My Iteration 3

For iteration 3 I decided to add Google map markers to my existing Google map. I wanted the markers to represent information about Dogs in the Pinckney area. I added the search to my existing map and was able to input searches and get the results I wanted. However, I found that the search dialog box didn’t show up when I used Firefox! I goofed with that for a long time with no solution so I decided to start over. I grabbed the code to create a map on my page then added the search dialog and that worked with both browsers. I didn’t realize, at the time, that I was using the “local search” feature, but, after I realized that fact I figured it would be good since I wanted a local search.

My goal was to have a couple buttons that a user could click to do predefined searches. In my case they would be for Veterinarians and Kennels. And, actually, that part was easy because it was a basic feature of the local search map. However, I didn’t count on this other “default” feature: “By default, when a search completes, the search results are placed on your map and they are also listed in tabular form above the search form input.” The tabular form obliterated the map points that I was trying to show.

I spent hours looking for a clue about how to get rid of the tabular result list but I couldn’t find anything. I wasn’t even sure what to call that “feature” so it was difficult to search for answers. I finally pasted one of the map URLs into my browser and found what I was looking for.

The nice thing about adding google.maps.LocalSearch() to your Google map is that it allows you to pre-load the search so you can do (in my case) an “execute('veterinarians')” or “execute('kennels')” search by clicking on a button.

// These options will be applied to the search dialog
var options = {

//This text shows in the search dialog

searchFormHint: 'Click a Button or, type here!',

// This stops the initial info window from poping up

suppressInitialResultSelection: true,

//sets the map zoom limit

zoomLimit: 13,

// This suppresses the TAB LIST that obliterates the map points!

resultList : google.maps.LocalSearch.RESULT_LIST_SUPPRESS

};

// This creates the Search Object "mySearch" with the above options

map.addControl(mySearch = new google.maps.LocalSearch(options));

// These are the onClick events for the search buttons which use
//mySearch object and the execute method

function displaySearch(search_string) {

if (search_string == "vet")

{

mySearch.execute('veterinarians');

}

else if (search_string == "kennel") {

mySearch.execute('kennels');

}

}
// HTML Buttons that preform a "predefined" search when clicked

This isn't a detailed description of exactally what you need but, it may give you some ideas of what you can do with Google Maps. I was very surprised to learn how much you can do to customize your map and really amazed at all the Methods and Options.