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GMap.NET - Great Maps for Windows Forms and Presentation

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16 Apr 2013MIT1 min read 1.8M   606   508   373
GMap.NET is a powerful, free, cross platform, Open Source .NET control. It enables the use of routing, geocoding, and maps from Google, Yahoo!, OpenStreet in Windows Forms and Presentation, and supports caching!

GMapNET/GMapNETv7cp.PNG

Introduction

Google Maps are cool, yeah? But it's useful only in the browser, and is insufficient for real time tracking. It also does not have cache so Google servers are overloaded. This control removes all these deficiencies! It also gives the .NET developer unlimited ability to extend it!

GMap.NET is great and Powerful, Free, cross platform, open source .NET control. Enable use routing, geocoding, directions and maps from Google, Yahoo!, Bing, OpenStreetMap, ArcGIS, Pergo, SigPac, Yandex, Mapy.cz, Maps.lt, iKarte.lv, NearMap, OviMap, CloudMade, WikiMapia, MapQuest in Windows Forms & Presentation, supports caching and runs on windows mobile! 

Background

The basic idea is simple: get the required data from Google/etc., cache it, and use it. Fast, simple, and practical.

Using the Code

It's more than easy. GMap.NET.dll and GMap.NET.WindowsForms.dll contain the user control. Add it to your project and simply use it.

Here are the basic control initial options: 

C#
public MainForm()
{

InitializeComponent();

try
{
   System.Net.IPHostEntry e =
        System.Net.Dns.GetHostEntry("www.google.com");
}
catch
{
   MainMap.Manager.Mode = AccessMode.CacheOnly;
   MessageBox.Show("No internet connection avaible, going to CacheOnly mode.", 
         "GMap.NET - Demo.WindowsForms", MessageBoxButtons.OK,
         MessageBoxIcon.Warning);
}

// config map
MainMap.MapProvider = GMapProviders.OpenStreetMap;
MainMap.Position = new PointLatLng(54.6961334816182, 25.2985095977783);
MainMap.MinZoom = 0;
MainMap.MaxZoom = 24;
MainMap.Zoom = 9;

// add your custom map db provider
//GMap.NET.CacheProviders.MySQLPureImageCache ch = new GMap.NET.CacheProviders.MySQLPureImageCache();
//ch.ConnectionString = @"server=sql2008;User Id=trolis;Persist Security Info=True;database=gmapnetcache;password=trolis;";
//MainMap.Manager.SecondaryCache = ch;

// set your proxy here if need
//GMapProvider.WebProxy = new WebProxy("10.2.0.100", 8080);
//GMapProvider.WebProxy.Credentials = new NetworkCredential("ogrenci@bilgeadam.com", "bilgeada");

// map events
{
   MainMap.OnPositionChanged += new PositionChanged(MainMap_OnPositionChanged);

   MainMap.OnTileLoadStart += new TileLoadStart(MainMap_OnTileLoadStart);
   MainMap.OnTileLoadComplete += new TileLoadComplete(MainMap_OnTileLoadComplete);

   MainMap.OnMapZoomChanged += new MapZoomChanged(MainMap_OnMapZoomChanged);
   MainMap.OnMapTypeChanged += new MapTypeChanged(MainMap_OnMapTypeChanged);

   MainMap.OnMarkerClick += new MarkerClick(MainMap_OnMarkerClick);
   MainMap.OnMarkerEnter += new MarkerEnter(MainMap_OnMarkerEnter);
   MainMap.OnMarkerLeave += new MarkerLeave(MainMap_OnMarkerLeave);

   MainMap.OnPolygonEnter += new PolygonEnter(MainMap_OnPolygonEnter);
   MainMap.OnPolygonLeave += new PolygonLeave(MainMap_OnPolygonLeave);

   MainMap.OnRouteEnter += new RouteEnter(MainMap_OnRouteEnter);
   MainMap.OnRouteLeave += new RouteLeave(MainMap_OnRouteLeave);

   MainMap.Manager.OnTileCacheComplete += new TileCacheComplete(OnTileCacheComplete);
   MainMap.Manager.OnTileCacheStart += new TileCacheStart(OnTileCacheStart);
   MainMap.Manager.OnTileCacheProgress += new TileCacheProgress(OnTileCacheProgress);
}   
} 

As you can see, the control options are quite simple. And there is nothing more to add.

