Implementing Google Maps API 3.0

Hi All,

I am currently seeking a quotation for a Forum upgrade from Audentio Design. Below is a copy of the quotation request sent this AM:

The new Location Map page will allow us to show locations pertaining to the research currently underway on the Forum and thereby enhance readers' understanding of the work we do. Sensitive locations such as C-47 crash sites will not however be shown.

I would welcome feedback and suggestions regarding this enhancement from all Forum users.

Thanks,

Pat

 

Hi John,

I thought about running two separate maps; one for the open forum and one for the 'Green Room' and that may well be the way to go but I note from Google's T&Cs at 9.1 that they will not allow the free version to be used unless the web site is freely accessible to the public. I think this restriction only applies if the site is charging a fee to visitors but I need to check if our restricted access 'Green Room' would breach these T&Cs.

In any event, I think we should get the public Map up and running first. I am not fully au fait with the Google Maps API but my understanding is that it is very customisable and I have ordered a copy of "Beginning Google Maps API 3" in order to improve my knowledge of the subject. I am pretty sure you can put markers on the Map which can be linked to a web address (in our case a forum post) but I am not sure if you can do it the other way round - put a link in a Forum post to a marker on the Map.

I was going to have a go at implementing the project myself but I am not a good enough coder to guarantee that the Forum would not come crashing down - better let the experts do the job correctly and then I can fool around with tweaking the features of the implemented Map. At least if I screw up there, the only consequence would be a blank Map window - I hope

Regards,

Pat

 

Thanks Patrick,

Glider landing sites alone would certainly be a very good reason to implement Google Maps on the Forum. I presume there is some way of putting particular types of markers on different layers so that if the Map looks too full, you can turn off the layers that are not needed. If for example you only want to see 508th PIR markers and the Map shows all markers for all airborne units, you can just turn off everything except those pertaining to that regiment.

Looking forward to seeing what can be done with this tool.

Regards,

Pat

 

OK,

I have reached agreement with Mike at Audentio Design for a costing and the fee has been paid over. Mike hopes to commence work either today or tomorrow.

I asked him to have the map open as per this location and zoom level.

This can be easily tweaked later but have a look and see what you think.

Regards,

Pat

 

Hi Guys,

While waiting for Audentio Design to implement Google Maps on a new page within the Forum, I have been doing a bit of fooling around on a 'scratch pad' safely outside the walls so that my amateur coding does not bring the roof crashing down on us

Can you guys please take a look at my 'Demo' here and let me have any bug reports?

Obviously to expand this 'goto' feature with lots more locations, I will have to implement some form of drop down list to replace the individual buttons.

Bare bones stuff at the moment - the top button titled 'Home Map' brings you back from the three lower locations and... well, that's about it for version 1.0

Comments, bug reports and suggestions on expanding are very welcome and appreciated.

Thanks,

Pat

 

Hi John,

Yes. just reading up on the placing and use of pins and other markers at the moment. I am also going to have a go at designing custom markers for Horsa and Waco gliders. If anyone can find a drawing of overhead views showing either glider, please send them on for use as templates.

The four map views in the Demo are all just the same map with a bit of javascript action triggered when you click each button. As an example, the code below is the section which manages the 'Sainte Mere Eglise' button:

Code:

        
	document.getElementById('changeValues_sme').style.width="150px";
	document.getElementById('changeValues_sme').onclick = function() {

                map.setOptions({

                        center: new google.maps.LatLng(49.4089, -1.318308),

                        zoom: 15,

                        mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.SATELLITE
			});
		}

The first line sets the button width to 150 pixels wide regardless of the caption. This keeps all the buttons looking neat otherwise they would expand and contract according to the number of letters used.

The next line calls a function when the 'Sainte Mere Eglise' button is clicked and this function performs three tasks:

• Sets the map coordinates to 49.4089, -1.318308 (Sainte Mere Eglise)
• Zooms to level 15 (found by trial and error for the size of this town)
• Changes the map type from road map to satellite view (as in Google Earth)

The other buttons work the same with the top 'Home' button putting the map back to the opening location and zoom level.

The objective is to add many more options by means of drop down lists and perhaps keeping just a small number of buttons for the major invasion areas such as the five beaches and the American and British airborne sectors.

This 'goto' feature of the map is really just a quick way of getting to where you want to be. The real usefulness will be in the placement of the markers as you suggest. Eventually, the ultimate objective would be to have a button in the posting area whereby the user could create a marker on the map to show where that particular post is referring to. The marker on the map would also have a reciprocal link back to the post. I am not sure how much coding work would be needed for this to come to life, but in the meantime other, less demanding enhancements can be made to happen.

Regards,

Pat

 

Thanks Niels,

They look very good and will do the job nicely. I'll add them to the demo map tonight.

There is also a nice collection of icons by Nicholas Mollet on his site here, but I don't see a 'Battlefield' set - perhaps he might make us one especially for the Forum :idea:

Regards,

Pat

 

OK,

We have a new page titled 'Location Map' implemented by Mike at Audentio Design - thanks Mike; excellent job

Now I have to do my part and get the interface working as would best serve our purposes here. Suggestions are very welcome

You will note a marker icon used as a demo to show the location of the Canadian cemetery at Beny sur Mer. This icon is part of a set created by Nicolas Mollet on his site here. I have asked Nicholas to create for us some icons in the same design as that showcased on his site. Initially, I have requested him to create three custom icons:

• Horsa Glider
• Waco Glider
• Cemetery (Combined Christian & Jewish Markers)

Niels has sent me his glider templates which I will forward to Nicholas for incorporation into the new icons:

​

The existing cemetery icon will be amended to include a Jewish marker beside the Christian one already showing and I think it might be a good idea to add an 'M' in the top right corner for 'Military'.

I would welcome further suggestions for these three icons before the designs are finalised.

Thanks,

Pat

 

Thanks Francois,

Yes, its getting there but needs a bit of work still on my part. Obviously, with perhaps hundreds of locations to mark up over time, the buttons on the left of the Map would become too cluttered. I am working on replacing them with cascading drop down lists which will take up much less space. This would also allow for an increase in the map window width.

I forgot last night when I sent the email to Nicholas regarding the customizing of the cemetery icon. Obviously the proposed change cannot be used to mark German cemeteries!

Does anyone have any ideas on how a German cemetery marker should look?

A sensitive issue which requires careful thought...

Regards,

Pat

 

Hi Francois,

The official German War Graves Commission logo is this design:

​

...so perhaps the existing demo icon at Beny sur Mer will suffice with perhaps a 'G' added for 'German'?

I would be anxious to have both the Jewish and Christian symbols on the Allied icon with perhaps an 'A' added for 'Allied'. I also feel that the German helmet might be a bit too militaristic for a cemetery icon.

Another option might be to use the design at the top of the mound at La Cambe...

​

...but I am not sure if the outline would still be recognizable when it is down-sized.

Mmm...needs more thought I think.

The red background colour of the 'infobox' can be changed as can the colour of the text therein. I'll play around with it now that the Map is fully implemented on the Forum. Let me have your suggestions for both colours

Regards,

Pat

 

Thanks Patrick; that's exactly what I need to implement - a long list of sub-divided locations in one (or maybe two) drop down lists.

I might come back to you for a hand with the coding if that's OK? I have about three JavaScript books open on my desk as I type this

Regards,

Pat