Post Code Search From A Specific Database

I am looking for help in coding a post code search. (Ideally I would love for the locations to generate on a map too, but that is less important).

I want a member of the public to be able to enter their own post code into the search box, and for a list to then generate, from a database on the site, of anyone listed within a 50 mile radius. 

Possibly I would want to add another search criteria too - one of three financial categories - to be selected before the post code is input.

I have no coding experience but am learning more and more day by day as I find myself expected to sort out all issues faced on the website I find myself in charge of...... long story!

Any help appreciated!

Helen

42 minutes ago, Helen0808 said:

I am looking for help in coding a post code search. I want a member of the public to be able to enter their own post code into the search box, and for a list to then generate, from a database on the site, of anyone listed within a 50 mile radius..... long story!

Please tell us more of the story; it will help to give us context and allow us to provide better answers 🙂. For example:

• What is the URL of the website?
• What is the function of the search? Is it to find representatives who are local to the user?
• Which country do these postcodes refer to?
• How do you plan to determine the distance between two postcodes, to know if they are within 50 miles? Do you intend to pay to use a third party service? Is the requirement to list records "within a 50 mile radius" a fixed requirement or is this arbitrary?
• Does the database already exist, or are you planning to save the data on Squarespace? If it exists, please share the format of the database with us.

• https://www.christianfinancialadvisers.org.uk/
• What is the function of the search? Is it to find representatives who are local to the user? Yes. To allow members of the public to input their own postcode and see a generated list of those Financial Advisers nearest to them.
• Which country do these postcodes refer to? All in the UK.
• How do you plan to determine the distance between two postcodes, to know if they are within 50 miles? This is something I need advice on as I am very new to this. Do you intend to pay to use a third party service? Depending on the cost, I believe the organisation is happy to do this. Is the requirement to list records "within a 50 mile radius" a fixed requirement or is this arbitrary? This is arbitrary - it could be instead the three nearest to the postcode put into the search. Again, very new to this and looking for advice.
• Does the database already exist, or are you planning to save the data on Squarespace? If it exists, please share the format of the database with us. Currently we have all the information saved in Squarespace. I didn't build the website from scratch, I now only administer it, so am not sure exactly what format it would be known as. There is a pen nib as an icon though. 
• I apologise for my ignorance on this!

Hi @Helen0808

Thanks for the information. The pen nib icon is for a blog page 🙂.

It looks like the site was built using the excellent Advanced Map Block and Universal Filter - two third party plugins from Squarewebsites (affiliate link). This means that much of what you need is already there. You won't be able to search a distance from a postcode but, if you add the filter box from the third party tool that's installed, users should be able to start typing a postcode or county to see results. If you're not familiar with these third party tools, you may want to track down the documentation.   

Thank you for all your advice. I don't think that's quite what they are looking for though. I believe the idea was to replace the map with list generation instead, as we have had multiple complaints about the map from our users.