Points of Interest

Well, it was quite cryptic to figure out how Google manages tiles, what coordinate system it uses, the JSON decryption, etc.

History

Go to the project's CodePlex site to get a running update of any changes or improvements I've made.  

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The MIT License


Written By
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Comments and Discussions

 
RantThink hard before you use this software Pin
TechnologyIS19-Mar-10 1:04
TechnologyIS19-Mar-10 1:04 
GeneralRe: Think hard before you use this software Pin
radioman.lt19-Mar-10 2:27
radioman.lt19-Mar-10 2:27 
GeneralRe: Think hard before you use this software Pin
TechnologyIS21-Mar-10 5:32
TechnologyIS21-Mar-10 5:32 
GeneralRe: Think hard before you use this software Pin
radioman.lt21-Mar-10 6:23
radioman.lt21-Mar-10 6:23 
GeneralRe: Think hard before you use this software Pin
Member 387010030-Apr-10 9:06
Member 387010030-Apr-10 9:06 
GeneralRe: Think hard before you use this software Pin
BloodyBaron4-Aug-11 9:59
BloodyBaron4-Aug-11 9:59 
GeneralRe: Think hard before you use this software Pin
radioman.lt4-Aug-11 10:18
radioman.lt4-Aug-11 10:18 
GeneralRe: Think hard before you use this software Pin
RyanEK3-Jun-10 14:36
RyanEK3-Jun-10 14:36 
GeneralRe: Think hard before you use this software Pin
Joe Sonderegger14-Jan-11 10:35
Joe Sonderegger14-Jan-11 10:35 
GeneralMy vote of 1 Pin
edmachad20-Feb-10 9:03
edmachad20-Feb-10 9:03 
GeneralRe: My vote of 1 Pin
radioman.lt6-Mar-10 10:14
radioman.lt6-Mar-10 10:14 
GeneralBlank Screen Pin
Member 17623898-Feb-10 23:13
Member 17623898-Feb-10 23:13 
GeneralRe: Blank Screen Pin
radioman.lt8-Feb-10 23:23
radioman.lt8-Feb-10 23:23 
GeneralGreat article!! Pin
vsaratkar18-Jan-10 9:49
vsaratkar18-Jan-10 9:49 
GeneralRe: Great article!! Pin
radioman.lt18-Jan-10 9:56
radioman.lt18-Jan-10 9:56 
GeneralStreetView using GMap.net Pin
vsaratkar5-Jan-10 10:42
vsaratkar5-Jan-10 10:42 
GeneralRe: StreetView using GMap.net Pin
radioman.lt5-Jan-10 10:54
radioman.lt5-Jan-10 10:54 
GeneralRe: StreetView using GMap.net Pin
vsaratkar7-Jan-10 3:55
vsaratkar7-Jan-10 3:55 
QuestionHow to get direction from one location to another Pin
vsaratkar4-Jan-10 10:51
vsaratkar4-Jan-10 10:51 
AnswerRe: How to get direction from one location to another Pin
radioman.lt4-Jan-10 19:22
radioman.lt4-Jan-10 19:22 
GeneralRe: How to get direction from one location to another Pin
vsaratkar5-Jan-10 3:05
vsaratkar5-Jan-10 3:05 
QuestionError while coverting the route results with KmlType [modified] Pin
rmpandu26-Aug-09 21:45
rmpandu26-Aug-09 21:45 
AnswerRe: Error while coverting the route results with KmlType Pin
radioman.lt26-Aug-09 22:10
radioman.lt26-Aug-09 22:10 
GeneralRe: Error while coverting the route results with KmlType Pin
rmpandu27-Aug-09 21:18
rmpandu27-Aug-09 21:18 
GeneralError on loading Map Pin
Kashif Usman19-Aug-09 23:47
Kashif Usman19-Aug-09 23:47 

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