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!

[MrD]

Hi, thx.
it works at 75 %
yahoo cannot find the streetnames

But the rest works.

[Darat]

Originally Posted by magnus

It should work with any address. It uses Yahoo to validate the address and Google to plot it. So, if you can put an address into Yahoo! Maps then it will work in Phoogle.

Ah this is probably the problem I'm seeing with UK addresses - it seems http://maps.yahoo.com can't locate UK street addresses, the best it can do is return the centre of a town. http://uk.local.yahoo.com/maps/ however does do UK address searching.

[magnus]

For those keeping score at home, I've implemented the GoogleAPI for geocoding into the development version of Phoogle. Catch is, Google doesn't return errors for invalid addresses.

I'm probably going to allow the geocoding source to be defined by the user, so you'll have the choice between YahooAPI (with error reporting) and GoogleAPI (without error reporting). I'm trying to find a workaroung, so I'll keep everyone updated.

[rjmjr69]

WOW is all I have to say. I love it Worked the first time I installed it without any issues at ALL.
Only one thing I notice which is really no big deal but my users must REFRESH the page before the map will appear again no big deal as they know about it but it would be cool for it to appear after posting after all isn't posting a refresh in a way?

As always Magnus your work is incredible. I'll send yet ANOTHER donation and another vote from me bro.......

[Slave]

Could someone let me know the full URL to enable me to use this for UK addresses? Thanks

[Tralala]

See a few posts above... since it currently uses the Yahoo Maps API, it doesn't work with UK street addresses.

[Slave]

Yes, I saw that, but it seems like the poster had got it working and I wanted the full URL he used to get it to work.

Why even bother with the Yahoo side of things? Doesn't google cope with addresses? I thought it did.

[Tralala]

Originally Posted by Slave

Yes, I saw that, but it seems like the poster had got it working and I wanted the full URL he used to get it to work.

Why even bother with the Yahoo side of things? Doesn't google cope with addresses? I thought it did.

The reason for the Yahoo API reliance was timeline. Yahoo!'s Geocoding validator was available first. Now that Google has a comparable tool, magnus has said he'll try and use that instead, for consistency's sake.

And no, the poster didn't "get it working," he just confirmed that the address didn't validate in Yahoo maps directly either, which is why it Phoogle doesn't map it properly.

[iogames]

BBCode and centered in the middle of the thread... ???

[Darat]

Originally Posted by Slave

Yes, I saw that, but it seems like the poster had got it working and I wanted the full URL he used to get it to work.

Why even bother with the Yahoo side of things? Doesn't google cope with addresses? I thought it did.

No I haven't got it working with UK street addresses - that will require magnus to make the changes he's made in his development version publicly available or him doing something very clever like switching the yahoo look-up depending on the country.