Google Maps w/ Directions

[SevinD0991]

Re: Google Maps w/ Directions

Thanks Ray,

I am doing something very similar to this right now. I have a Web Content Chrome control on my dialog with several text box controls. I have the values in the text boxes being entered into a URL string, which the web content control uses to open Google Maps with the route between the two addresses.

The Web Content control does load extremely slow when it processes the URL. Also, it tries to load the web content over and over every time I click on the control. Is there any way to fix this?

[Raymond Lyons]

Re: Google Maps w/ Directions

Thanks Ray,

I am doing something very similar to this right now. I have a Web Content Chrome control on my dialog with several text box controls. I have the values in the text boxes being entered into a URL string, which the web content control uses to open Google Maps with the route between the two addresses.

The Web Content control does load extremely slow when it processes the URL. Also, it tries to load the web content over and over every time I click on the control. Is there any way to fix this?

The problem with me helping is that I do not even have V12, plus I do so little with Alpha Five anymore that I am very rusty. Also, I'm guessing you are trying to do what you want in a xdialog box that brings up the map within the dialog box. My only experience with that method was with a widget the web site provided that effectively brought up just a small part of the content on the whole web page, not the entire web page. If what I think you are after is correct, what I would do is put your text box controls on a form, use them to select the addresses that get passed into the URL string and use sys_open(URL) to open your default browser in a separate window. That should fast, and won't open more than once.

I hope someone else can provide better help.

That said, one more thing that others may be interested in: My example used full addresses. One can also construct the string in such a way you don't need all the address detail (though that is better). For example, you should be able to put in Costco, Temecula, CA and Google maps will know and provide the address. Or without any addresses get directions from Carlsbad, CA to San Francisco, CA. I'm pretty sure you can do any of that either with my example URL string or a version of it. Interestingly, though I have not tried, I don't think you can do any of this using MapQuest instead of Google Maps.

Raymond Lyons

Edit: I just confirmed that my example URL string expression needs no modification to be able to deal with things such as "Jake's restaurant, Del Mar, CA" or Carlsbad to San Francisco. "Jake's restaurant" can just go in the address field--or one could add a Business Name field to the string, which would be blank if you had the actual address.

[DaveM]

Re: Google Maps w/ Directions

Ray,
If that particular stuff works in v8, it should work in v12.

[Raymond Lyons]

Re: Google Maps w/ Directions

I have tested an enhancement to my URL expression, adding the variables From_Location_Name and To_Location_Name. It works, so I thought I might as well post it here.

'Date Created: 17-Mar-2015 09:17:56 AM
'Last Updated: 17-Mar-2015 09:17:56 AM
'Created By  : Ray Lyons
'Updated By  : Ray Lyons

'This example adds variables for From_Location_Name and To_Location_Name and shows that although when available
'it is best to have an address and zip code, Google Maps will often provide address and zip for locations
'such as a library, a school or a business. And if you just want city/state to city/state, just leave 
'all the other fields blank.

'My example below is from a city to a named business down the road a few miles.
'Note that if you don't put in the city and state for a location, results can be weird.
'Interestingly, at least to me, my example will also show an option to take a commuter train
'instead of an automobile. Way to go Google!

'Obviously, how you set the values of the variables is a whole different story, specific to your application.

Dim From_Location_Name as c = ""
Dim From_Addrs as c =""
Dim From_City as c = "Oceanside  "
Dim From_St as c = "CA"
Dim From_zip as c = ""

Dim To_Location_Name as c = "Jake's Restaurant"
Dim To_Addrs as c = ""
Dim To_City as c = "Del Mar   "
Dim To_St as c = "CA"
Dim To_zip as c = ""

Dim URL as c
URL = "https://www.google.com/maps/dir/"+STRITRAN(alltrim(From_Location_Name)," ","+")+",+"+STRITRAN(alltrim(From_Addrs)," ","+")+",+"+STRITRAN(alltrim(From_City)," ","+")+"+"+From_St+"+"+From_Zip+"/"+STRITRAN(alltrim(To_Location_Name)," ","+")+",+"+STRITRAN(alltrim(To_Addrs)," ","+")+",+"+STRITRAN(alltrim(To_City)," ","+")+"+"+To_St+"+"+To_Zip
sys_open(URL)

'The STRITRIM() function is replacing spaces with a "+" sign per what Google maps wants. Other web pages
'I have dealt with us a "-" sign instead.

