Map Configuration: How read from file works

The “Read from file for Google Maps pins” option helps boost site performance, especially when displaying 200+ properties on the map.

How It Works:

Enable the Feature
Go to Theme Options > Map Configuration > Number of Pins Settings and set “Use file reading for pins” to YES.

Once Enabled, the Following Applies:

pins.txt File Permissions
The pins.txt file located in the theme folder must be writable (recommended permissions: 755).
Learn how to change permissions: http://codex.wordpress.org/Changing_File_Permissions
Automatic Pin Generation
A daily cron job will automatically generate new map pins for newly added properties.
Manual Pin Generation
You can also manually generate the pins directly from Theme Options > Map Configuration > Generate Data & Pins -The data is generated when opening Theme Options and you can save it it from SAVE CHANGES.

File does NOT exist or is NOT writable

This feature may fail in the following situations:

a. File Permissions Issue
pins.txt does not have proper write permissions.
Solution: Set permissions to 755.
👉 Guide on File Permissions

b. Modified Theme Name
You have renamed the theme folder. This feature requires the original theme name (e.g., wprentals).
Rename the theme folder back to its default.

c. Incorrect Theme Installation
You may have installed the theme as theme-name/theme-name, which is incorrect.
Reinstall the theme correctly so the folder structure is just wprentals/.

⚠️ Note: These steps are only needed if you plan to use the “Read from file” option

Using a Multilanguage Plugin?

If you have a multilingual setup, follow this guide to ensure pins are correctly created for each language:
👉 Help Article: pins.txt with Multilanguage Support

How the Pin Limit Works in Practice

Read from File = YES

In this mode, the pin limit (e.g., 30 pins) applies to:

Property List Standard with Header Map → shows 30 pins per page
Property List Half Map → shows 30 pins per page
Taxonomy pages (List or Half) → shows 30 pins per page
Search Results (Standard or Half Map) → shows pins for the current search page
Owner Profile Page → shows the number of pins set in Theme Options

🔔 Key Difference:
With “Read from File” enabled, Header Google Maps (global) will show all pins, regardless of the limit set.