Not sure if Google Maps working as it should.
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Captenaj
Joined: 2006-03-27
Posts: 43 |
Posted: Mon, 2009-08-31 02:45
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I installed the Google Maps module and I think it is working correctly. I say I think it's working because it's not what I expected. What I get is my normal picture and caption displayed and then a link on the left to "View a Google Map." When I click on that, a Google Map does indeed show up with a marker indicating the location of every picture in that album which is tagged. But what I was expecting was a Google map to appear on the same page as my picture but either to the right of it or below it. Like Picasa does with their maps. Here are my questions: Thanks for the help.
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Posts: 27300
Without a URL it is hard to see. If you add the the map 'block' to the page it should give the behavior you expect or similar anyway.
Dave
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Blog & G2 || floridave - Gallery Team
Posts: 43
Ah. Add the map block. Well that makes sense. I am now able to add the small map to both the album page and the individual photo pages. Thanks for the help. I'm still having trouble with some settings. I want the map at the bottom of the album page to zoom in to encompass an area that includes only the location of the pictures in the album, with markers in the map of where each picture was taken. Instead it shows a map of the Earth zoomed way, way out. Also, when I click on "Show a Google Map," it groups the photos together rather than show a marker for each individual photo. This is a great module but I just can't seem to tweek it the way I want. Thanks for any help offered. The album can be seen at http://elliottsnest.net/photos/v/vacations2009/superior09/ .
Posts: 27300
I think you just need to play with some of the settings.
You seem to have 2 issues:
1. Turn off the group feature.
2. I think there is a default zoom level that you can set.
Dave
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Blog & G2 || floridave - Gallery Team
Posts: 43
Thanks for the help. I have been playing with the setting for probably hours and I cannot figure this out. Actually, I finally did figure out the grouping issue. (On the Site Administration page, click on Google Map, then General Settings, then activate Marker Settings and save. Then go to the Marker Settings tab. When I unchecked Automatic Item Regroup and saved, the issue was fixed.) But I cannot figure out the zoom. Does anyone know how to set the zoom level for the maps that are on the album and photo pages? Thanks.
Posts: 508
I'm responsible for the behavior of the map block. I should probably document its behavior better. I had to cover all scenarios and tried to pick the behavior that seemed logical for each situation. I'll try to describe what it does, but I'm somewhat going off of memory here, so I might get some details wrong (but I'm referring to the code, too). If you have coordinates set for the album as well as the photos, it will use the album coordinates for the map block on the album page instead of automatically sizing the map to show all album items. If you don't have any coordinates set for the album, it will fit all the album items on the map. When it chooses the zoom level in this situation, it will normally choose the maximum zoom that will fit all the items in the album. However, when there is only one item or several grouped closely together, that method would give you a useless extremely-zoomed-in view. So, it will zoom in no closer than the closest zoom level set for any of the album items. If none of the album items have a zoom level set, it will use the main map zoom level as the maximum zoom (which is probably what's happening with you).
So, to solve your problem, you could set a higher zoom level on your main map settings, or give at least one of the items in your album a closer (higher number) zoom level.
Posts: 43
SiliconFiend, that explains a lot about how things work. Thanks. But I cannot find where to set the zoom level for any map. Can you help? Thanks.
Posts: 508
To set the zoom level for an individual item, just go to the "Edit Photo" or "Edit Album" link and click on the Google Map tab. There is a field labeled "ZoomLevel" there. It's a number from 1 to 19 (generally; sometimes the max is 17). If you click the "Get via a Map" link you can adjust the map view to the zoom that you like and then click Save and it will update (note that if you move the map on that screen, it will update the coordinates, so be careful to only use the zoom buttons). To adjust the main/default map zoom, go to the Site Admin, click the Google Map link on the sidebar and adjust the "Zoom Level" value under the General Settings tab (or use the "Get via a Map" link there).
Posts: 43
Your help is invaluable. So the only way to set the zoom is by using the "Get via a map" setting? I can deal with that. It would be great if you could just set the zoom level and have the map automatically center on the pictures in the album. Is there a way to turn off the little marker that indicates the center of the map? Thanks for all your help.
Posts: 508
No, you can type the zoom level directly into the "ZoomLevel" box when you go to Edit Photo->Google Map tab. The Get via a Map is just intended to be a helper. I'm not sure that you can both set the zoom level and have the map automatically center on all the album pictures, but you could try only setting a zoom level for the album and leaving the coordinates blank.
To get rid of the marker in the center of the map, uncheck the "Album page: Show album marker" checkbox.
Posts: 43
Got rid of the marker. Thanks. Setting the zoom level while leaving the coordinate box blank does not work; the zoom is ignored unless coordinates are entered. It looks like the only way to zoom on a photo is to set it manually for each one - a very arduous task. Thanks for all your help on these issues.