Template talk:GeoTemplate

Note: changes to this template may take several days to propagate to Toolforge.

This template is for use by the geohack.php tool, currently located at Toolforge. It is not for use directly within articles. Template:coord and associated templates create links to geohack.

The template has a sandbox for design work and testing. If changes are not immediately visible try purging the cache (Purge GeoTemplate). Other globes or bodies are located on subpages, such as Template:GeoTemplate/moon. Some of their talk pages redirect here. Do not delete these subpages even if they do not appear to be used! For test coordinates, see /test coordinates.

All subpages | GeoHack documentation | GeoHack.js

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Frequently asked questions

Q: Which World Geodetic System is used?

A: Wikipedia uses the WGS84 datum ellipsoid for all coordinates, which is also used for GPS. This model can vary as much as ±100 m when compared to the geoid, which represents mean sea level.

Q: How can I report an error?

A: Report it on this page, with this link.

Q: Why do I see two markers on Google Maps?

A: Google Maps has introduced a reverse-geocoding feature, which gives priority to the closest object in their database, instead of the desired coordinates. The closest object is shown with a bright red marker with the map centered on it, and the requested coordinates are given a green marker that often blends into the background or is outside the displayed area. It might be called the "you must have meant this" feature. Our use of the Google Maps KML generator for Google Earth links is also affected. That's not something that can be fixed here.

Q: What is "UTM"? Does it use the WGS84 geoid?

A: UTM stands for Universal Transverse Mercator which is a map projection. Maps using UTM are usually based on WGS84 but, notably, the Ordnance Survey grids for Great Britain and Ireland are based on slightly different geoids: OSGB36.

Q: How can I get to Google maps quicker?

A: A user script is available, but easiest is to use WikiMiniAtlas. Click on the

to the left of the coordinate link will open a frame with a map of the surrounding location populated with Wikipedia articles.

Other common questions? edit

Geographical coordinates

GeoTemplate is of interest to WikiProject Geographical coordinates, which encourages the use of geographical coordinates in Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the project and see a list of open tasks.Geographical coordinatesWikipedia:WikiProject Geographical coordinatesTemplate:WikiProject Geographical coordinatesGeographical coordinates

Microformats

GeoTemplate is part of, or of interest to, WikiProject Microformats, which encourages the deployment of microformats in Wikipedia, and documents them in the article space. If you would like to participate, visit the project page.MicroformatsWikipedia:WikiProject MicroformatsTemplate:WikiProject MicroformatsMicroformats

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Return is blocked

Since a few weeks, if I have switched from a the Commmons category of a building to its geo location (to see the surroundings in Google satellite and streetview or to see its name in Openstreetmap), it is impossible return to the category.--Ulamm (talk) 16:28, 5 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

United States National Map Viewer long standing fault

I have finally discovered where and how to fix this. Uncle G (talk) 10:08, 21 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

GeoHive

Hi User:Uncle G, you have added GeoHive but it does not work. For example Dublin directs to this URL: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=3ae19cc156bf4706a929304bf8fcc4f6&marker=%7Blongdegdec%7D%2C%7Blatdegdec%7D%2C4326&level=12 --тнояsтеn ⇔ 09:20, 8 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]

That might be an undocumented interaction between {{urlencode:}} and GeoHack. It's just not substituting in the variables, which is certainly not what prior discussions on this talkpage or the documentation suggest. Let's see what happens when it is taken out. Uncle G (talk) 20:21, 9 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks. After I've fixed also one parameter [1], the URL in the Dublin example looks like this now: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=3ae19cc156bf4706a929304bf8fcc4f6&marker=-6.260278%2C53.35%2C4326&level=12

That is unfortunaltely still not opening the map but leading to the ArcGIS login. --тнояsтеn ⇔ 21:17, 9 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]

There's not much documentation, but the main WWW site provides a URL with an id= parameter, so I kept it in. Without that parameter, it bypasses the login screen. Of course, logging in also takes one to the right place afterwards. But omitting that parameter breaks things, as it denotes GeoHive, picking the right basemap gallery. The other thing to try is GeoHive's dedicated subdomain, which is not the URL that GeoHive tells people to go to. That still seems to require the id= parameter to select the right basemap gallery, though. Uncle G (talk) 19:24, 10 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Seems to work. Thanks --тнояsтеn ⇔ 20:25, 10 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]