YellowGreenMedia

Hi

I have a problem with google map and i wanted to know if it is just me of that more people have this problem.

The thing is that i use maps.google.com for directions so people can plan their route and yesterday i discovered a problem, because instead of planning the route i get directed to this page

has there been a change somehow that i am not aware of, and idf so how can i make this to work again?

Thanks

Dave

ogremagi

yep we are all seeing that. I havent seen a good workaround yet other than using the normal (desktop version) URL without the 'm' part. looks like crap on a device though.

jimma2k

seems fine for me.huh

WillR

Yeah, just Google stuffing everyone around yet again.

I am yet to find a proper fix for it, I just assumed it was something they had just taken down for testing or the like.

I am just using regular Google maps in the interim.

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beeswarn

Wow, that's irritating. If they keep doing things like this, Google will lose all the goodwill they've engendered from developers.

JohnE

Google directions has been down for a few weeks now, I've been using Bing instead... working so far.

mrtrance

Do you have url that you use since for mobile sites I was using this url "http://maps.google.com/m/directions" to get data . Is there a mobile equivalent from Bing that we can implement for right now?

JohnE

Here you go:

m.bing.com/directions#/Maps?q=a.<PUT START ADDRESS HERE>~a.<PUT DESTINATION ADDRESS HERE> &mode=1&autoredirect=0

(remove <'s and >'s)

mrtrance

Thanks.

Hey would you know how to incorporate this into a mobile site since I was using the below code that WillR posted in another thread:

<form method="get" action="http://maps.google.com/m/directions">
<fieldset>
<input type="hidden" name="daddr" value="DESTINATION ADDRESS"/>
<label>Enter Starting Location:</label>
<input name="saddr" type="text" class="input" />
<input type="submit" name="submit" class="button" value="Get Directions" />
</fieldset>
</form>

cashman22

I would like to know how to add that Bing url to the above structure as well.

Thanks

cashman22

Code:

http://m.bing.com/search/search.aspx?A=routepointsentry&PA=1&SI=0

I tried just replacing the Google Url with this but no luck.

JohnE

Here's one way to use it:

Use the following code for your form:

Make sure "DESTINATION ADDRESS" is replaced by yours.

Then, you need to create a php file called "directions-helper.php" (whatever you choose to name it must match the name next to "action" in the form code) with the following code:

Replace each "*" with "$" (this was the only way I could put the code on here).

You can change the width and height to your preferences.

Make sure you place the "directions-helper.php" file under the same directory as the file that contains the form.

Hope this helps,
John

mrtrance

Thanks for that code.

One question I had was what do I need to input in the "start address" and "destination address" if my code is already calling back info from other php as far as the address is concerned? I don't want it to be static, but call from a php file that has this info already and for the denstination use what the user filled in an input box I have on the there below the map of the business.

"...=a.<PUT START ADDRESS HERE>~a.<PUT DESTINATION ADDRESS HERE> &mode=1&autoredirect=0"

So I have this code on there to call up the business's address:

<input type="hidden" name="daddr" value="<?php echo $address1; ?> <?php echo $address2; ?>" />

and then below that

<label>Enter Starting Location:</label>
<input name="saddr" type="text" class="input" />
<input type="submit" name="submit" class="button" value="Get Directions" />
</fieldset>
</form>

So what should I put in as far php code goes in the "<PUT START ADDRESS HERE>" and "<PUT DESTINATION ADDRESS HERE>" spots to make your code work?

JohnE

No problem.

I just noticed that some variables in the PHP set of code were removed (by forum software) after I submitted the post:

So here's the full PHP set of code:

Replace each "*" with "$", 6 total.

Here's the HTML set of code once more:

These 2 sets of code (which live in 2 separate files) are all you need to get it to work.

The HTML set of code will show a form which already contains the destination address (specific to the website and client in question), namely:

The DESTINATION ADDRESS part needs to be replaced by your client's business address.

The HTML set of code will also show a text box for the user to enter their "start" address, and a "Get Directions" button that they will subsequently hit.

