Forum Discussion
Add Location Details to SharePoint Data and Content
We are excited to announce a new capability for SharePoint lists and libraries. The new location column allows you to add rich location data from Bing Maps or your organization directory to any SharePoint list or library. You can then filter, sort, and search by any aspect of the location data such as address, city, or state.
Creating a Location Column
To add a location column, simply click Add Column then select Location
You can then name the column and add secondary columns to display, sort, and filter by attributes such as city, state, or country.
Now when creating or editing list items, you can search for location data from Bing Maps or your organization directory to associate it with your list item.
Once you have added location data for your list items, you can sort and filter your list based on any of the additional columns added during the column creation process. If you want to filter by an attribute you did not include during column creation, it can be added in the Edit Column pane.
Adding a new column type to SharePoint is a rare event. We can’t wait to see what uses you come up with for this new column!
We anticipate roll out for targeted release will begin by the end of November, with full worldwide release by mid-December.
Update: After resolving some issues that were discovered in targeted release, we are now finally ready to start shipping world wide. Location Column will now be available to everyone by Monday
- Carlos CordeiroBrass Contributor
This is a great new column. will there be a bing maps plot available to show where all the location are?
- James JacksonMicrosoft
Carlos Cordeiro wrote:
This is a great new column. will there be a bing maps plot available to show where all the location are?
That's a very interesting suggestion. I think this would require work on the Bing maps side and we could look into partnering with them on it.
- ACESGroupCopper Contributor
James Jackson is there anyway to get a map view to display?
- Karin HawkinsonCopper Contributor
I would like to know this too!
- Afghan SalonBrass Contributor
Will there be a possiblity to use OSM (OpenStreetMaps) instead Bing Maps?
- James JacksonMicrosoft
Afghan Salon wrote:
Will there be a possiblity to use OSM (OpenStreetMaps) instead Bing Maps?
Currently Bing Maps and your Organizations directory are the only data sources available. This is so that we can guarantee that all the data processed stays within your organization
- Ariel KroppCopper Contributor
How will this look from a REST perspective?
e.g. what will the data look like if pulled into power BI? lat and long?
- Koen ZomersCopper Contributor
Just use the _api/web/lists/getbytitle('yourlist')/items URL to see the RAW data behind this field. For i.e. a field in which I entered the Microsoft HQ in Redmond, WA, it stores internally:
<d:Location>{"EntityType":"LocalBusiness","LocationSource":"Bing","LocationUri":"https://www.bingapis.com/api/v6/localbusinesses/YN873x16209519703153017334","UniqueId":"https://www.bingapis.com/api/v6/localbusinesses/YN873x16209519703153017334","DisplayName":"Microsoft Corporation","Address":{"Street":"1 Microsoft Way","City":"Redmond","State":"WA","CountryOrRegion":"US","PostalCode":"98052"},"Coordinates":{"Latitude":47.6398811340332,"Longitude":-122.12833404541016}}</d:Location>
- James JacksonMicrosoft
Ariel Kropp wrote:
How will this look from a REST perspective?
e.g. what will the data look like if pulled into power BI? lat and long?
The main Location column stores all the location data as a JSON blob. APIs can be called to either return the full blob, or can call for specific information like geocoordinates, street address, place name, etc. by calling the related columns.
Calling individual sub columns will probably be the easiest method in most cases
- HarshaGraceCopper Contributor
I have tried this in SPFx and the concept for REST API is also the same.
https://sp.harshagracy.com/2020/07/save-location-details-to-sharepoint.html
- Craig BlakeBrass Contributor
I am really liking this feature! A couple of questions, how does it pull our company directory information. I need to know where to ensure that the data is up-to-date. The next question, can you enter a GPS information and have it resolve, like for example capturing that data from a PowerApps users phone GPS location.
- bynumIron Contributor
What syntax should we use for entering locations that do not have a result in Bing (e.g. a coral reef in the middle of the ocean)?
- RobElliottSilver Contributor
text deleted by Rob
- bynumIron Contributor
RobElliott I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic, but this is a real world use case for companies whose work takes them anywhere in the "field" (oil industry, for example, or for environmental nonprofits like where I work).
- Ingrid SchieleBrass Contributor
Hi James Jackson,
we managed the most of our Content Types in the content type hub and I'd like to create a location column on the content type level, but I've found no proper type in the create a column form.
Isn't it possible to create a column type of location in the content type hub and roll out it to the system?
If so, are there any workarounds? (Except of adding it locally to each list..)
Regards,
Ingrid
- Rachael WalkerCopper Contributor
James Jackson When will this field by editable in power apps?
- PittSharePointProIron Contributor
James Jackson wrote:The new location column allows you to add rich location data from Bing Maps or your organization directory to any SharePoint list or library.
Does this include 'Rooms & Equipment'? And can this column be added to the SharePoint Calendars or is it only available in 'modern' lists?
Cool feature!
- James JacksonMicrosoft
PittSharePointPro wrote:
James Jackson wrote:
The new location column allows you to add rich location data from Bing Maps or your organization directory to any SharePoint list or library.
Does this include 'Rooms & Equipment'? And can this column be added to the SharePoint Calendars or is it only available in 'modern' lists?
Cool feature!
Thanks for your enthusiasm.
The column does support looking up specific rooms through Room & Equipment Mailboxes, but is only available in Modern Lists, so cannot be added to a calendar.
- BryndisCopper ContributorIt is a same that the column doesn´t support looking up specific rooms through Room & Equipment mailboxes. As it would be useful to have a list of Rooms & Equipment that shows the room location (what building) and whether it is free or not.
- Patrick FultonCopper Contributor
We are pleased with this addition and hope to see this feature option soon. Will we be able to convert columns with address info (currently using multiple lines of text) into a location column?
- James JacksonMicrosoft
Patrick Fulton wrote:
We are pleased with this addition and hope to see this feature option soon. Will we be able to convert columns with address info (currently using multiple lines of text) into a location column?
We don't currently have a way to do this, but can look into it if there is substantial interest
- Patrick FultonCopper Contributor
Well, we are very interested. We have several contact lists that have separate fields for street address, city, state and zip and it would be great to be able to simply convert those to location columns based on the existing data.
- ACESGroupCopper Contributor
@
James Jackson We have a SharePoint list we are using to track Candidates to hire. Distance from the client is an important differentiator. Can we somehow use this location field to enter their address and be able to click on something to see where they are located on a map? Currently we have to copy and paste their address into a browser to see where they are located.
- Kaiyan LiuCopper Contributor
Is it available for classic SharePoint versions, like SP 2013 too?
- James JacksonMicrosoft
Kaiyan Liu wrote:
Is it available for classic SharePoint versions, like SP 2013 too?
This is only available in Modern SharePoint
- Adi MaderCopper Contributor
Hi Jackson
Still can't see that option in our Office356 environement... do we need to do something to activate?
- James JacksonMicrosoft
Adi Mader wrote:
Hi Jackson
Still can't see that option in our Office356 environement... do we need to do something to activate?
Role out has been a bit delayed. We are currently at 100% First Release Users and will be at 100% of First Release tenants tomorrow
- Deleted
I came back at the right time! Just tried it and it works great. I had a test list waiting to add this piece. Love it!