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Google Maps in MVC 4 with Custom InfoWindow

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20 Aug 2013CPOL4 min read 213.1K   13.5K   92   67
A quick tutorial on using Google Maps in MS MVC 4

Introduction

I was recently investigating using Google Maps in a web-application and couldn't find a clear example that showed how to do it with MVC 4. Hopefully, this article fills that gap! Technologies used include MS C# MVC 4, jQuery, and of course, the Google Maps API.

Background

There were some "gotchas" I encountered while putting this together. The first is that (at least for me), using a jQuery selector to link my div that would contain the Google map didn't work. I had to specifically use the JavaScript document.getelementById call. The second was sizing. Using the default size (which was teeny weenie) wasn't cutting it for me, so I increased width/height. Turns out Google Map didn't like that too much. After a bit of digging, I found a post that said to create a quick in-page style that set the max-width to "none" ... then it worked.

Using the Code

Create a new MVC 4 project - this will include by default, appropriate links to jQuery and other supporting files you will need to run this tutorial.

All of the work we are doing is in the "Index view" - so go to that file and clean out any HTML, etc., you don't need.

Add in a script ref to the Google Maps API at the top of the file:

XML
<script src="http://maps.google.com/maps/api/js?sensor=true" type="text/javascript"></script> 

Somewhere near that (or in an external stylesheet if you wish), add in this tweak to ensure the map and its controls size correctly:

XML
<style> #map_canvas img{max-width:none} </style>

Here is another piece of CSS I put in - it is to style the popup infoWindow (optional) when someone clicks on a map-marker.

CSS
<style>
    .infoDiv {
    height: 200px;    
    width: 300px; 
    -webkit-user-select: none; 
    background-color: white; 
}  </style>    

Before we drop in the script-code itself, we need to create a razor "SECTION" to surround the code. The reason for this is to let MVC manage the placement of the script within the output HTML file. This is important to ensure that things are loaded in the correct order.

If you look in the view folder, you will see a folder called "Shared" - in here is "_Layout.cshtml". This is the parent wrapper for the Index view page. At the bottom, you will notice these two lines:

JavaScript
@Scripts.Render("~/bundles/jquery") 
@RenderSection("scripts", required: false)  

This tells the razor engine "render/load all the jQuery files, then once that is done, output any section marked as "scripts".

Let's go back to our view index page and add a section wrapper:

JavaScript
@section scripts { 
<section class="scripts">  
   <script type="text/javascript">
// our code will go in here...
   </script>
</section>}

Now the code that makes the magic happen:

JavaScript
<!-- This code tells the browser to execute the "Initialize" method 
         only when the complete document model has been loaded. -->
$(document).ready(function () {
    Initialize(); 
});  

Most will already know that the above is jQuery code that tells the browser only to execute the method Initialize once the entire document model has been loaded. This ensures JavaScript does not try to trigger or access an object that has not yet been created.

initialize is the main method that does all of the work

JavaScript
function Initialize() {

Google has tweaked their interface somewhat - this tells the API to use that new UI.

JavaScript
google.maps.visualRefresh = true;
var Liverpool = new google.maps.LatLng(53.408841, -2.981397);

These are options that set the initial zoom level, where the map is centered globally to start, and the type of map to show:

JavaScript
var mapOptions = {
    zoom: 14,
    center: Liverpool,
    mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.G_NORMAL_MAP
};

This makes the div with id map_canvas a Google map.

JavaScript
var map = new google.maps.Map(document.getElementById("map_canvas"), mapOptions);

This shows adding a simple pin "marker" - this happens to be the Tate Gallery in Liverpool!

JavaScript
var myLatlng = new google.maps.LatLng(53.40091, -2.994464);
var marker = new google.maps.Marker({
    position: myLatlng,
    map: map,
    title: 'Tate Gallery'
});

You can make markers different colors... Google it up!

JavaScript
marker.setIcon('http://maps.google.com/mapfiles/ms/icons/green-dot.png')

A sample list of JSON encoded data of places to visit in Liverpool, UK. You can either make up a JSON list server side, or call it from a controller using JSONResult.

JavaScript
var data = [
  { "Id": 1, "PlaceName": "Liverpool Museum", 
    "OpeningHours":"9-5, M-F","GeoLong": "53.410146", 
    "GeoLat": "-2.979919" },
  { "Id": 2, "PlaceName": "Merseyside Maritime Museum ", 
    "OpeningHours": "9-1,2-5, M-F", "GeoLong": 
    "53.401217", "GeoLat": "-2.993052" },
  { "Id": 3, "PlaceName": "Walker Art Gallery", 
    "OpeningHours": "9-7, M-F", "GeoLong": 
    "53.409839", "GeoLat": "-2.979447" },
  { "Id": 4, "PlaceName": "National Conservation Centre", 
    "OpeningHours": "10-6, M-F", "GeoLong": 
    "53.407511", "GeoLat": "-2.984683" }
];

Using the jQuery each selector to iterate through the JSON list and drop marker pins.

