Google Mapping: Basics of the Web Viewer
In last week's post, I described how my journey to build a better Google Map in FileMaker got started. Beginning with this post and the following, I'll be demonstrating and experimenting with several techniques for doing just that.
The first place to start would be to map a Single Address and place it into a Web Viewer without all the Google-centric navigation and UI that normally surrounds the map. Say it together now: "We can do better."
It's actually not that simple. We have to back up a couple steps and talk about how the Web Viewer works for a moment.
Google Mapping Origins*
As promised last week, I'm continuing the discussion about Google Mapping in FileMaker. As enticing as the title of this post is, I'm not discussing the origins on Google Maps (try the Google blog) but rather the origins of my use of it within FileMaker (that explains the asterisk in the title).
It wasn't like I'm the only one who's ever had this idea. Heck, the FileMaker Web Viewer has a built-in calculation defined for Google Maps. Anybody ever use this:
"http://local.google.com/maps?" & "q=" & /*Address=*/ "" & "," & /*City=*/ "" & "," & /*State=*/ "" & "," & /*Zip Code=*/ "" & "," & /*Country=*/ ""
Show of hands?