GMap.NET - Great Maps for Windows Forms and Presentation

radioman.lt

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4.80/5 (135 votes)

16 Apr 2013MIT1 min read

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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!

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:

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

radioman.lt

Software Developer

Lithuania

This member has not yet provided a Biography. Assume it's interesting and varied, and probably something to do with programming.

Comments and Discussions

Re: Excellent control

radioman.lt25-May-09 8:49

radioman.lt

25-May-09 8:49

thanks

peace & serenity

Add Marker and Black Map Screen

Chris Dunne Kinetic22-Apr-09 0:02

Chris Dunne Kinetic

22-Apr-09 0:02

Hi radioman.it,

First i would like to say well done on your project very nice program Thumbs Up | :thumbsup:

Second D'Oh! and "just do it" does not add much help, sorry Thumbs Down | :thumbsdown:

Anyway, I do need your help so please give me some more assistance and get another Thumbs Up | :thumbsup:

I'm using GMap.NET_v1-1-3-7.dll is this the correct version, if not can you email me a later version to chris@kineticautomation.com I have drilled through all the SVN folders and can't find the dll. Do we have to build our own dll from source, I do not know how to do that, sorry.

Open issue 1. I can add somtimes several markers or othertimes not even one and an exception is thrown, see messages below.

Open issue 2. On one PC maps, sat and contour options work and render ok on another PC maps will not render and displays black screen sat and contour still works. Also running your demo program maps renders only seven or so tiles (1 and 1/2 rows) then stops.

I look forward to your reply in the hope to finish this code, all other functions are complete and looking good.

Regards,

Chris