2021 (UTC)