Raymond Lyons

[DaveM]

Re: Google Maps w/ Directions

Raymond.

I have not tested your code just yet, but remember that from one home address to another home address is much harder because of the way google handles it. ANY variation whatsoever in what they expect will cause one of the addresses to default to a business nearby to that address.

from a business/ city to a business/city is much more forgiving.

[DaveM]

Re: Google Maps w/ Directions

See if this works for everybody?? If any errors, please inform me here or anywhere you find me.

mapgoogle.zip

[Raymond Lyons]

Re: Google Maps w/ Directions

See if this works for everybody?? If any errors, please inform me here or anywhere you find me.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]39991[/ATTACH]

Why is the function password protected? If it improves on what I have already posted, I am sure plenty of others would like to see the improvements. And yes, I know perfectly well that what I posted was bare bones that should be part of additional code that would, among other things, do some error handling, etc.. But I felt most of those interested would either be competent to add what I did not take the time to do, or they would share their additions or alternative ways of accomplishing the same thing. What I posted was at least in part done as a learning aid for some users, something I have always felt was a big part of what this forum should be about. When you hide the code it does not serve that purpose at all. Not that it has to serve that purpose, but.....

Raymond Lyons

[DaveM]

Re: Google Maps w/ Directions

Raymond,
1. does it work?
2. it has nothing to do with what you did. There may be similarities, but is drawn off what had already done.
3. all my udf's are auto passworded. Sorry about that.
4. There is a piece in there to get rid of a # sign because it gave google fits. At one point I had a 24 hour trip from china show up.

[Raymond Lyons]

Re: Google Maps w/ Directions

Raymond,
1. does it work?
2. it has nothing to do with what you did. There may be similarities, but is drawn off what had already done.
3. password is googlemap(I think)
4. all my udf's are auto passworded. Sorry about that.
5. There is a piece in there to get rid of a # sign because it gave google fits. At one point I had a 24 hour trip from china show up.

Dave, yes it does work. And yes, the "#" does cause problems. However, your way of handling the # removes the entire "# 13" from the mapped address. Not a big deal in most cases, I suppose, but there is a better way.

In my code I handled it by putting the following 2 lines just before my URL expression:

From_Addrs=STRITRAN(alltrim(From_Addrs),"#","%23")
To_Addrs=STRITRAN(alltrim(To_Addrs),"#","%23")

You could do something similar in your code. Substituting "%23" for "#" leaves "# 13" in the address on Google Maps, and if there are no #'s, no harm, no foul.

I have not played around with it but I wonder about things such as "STE. 13" and "Suite 13", "Apt. 13" etc.. But I suspect if there are problems with those that there are ways of dealing with those too that leaves them on the map if they are part of the address. I guess the only way it would matter is if the map were printed for guidance and then when the driver got there the "# 13" or "Apt. 13" would not be printed on the map and if he/she didn't have or remember the number, it might be a problem.

Ray

Edit: I just tested a few more things. "Suite" "STE." and "Apt." do not seem to pose issues the way "#" did. They show up on the maps in my very limited testing.

Also, in case anyone is wondering, for HTML URL encoding a "#" = "%23" for both Windows-1252 and UTF-8. There are other codes for just about everything, e.g., "$"="%24". And, spaces can be replaced with either the "+" sign or "%20".

[DaveM]

Re: Google Maps w/ Directions

For 1, the "apt 13" causes no problems. I don't know about the "." in there. I am sure there are a dozen things could cause it to go wrong.

sometimes the code gets rid of the #13 and sometimes leaves the 13. Erradic! as I tested that.

Isn't HTML wonderful?

[Raymond Lyons]

Re: Google Maps w/ Directions

For 1, the "apt 13" causes no problems. I don't know about the "." in there. I am sure there are a dozen things could cause it to go wrong.

sometimes the code gets rid of the #13 and sometimes leaves the 13. Erradic! as I tested that.

Isn't HTML wonderful?

Not sure what you are referring to with "sometimes the code gets rid of the #13 and sometimes leaves the 13." My guess is you are referring to your code. When I use "%23" Google Maps left "#13" all cases. I Also tested about 6 other real #xxx addresses I pulled from my Rolodex (how old school is that!). In all cases I tested, the #xxx was retained. Try "%23" in your code. It should work perfectly.

