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.

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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]

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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.

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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!

[Tralala]

The users reporting issues, all with Firefox, are not seeing maps that are in the first post of a thread. They do see subsequent ones in the thread, though.

[magnus]

Tralala, those with problems are running Firefox or Firefox 2? I developed this in Firefox 1.5.0.10 and tested in IE7.

[Tralala]

Originally Posted by magnus

Tralala, those with problems are running Firefox or Firefox 2? I developed this in Firefox 1.5.0.10 and tested in IE7.

So far, everyone reporting issues are using Firefox 2. The weird thing is that it's not consistent... some folks using Firefox 2 can see the maps just fine.

And the folks who are having problems, can see some maps, but not all of them. I think the issue is that the first map in a thread doesn't show up for them.

[magnus]

Hrm. I'll install FireFox 2 on another PC in a bit and check -- the fact it's so inconsistent is making me lean towards the problem being end-user related, such as an Extension or AddOn causing a conflict.

I don't know if it's possible, but what would really help is if you could get the 'View Source' output from one of the users experiencing the problem.

If I haven't said it before, Tralala, thanks for the help you've provided so far. You've been integral in getting things where they are now.

[Tralala]

Originally Posted by magnus

Hrm. I'll install FireFox 2 on another PC in a bit and check -- the fact it's so inconsistent is making me lean towards the problem being end-user related, such as an Extension or AddOn causing a conflict.

I was leaning that way at first too, but I've got the problem reports coming in from 7 or 8 folks now, and some of them have no extensions installed, just a clean Firefox 2.

Originally Posted by magnus

I don't know if it's possible, but what would really help is if you could get the 'View Source' output from one of the users experiencing the problem.

That won't be a problem. I'll ask one of the savvier users for that and will get back to you.

Originally Posted by magnus

If I haven't said it before, Tralala, thanks for the help you've provided so far. You've been integral in getting things where they are now.

My pleasure. And thanks for your continued dedication to making it work perfectly. When it's all sorted out I'm sure it will be a very appreciated add-on for very many forums, and for that you should be proud. Thanks for sharing it.

[Tralala]

New information: it appears to be a CDATA problem, specific to my forum's default skin. As best I can tell, it is working fine in the stock vB skin for everyone.

So as not to derail this thread any further, I'll send specific details to magnus via PM.

[Tralala]

Now this is working perfectly for me (:up

I notice that entering just a city, state and zip (like you can with maps.google.com) doesn't work with Phoogle. For example, "Gerlach, NV 89412" gave me a blank space. I had to make up a fake street (in this case, "100 Main Street") for it create a map at all.

Also it'd be cool if there was an option to dictate whether the Phoogle map should be in satellite or hybrid format instead. And a way for the user to override the default zoom level.

[magnus]

In the current development version, valid inputs are lat/log, as well as city, state, zip. So, that's covered.

As for allowing the user to set options other than labels and addresses, I don't really see how. BBCode accepts 2 variables:

[tag={$option}]{$code}[/tag]

I don't see where I could add any extra variables.

[Tralala]

Originally Posted by magnus

In the current development version, valid inputs are lat/log, as well as city, state, zip. So, that's covered.

Excellent!

Originally Posted by magnus

As for allowing the user to set options other than labels and addresses, I don't really see how. BBCode accepts 2 variables:

Not sure if it will help any, but take a look at this hack I've been using on my forum for awhile now... it embeds all sorts of media via BBcode... but it allows for five options: width, height, autostart, loop, extension.
(Maybe that code will shed some light on how to work around the limitation.)



Another suggestion: when an invalid address is entered, or one that gets no search results, throw up a default "Error" or "no map data" image, rather than just a blank space.

[magnus]

Not sure if it will help any, but take a look at this hack I've been using on my forum for awhile now... it embeds all sorts of media via BBcode... but it allows for five options: width, height, autostart, loop, extension.
(Maybe that code will shed some light on how to work around the limitation.)

I'll check it out.

Another suggestion: when an invalid address is entered, or one that gets no search results, throw up a default "Error" or "no map data" image, rather than just a blank space.

Already done.