Google Maps integration ( Location/GMap/GMaps/Geo etc etc etc )
Hi
I am setting up a database of wild camping spots, each represented by a custom content type. In addition to a directions field ( obviously describing how to get there ) I would like each contributed camping spot ( ie. node ) to contain latitude and longitude coordinates ( derived from Sat Nav systems or handheld GPS's ), and to embed a Google Map of the spot with a marker when displaying the node.
I have toyed with the Location module but it seems to me to be very focussed on acquiring address data and then converting address data into lat/lon. Addresses make no sense for wild camping spots ! I need to prompt my users for coordinates when they create the content type ( and not any address info ), and then work towards displaying a Google map.
Any advice/pointers from members experienced with the Location type modules would be appreciated.
Cheers
Dave
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iirc, the location / gmap modules include the ability for users to directly enter lat and long-- and if gmap is installed, they can do it via an interactive gmap. You may have to manually turn off geocoding in the options somewhere and set the address location fields to "do not collect" but I think you should be able to do it.
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"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." - Lao Tzu
"God helps those who help themselves." - Ben Franklin
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Thanks WorldFallz. I have
Thanks WorldFallz. I have played with the location module now and have managed to turn everything off to do with the geocoding. However I still feel that the Location/GMap module combo is a sledgehammer to crack a nut ( and a very complicated sledgehammer ! ) in my scenario as most of the modules seem to be focussed on the discovery of the coordinates from other location related info, and I already have the cooords.
All I really want to do at this stage is store the coordinates with my custom node type and use them to embed a simple Google Map.
Any more feedback, however basic, would be appreciated as I am a nebie to Drupal and mapping.
Thanks
Dave
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LOL, you're probably right about the sledgehammer analogy. The other way to do this would be to add cck fields for lat and long and then use a computed field to manually construct and/or display the gmap.
===
"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." - Lao Tzu
"God helps those who help themselves." - Ben Franklin
"Search is your best friend." - Worldfallz
Thanks for the feedback
Thanks for the feedback Worldfalls. As a stopgap measure I have added CCK fields for lat and lon. Could you possibly elaborate on the "computed field" idea ?
Thanks
Dave
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Sure-- a computed field is a cck field that is not editable on the node/add page and allows you to code whatever you want the value to be.
You should be able to do something like:
<?php$node_field[0]['value'] = 'http://maps.google.com/maps?q=' . $node->field_lat[0]['value'] . ',' . $node->field_long[0]['value'];
?>
EDIT: corrected google maps syntax.
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Check it out: http://drupal.org/project/mapstraction
Looks like it's made to order for your use case.
Edit: checkout the cool video demo: http://www.developmentseed.org/blog/2009/apr/06/swapping-mapping-web-ser...
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Don't be a Help Vampire - read and abide the forum guidelines.
If you find my assistance useful, please pay it forward to your fellow drupalers.