In any case, since this is not something I am ever going to use (I was just trying to help), I think (and hope!) I am done with this thread.

Raymond Lyons

[DaveM]

Re: Google Maps w/ Directions

Thanks to input by Ray, the final function is posted at Application Allstars:

Please enjoy it.

[Raymond Lyons]

Re: Google Maps w/ Directions

Dave,

Good, I see you used "%23" to handle the "#" sign.

You might also consider adding something like a Location_Name field at the beginning of the URL string. My post 19 above has an example, though at that point I was not using "%23" to handle the "#".

My testing showed that in most if not all cases if I did not know the address but did know the Name of the place I was looking for (e.g., a business name or things such as "City Hall", or "Dove Library") plus the city and state, that alone got me what I wanted on the map, usually including telling me the address and zip code. Leaving the Location_Name field blank when I knew the address seemed to cause no problems. On the other hand, when I did not know the address, I could also put "City Hall", "Jake's Restaurant" or etc. in the address field and that too did the job. So arguably one does not need a separate Location_Name field, as long as the user knows to put the name in the address field if they don't know the address.

Finally, for those interested in how I found %23 as the way to deal with the # sign, this link
http://www.w3schools.com/tags/ref_urlencode.asp
gives a complete guide to URL encoding and specifically an ASCII Encoding Reference for things such as "#" = "%23". This could be useful if one discovers other symbols being used in addition to #, though at the moment I can't think of what other symbol might pose a problem.

Raymond Lyons

[DaveM]

Re: Google Maps w/ Directions

http://www.w3schools.com/tags/ref_urlencode.asp

has saved my butt a few times

I have tested almost all other symbols out there and found no problems with any of them so far. As far as the name is concerned, it was not the reason I started this exercise. In every case I will use it, there will be no need of a name. It is nice to know that a name could be added or substituted.

[Raymond Lyons]

Re: Google Maps w/ Directions

Kind of hate to revive a dead horse but in perusing the Code Archive I noticed that Richard Beacham posted something Cal Locklin did for Google Maps (but not for directions):
http://www.alphasoftware.com/alphafo...luding-IE11%29
To deal with things such as "# 13" Cal effectively used urlencode(). Because this may well be a better, more comprehensive way of dealing with the encoding of any odd characters, I thought it might be good to build a script for directions based on what Cal did and see if it works. At least for the test addresses, it works. Here it is.

EDIT: Yikes. I just noticed that with urlencode() there really should be no need for the "%20" in the full addresses. However, I think the commas and a space between the state and zip are needed.

Raymond Lyons

'These addresses (Dave's) are just for testing with the problematic "# 13"
Dim From_Addrs as c ="12229 windriver ln # 13"
Dim From_City as c = "hudson"
Dim From_St as c = "FL"
Dim From_zip as c = "34667"

Dim To_Addrs as c = "2859 TCU bv"
Dim To_City as c = "orlando"
Dim To_St as c = "Fl"
Dim To_zip as c = "32817"

'--urlencode() should allow use of any default browser i.e., Chrome, IE (any ver), Firefox, Pale Moon
'--This is based on a script Cal Locklin did and Richard Beacham posted in the Code Archive
'--http://www.alphasoftware.com/alphaforum/showthread.php?113007-A5V11-Using-Google-Maps-With-Any-Browser-%28including-IE11%29
'--I have modifed for use with directions, and it did seem to require +"%20"+ between state and zip

    From_addrv = urlencode(trim(From_Addrs))
    From_cityv = urlencode(trim(From_City))
    From_statev = urlencode(trim(From_St))
    From_zipv = urlencode(trim(From_zip))

    From_full_addr = From_addrv + ",%20" + From_cityv + ",%20" + From_statev +"%20"+ From_zipv

    To_addrv = urlencode(trim(To_Addrs))
    To_cityv = urlencode(trim(To_City))
    To_statev = urlencode(trim(To_St))
    To_zipv = urlencode(trim(To_zip))

    To_full_addr = To_addrv + ",%20" + To_cityv + ",%20" + To_statev + "%20"+ To_zipv

URL= "https://www.google.com/maps/dir/"+From_full_addr+"/"+To_full_addr
sys_open(URL)