The PHP set of code already contains the "Bing Directions" URL appended with all the necessary parameters, namely:

URL:
and Parameters:
Once the user enters their "start" address and hits "Get Directions", the PHP set of code will take care of the rest - ie, show the corresponding driving directions.

You don't need anything else as far as the "showing directions" part.

Diregard all of this:

John

JohnE

If you'd like to take it a step further, use the PHP code below instead of the one above; it does the exact same thing except it adds a layer of security to the page. Your client will appreciate it, should it come up:

(Replace each "*" with "$", 6 total)

mrtrance

Just tried it your way and when I hit get directions it takes me to Bing mobile site with a empty box on top to input and the address I entered in the box on the form previously right below it. It did not spit out the street by street directions to the place of business.

Something I'm doing wrong here?

JohnE

Are you using it on a PC browser? If so, you will get redirected to the site you mentioned. As far as I know, it's a Bing redirect - nothing you can do about that.

Try it on an emulator (such as Mobilizer - not a simulator), or Safari with user-agent set to iPhone, or on an actual smart-phone. It works.

mrtrance

Yup works on my mobile now. Thanks.

JohnE

No problem, glad you got it working.

Ckventure

I have read about this issue elsewhere, however I am in the UK and google directions on my iPhone is working perfectly, for any location worldwide.

It is working both directly via the maps app and when the app opens via a map on a mobile site.

Are people having the issue on the maps app, or only from mobile sites?

Could someone expand on the issue, and possibly give me an example that I can try fom here?

Thanks CKventure

Ckventure

I am still keen to understand exactly what the issue is with google maps / directions, and to confirm if th problem does not occur in the UK.

Thanks CKventure

WillR

The only issue with all of this is...

I don't like Bing and would never use them.

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cashman22

Have you found a way to make Google Maps work?

JohnE

I can understand that with the exception that currently, I like Google Directions even less... It ain't working.

If Bing is offering a solution where Google is failing to deliver, then I say more power to them. Getting a functionality to work on a client's mobile site supersedes my personal preferences.

alivestock

i think that there is not always problem with google .its much better for me.

Ckventure

Posts continue to refer to the google maps problem, which is either not a problem in the UK or I can't see the problem.

I would be keen if someone could describe the problem.

Thanks CKventure

JohnE

The problem is with Google Directions. This is where a mobile site user puts in their location (using their smart-phone on a mobile site’s "directions page") and are given driving directions to the site owner's location.

This has been a problem over the last couple of months in the U.S. Instead of showing the actual directions, Google Directions redirects the user to an error page.

I would say that if Google Directions is working in the UK (and nearby countries), then a mobile site for a UK business should be OK, as someone in the US (with a U.S. IP address) would not, at least not likely, look to get driving directions to it (Google Maps still works).

PaulGC

I am in the UK, my demo mobile sites are hosted on US server but the directions/maps I am using are for the UK. Although I have a site with a php script that does pull in a Google map, when you tap the image it goes to the error page that was mentioned by the initiator of this thread.[Link was http://maps.google.com/m/local?q=maps.google.com/m/local?q=<?php echo rawurlencode($address1); ?> <?php echo rawurlencode($address2); ?>]

The solution is to ref the image with the url off the Google Maps page for the location you want. Once a user has tapped on the map image they can use their phone's functions and Google maps to get directions.[Link would be maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=<?php echo rawurlencode($address1); ?> <?php echo rawurlencode($address2); ?>&t=m&z=16 in my script]

In addition the separate 'Get Directions' form on my page does not work and goes to the error page that was mentioned by the initiator of this thread..

So Bing it is.

PaulGC

Having seen the Bing directions page in action a few times on my phone I'm removing it from all my sites, its rubbish; meaning it gives a very poor user experience. I'll stick to telling them to tap the map to get directions from Google Maps

ebat32

Google still works use url: Google Maps instead of "http://maps.google.com/m/directions"

Valdor Kiebach

Open streetmap is something I am keeping an eye for future use. It looks like it could be usefull.