Google Maps Mashup Tutorial
Every business is looking for customers, and customers are looking for businesses and other destinations whose locations they do not know. Google Maps has long been one of the most popular websites from which people seek to find directions to their destination. In an effort to be proactive, many businesses and organizations have found that posting maps to their location(s) provide a good customer experience. It is now easier than ever to bring interactive maps into websites using the Google Mashup services without programming knowledge.
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Instructions
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Register and create a free Google Maps account. All work while creating the Google Map “Mashup” is done through a browser such as Internet Explorer or Firefox. Although no programming knowledge is required the use of an HTML editor is encouraged.
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Login to the Google Maps account. Perform a search for the location that will appear in the custom map.
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Click on the “My Maps” link. The “My Maps” section is where customized maps are stored for later retrieval or modification.
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Click on the “Create New Map” link. This will allow the creation of a custom map. Enter a title for the new map. There is also an option for entering a description for the map.
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Click on the radio button next to either “Public” or “Unlisted.” These are privacy settings designating who will be able to view the map. Click the “Save” button.
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Click the “Link” hyperlink located on the right side of the Web page just above the map. This will reveal the HTML code needed to add the map to a website that creates the “Mashup.”
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Copy the HTML code from the Google Maps Web page and paste it into the appropriate content area of the HTML editor used to create the custom Web page.
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Preview the Web page in Internet Explorer or Firefox to see the interactive Google Map Mashup appear as part of the website.
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Tips & Warnings
Search for the location before click on the “My Maps” link. If the map is later determined to be inaccurate, it can be modified and saved again. The map will update itself on the web page automatically. Maps can also be shared by email.
Be cautious about designating a map as “Public.” This means that everyone can see the map. Always check the accuracy of the map. Mapping service data are sometimes inaccurate.
References
- Photo Credit Pixland/Pixland/Getty Images
