Some time back (Sept. 2007) I wrote a couple of posts at fmCollective on using the Google Map API in FileMaker. Back then, before I started the process, I thought it would be fairly easy. You know, build the HTML and show it in a Web Viewer*. Boy was I wrong...
First things first. The Google Map API is robust, thorough and easy to follow. It's written in JavaScript, so that's what I started with. In fact, you can download sample code right now that would work in the FileMaker Web Viewer*.
*You have three options to get something to show in the Web Viewer: 1) Host it and point to the hosted URL. You just paste that URL in the Web Viewer Setup window. 2) Save the file on your local machine and reference it locally (something like "/Users/user123/Desktop/example.html"). 3) Use the 'data uri scheme' (I'll go into that later and yes it actually works xplat in >=FM9).
Let's just say this turned into a long process. After those original posts, I submitted and got accepted for a presentation at the 2008 FileMaker Developers Conference in Phoenix. That was July of this year. By that point I'd solved many of the bigger issues (encoding the data, sending large amounts of it, dealing with server and API key issues, cross-platform issues, etc). If you were at that presentation, I hope you brought home some information you could use right away. But I still wasn't happy.
I have kept refining the mapping process since then, and I am looking forward to sharing some of what I come up with in my next few posts. Stay tuned...
Continued: Google Mapping Origins*
can't get the $htmlMessage or the Yahoo status response code
I got the phoogle class and the php script to geocode addresses from Filemaker.
I have one thing I can't figure out. In the addAddress function, the $htmlMessage is null addAddress($address, $htmlMessage=null). Shouldn't I pass in the $htmlMessage to the function.
I don't know how to get the error response status code from Yahoo. It prints out on my map. Its either a 503,400, or 403. Do you have any ideas? I can't print out a list of invalid points or a table because it is in the WEb Viewer in Filemaker. I would like to capture the response someway?
Another question is why does Phoogle class use Yahoo geocodes instead of Google? You mention in your Filemaker conference proceedings that you have to trap for 620 errors. I don't get 620 errors. I only get 400, 403 or 503 from Yahoo. I would really like to trap for those errors but I can't figure out how to get the $htmlMessage.
thanks,
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