JavaScript
$.each(data, function (i, item) {
            var marker = new google.maps.Marker({
    'position': new google.maps.LatLng(item.GeoLong, item.GeoLat),
    'map': map,
    'title': item.PlaceName
});

Make the marker-pin blue!

JavaScript
marker.setIcon('http://maps.google.com/mapfiles/ms/icons/blue-dot.png')

Put in some information about each JSON object - in this case, the opening hours.

JavaScript
var infowindow = new google.maps.InfoWindow({
    content: "<div class='infoDiv'><h2>" + 
      item.PlaceName + "</h2>" + "<div><h4>Opening hours: " + 
      item.OpeningHours + "</h4></div></div>"
});

Finally hook up an OnClick listener to the map so it pops up an info-window when the marker-pin is clicked!

JavaScript
google.maps.event.addListener(marker, 'click', function () {
            infowindow.open(map, marker);
        });
    })
}

And that's all there is to it! ... F9 to run, nothing more to see here, move along, opening hours on the map :)

(PS: If you found this article useful or downloaded the code, please let me know by giving a rating below!)

Image 1

History

  • 1st August, 2013 - Version 1 posted, image added
  • 3rd August, 2013 - Source added
  • 7th August, 2013 - Bad format display tags removed
  • 9th August, 2013 - Added relevant search tags

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)


Written By
Chief Technology Officer SocialVoice.AI
Ireland Ireland
Allen is CTO of SocialVoice (https://www.socialvoice.ai), where his company analyses video data at scale and gives Global Brands Knowledge, Insights and Actions never seen before! Allen is a chartered engineer, a Fellow of the British Computing Society, a Microsoft mvp and Regional Director, and C-Sharp Corner Community Adviser and MVP. His core technology interests are BigData, IoT and Machine Learning.

When not chained to his desk he can be found fixing broken things, playing music very badly or trying to shape things out of wood. He currently completing a PhD in AI and is also a ball throwing slave for his dogs.

Comments and Discussions

 
AnswerRe: My vote of 5 Pin
DataBytzAI21-Oct-13 4:06
professionalDataBytzAI21-Oct-13 4:06 
QuestionChange View from Index to another Pin
Hammer4All4-Sep-13 2:24
Hammer4All4-Sep-13 2:24 
AnswerRe: Change View from Index to another Pin
DataBytzAI4-Sep-13 2:39
professionalDataBytzAI4-Sep-13 2:39 
GeneralRe: Change View from Index to another Pin
Hammer4All4-Sep-13 3:27
Hammer4All4-Sep-13 3:27 
GeneralRe: Change View from Index to another Pin
Hammer4All13-Sep-13 3:23
Hammer4All13-Sep-13 3:23 
AnswerRe: Change View from Index to another Pin
DataBytzAI14-Sep-13 2:13
professionalDataBytzAI14-Sep-13 2:13 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
Member 212808430-Aug-13 23:25
Member 212808430-Aug-13 23:25 
QuestionUseful :) Pin
timeleft24-Aug-13 12:58
timeleft24-Aug-13 12:58 
Thanks
Tan

AnswerRe: Useful :) Pin
DataBytzAI25-Aug-13 1:29
professionalDataBytzAI25-Aug-13 1:29 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
Robert J. Good20-Aug-13 9:56
professionalRobert J. Good20-Aug-13 9:56 
AnswerRe: My vote of 5 Pin
DataBytzAI25-Aug-13 1:28
professionalDataBytzAI25-Aug-13 1:28 
QuestionExcellent article. Pin
Murat Yalvaq7-Aug-13 13:49
Murat Yalvaq7-Aug-13 13:49 
AnswerRe: Excellent article. Pin
DataBytzAI8-Aug-13 0:23
professionalDataBytzAI8-Aug-13 0:23 
AnswerRe: Excellent article. Pin
DataBytzAI12-Sep-14 2:15
professionalDataBytzAI12-Sep-14 2:15 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
DrABELL7-Aug-13 10:20
DrABELL7-Aug-13 10:20 
GeneralRe: My vote of 5 Pin
DataBytzAI7-Aug-13 10:40
professionalDataBytzAI7-Aug-13 10:40 
GeneralRe: My vote of 5 Pin
DrABELL7-Aug-13 10:44
DrABELL7-Aug-13 10:44 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
Simon Jackson7-Aug-13 4:38
Simon Jackson7-Aug-13 4:38 
GeneralRe: My vote of 5 Pin
DataBytzAI7-Aug-13 5:50
professionalDataBytzAI7-Aug-13 5:50 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
Patrick Harris3-Aug-13 16:52
Patrick Harris3-Aug-13 16:52 
GeneralRe: My vote of 5 Pin
DataBytzAI7-Aug-13 5:50
professionalDataBytzAI7-Aug-13 5:50 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
Humayun Kabir Mamun2-Aug-13 0:27
Humayun Kabir Mamun2-Aug-13 0:27 
GeneralRe: My vote of 5 Pin
DataBytzAI7-Aug-13 5:50
professionalDataBytzAI7-Aug-13 5:50 

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