Hi,
After having gone through a high level of frustration in getting something conceptually simple such as a map working or improving its resolution, I have a couple of quick updates that might be helpful.
Google Maps Static API v2
The main advantage of switching to this is that Google has added a scale feature which now allows you to obtain maps that are up to 1200x1200 in the free version. This is accomplished by choosing a 600x600 (maximum allowed for free) and then using a scale factor of 2. Note the mobile type has been removed and a new field has been added for mobile so that you can get any type of map optimized for a mobile platform.
The changes that are required from the standard mapping are as follows:
- Add a new entry in your google maps load script:
- map_scale= '2' : Use a factor of 1 if you want the current 1:1 scale or choose 2 if you want it to be 2X higher in resolution
- If you choose a scale factor of 2, the X and Y resolutions must be 1/2 of what you desire, this is to maintain all the other formulas as they are
- i.e. if you want a 400x200 resolution, choose a scale of 1 and 400x200. If you want an 800x400 map, choose a scale of 2 and 400x200.
- Update Chart Properties->Caption-Width & Height to the actual desired output resolution.
- Add the following to Chart Properties->Colors->Dynamic Image:
='http://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/staticmap?center='
&
num(var_mid_lat, '##############', '.', ',' )
&
','
&
num(var_mid_long, '##############', '.', ',' )
&
'&zoom=$(var_zoom)'
&
'&maptype='&var_maptype
&
'&size='&map_size_x&'x'&map_size_y
&
'&key='&gmap_key
&
'&sensor=false'
&
'&scale='&map_scale
Check out the documentation at http://code.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/staticmaps/ as there are other nifty features that you can add just by modifying the string above.
Using Bing Static Maps instead of Google Maps
Bing seems to have fewer restrictions on use at this time so if you are running out of views etc or want to use the competition you can try this out.
The changes that are required from the standard mapping are as follows:
- Add the following to Chart Properties->Colors->Dynamic Image:
='http://dev.virtualearth.net/REST/v1/Imagery/Map/CollinsBart/'
&
num(var_mid_lat, '##############', '.', ',' )
&
','
&
num(var_mid_long, '##############', '.', ',' )
&
'/'
&
'$(var_zoom)'
&
'?'
&
'mapSize='&map_size_x &','&map_size_y
&
'&format=jpeg'
&
'&key='&bmap_key
Check out the documentation at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff701724.aspx as there are other nifty features that you can add just by modifying the string above. For example you can have other types of maps by altering the http request above and replacing 'CollinsBart' with 'Road' for example.
One feature that is missing is that the background size can't be set programmatically using a variable as that would have allowed more automation of any resolution maps.
Enjoy!
Pramod
