New Posting Features - Phoogle! An interactive Google Maps mapping system.

Keywords: Phoogle, Google, Maps, BBCode

Description:
Allows for the insertion of interactive Google Maps within posts via a new BBCode. Supports point labeling as well as multiple points per map.

Details:
I became increasingly annoyed after seeing more and more links to maps being butchered when posted on forums. I had remembered seeing the nifty Phoogle Maps and figured, "why not?"

A few headaches later.. here we are.

[hr]-[/hr]
Usage:
[map]value[/map]
[map=Option]value[/map]

Example:
[map]1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500[/map]
[map=The White House]1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500[/map]

Multiple Locations Example:
[map]1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500;E Capitol St NE & 1st St NE, Washington, DC 20001[/map]
[map=The White House;Capitol Building]1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500;E Capitol St NE & 1st St NE, Washington, DC 20001[/map]

[hr]-[/hr]
Installation:

1. Download and import product-phoogle2.0Beta1.xml via the Product Manager.
2. If you do not already have one, obtain a free Google Maps API key.
3. Configure Phoogle! via the AdminCP (vBulletin Options > Phoogle Settings).
4. ???
5. Profit!

Notes:
When adding/editing a map via AJAX Quick Reply or Quick Edit, you must refresh the page to see changes.

[hr]-[/hr]
Comments:
As with all my hacks, this modification is provided free of charge. However, if you find this product useful and have money burning a hole in your pocket, feel free to make a small donation, I won't mind.. really.

Version History:

• 1.0.0 - Initial release, here's to hoping..
• 1.0.1 - Added check for post preview, [map] code will NOT be parsed when previewing (because it can't).
• 1.1.0
  • Eliminated need for functions_phoogle.php
  • Modified way [map] tags are parsed
  • Moved previously static html to templates
  • Changed way multiple locations per posts is defined (separated by ;)
  • Added check for cURL() if not, uses file_get_contents()
• 2.0 Beta 1
  • Proper error handling. Will now verify address (and make reccomended changes) before submitting.
  • Javascript will not be loaded on pages that do not have maps (woops!)
  • Few internal tweaks to (hopefully) speed things up.
• 2.0 Beta 2 - Plays nice with the [noparse][/noparse] tags. (thanks Tralala)

* Please note that this modification was developed on a forum with a userbase of 1 (myself). I've tested it for basic functionality but I cannot guarantee functionality or behavior on your forum. So, please -- make backups before installing this product!

[magnus]

Originally Posted by Doctor Death

This mod appears to be dead on its ass although it would have been THE mod to have had it not been so buggy.

Disappointing the author never came back.

[high]* Doctor Death clicks UNINSTALLED[/high]

Sorry that this free, unsupported, beta modification (and myself) couldn't live up to your high expectations.

I develop modifications to work on my forums -- and guess what? They do. When I release them here, I always release them as unsupported. However, when possible, I will try and address specific situations and concerns posted by users. I've been in contact with Tralala since the conception via private messages as well as public replies. Why him? Because he provides detailed, consistent information making my job of fixing things easier.

I'm sorry that this didn't work for you, but there are apparently at least 42 other people who seem to think it works well enough.

For the record, I've never came back simply because I've never been gone. There's a new release in the works that will address as many issues as I could fit in -- most of which were reported by Tralala via PM, whom I've been in constant contact with.

[chuckrobbie]

Just a big open white space!
Like so many others have posted before me!!
Pity as it is a nice idea!

[magnus]

Originally Posted by chuckrobbie

Just a big open white space!
Like so many others have posted before me!!
Pity as it is a nice idea!

Well, that's not very helpful.

READ THIS

[morrow]

Nice hack. Installed and working (IE7). A little quirky with the refresh's, but I can live with it. Thanks for your hard work, I look forward to see any additional features you decide to add.

[Cyburbia]

Originally Posted by magnus

[SQL]ALTER TABLE `post` ADD `phoogle_html` mediumtext[/SQL]

Thanks! That worked well.

This looks like a great mod, especially for an urban planning site like mine, but I'm going to wait a bit before I try installing it again. I appreciate the work you've put into it.

[Doctor Death]

Originally Posted by magnus

Sorry that this free, unsupported, beta modification (and myself) couldn't live up to your high expectations.

I develop modifications to work on my forums -- and guess what? They do. When I release them here, I always release them as unsupported. However, when possible, I will try and address specific situations and concerns posted by users. I've been in contact with Tralala since the conception via private messages as well as public replies. Why him? Because he provides detailed, consistent information making my job of fixing things easier.

I'm sorry that this didn't work for you, but there are apparently at least 42 other people who seem to think it works well enough.

For the record, I've never came back simply because I've never been gone. There's a new release in the works that will address as many issues as I could fit in -- most of which were reported by Tralala via PM, whom I've been in constant contact with.

There is no one who wanted this mod to work more than me, and my comment above wasnt an indictment of you or your skills... sorry if you took it that way.

The preceeding conversations about WHY it was not working with IE7 showed that a group of users who also wanted this to work were frustrated that they also couldnt get what is otherwise a GREAT mod.

I encourage you to keep doing great things... dont take comments personally.... When it comes to IE7, this free mod is, indeed, dead on its ass. There is nothing unfactual about that and since it works on your board using your browsers, there is understandably no impetus to further develop it.

Will be the FIRST to donate when a working IE7 version hits the streets.

Regards

[morrow]

It's working on IE7 on my site. No problems so far.

[Tralala]

As mentioned before, it's working on IE7 on my site, too.

[Doctor Death]

Originally Posted by Tralala

As mentioned before, it's working on IE7 on my site, too.

Be glad. Wonder why so many others are inop??

[Tralala]

Originally Posted by Doctor Death

Be glad. Wonder why so many others are inop??

So many others? I see 48 installs... and only two folks complaining here about MSIE7 issues. Both of these two have custom skins installed.

Even still, those two have been publicly countered with reports of success by others. Yes, this hack is working for lots of people, in the vB and custom skins, in all the major browsers.

I'm sure you're frustrated by the incompatibility with your custom skin, but calling this entire project "dead on its ass" as a result is a bit tacky, and over-the-top, don't you think? There's an incompatibility with your custom skin; focus on that instead. Work politely with magnus, and perhaps he will help you with the specific incompatibility with your custom skin that is specific to your forum.