Android Tutorial (old) Google Maps Android v2 tutorial

If you are using B4A v5.80+ then please follow this tutorial: https://www.b4x.com/android/forum/threads/google-maps.63930/#post-404386

GoogleMaps library requires v2.50 or above.

GoogleMaps library allows you to add Google maps to your application. This library requires Android 3+ and will only work on devices with Google Play service.

This tutorial will cover the configuration steps required for showing a map.

1. Download Google Play services - From the IDE choose Run AVD Manager and then choose Tools - SDK Manager. Select Google Play services under the Extras node and install it:

2. Copy google-play-services.jar to the libraries folder - This file is available under:

C:\<android sdk>\extras\google\google_play_services\libproject\google-play-services_lib\libs (ignore the extra space that the forum script insists on adding)

You should copy it to the libraries folder.

2.5. Download the attached library, unzip it and copy to the libraries folder.

3. Find the key signature - Your application must be signed with a private key other than the debug key. After you select a new or existing key file (Tools - Private Sign Key) you should reopen the private key dialog. The signature information will be displayed (increase the dialog size as needed).
The value after SHA1 is required for the next step:

4. Create an API project - Follow these steps and create an API project.
You should follow the steps under "Creating an API Project" and "Obtaining an API key".

Tips:
- Make sure to select "Google Maps Android API v2" in the services list and not one of the other similar services.
- Under "Simple API Access" you should select "Key for Android apps (with certificates".

5. Add the following code to the manifest editor:

AddManifestText( <permission
          android:name="$PACKAGE$.permission.MAPS_RECEIVE"
          android:protectionLevel="signature"/>
      <uses-feature android:glEsVersion="0x00020000" android:required="true"/>)

AddApplicationText(<meta-data
    android:name="com.google.android.maps.v2.API_KEY"
    android:value="AIzaSyCzspmxxxxxxxxxxxxx"/>
<meta-data android:name="com.google.android.gms.version"
android:value="@integer/google_play_services_version"
    />)
AddPermission(android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE)

You should replace the value after android:value with the key you received in the previous step.

6. Add an #AdditionalRes attribute to the main activity:

You should add a reference to Google play resources by adding the following line:

#AdditionalRes: <google-play-services res folder>, com.google.android.gms

For example:

#AdditionalRes: C:\android-sdk-windows\extras\google\google_play_services\libproject\google-play-services_lib\res, com.google.android.gms

Run the following code:

'Activity module
Sub Process_Globals

End Sub

Sub Globals
   Dim mFragment As MapFragment
   Dim gmap As GoogleMap
   Dim MapPanel As Panel
End Sub

Sub Activity_Create(FirstTime As Boolean)
   MapPanel.Initialize("")
   Activity.AddView(MapPanel, 0, 0, 100%x, 100%y)
   If mFragment.IsGooglePlayServicesAvailable = False Then
      ToastMessageShow("Google Play services not available.", True)
   Else
      mFragment.Initialize("Map", MapPanel)
   End If
End Sub
Sub Map_Ready
   Log("map ready")
   gmap = mFragment.GetMap
   If gmap.IsInitialized = False Then
      ToastMessageShow("Error initializing map.", True)
   Else
      gmap.AddMarker(36, 15, "Hello!!!")
      Dim cp As CameraPosition
      cp.Initialize(36, 15, gmap.CameraPosition.Zoom)
      gmap.AnimateCamera(cp)
   End If
End Sub

You should see:

If you see a "white map" then there is most probably a mismatch between the: package name, sign key and the API key (from the manifest editor).

Google documentation: https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/android/intro
Note that there is a required attribution which you must include in your app (see above link). You can get the string by calling MapFragment.GetOpenSourceSoftwareLicenseInfo.

V1.01: Fixes a bug in AddMarker2.

 

[NJDude]

Nice!!!

 

[thedesolatesoul]

Nice :icon_clap:
Just a few things...where did B4A v2.40 go?
Google restricts map api access to 25,000 requests I think.

 

[Erel]

Google restricts map api access to 25,000 requests I think.

This API doesn't have a usage limit: https://developers.google.com/maps/faq#usage_apis

Just a few things...where did B4A v2.40 go?

The next update is a large one. It deserves two points

 

[warwound]

Great - at last we'll have support for Google's MapView.

I've been researching a bit and everything i've read says that it'll work on Froyo and later devices.
Does that mean that the B4A implementation will work only on Honeycomb and later (for technical reaons maybe due to Fragment support?) or is there an error in the first post and the B4A implementation will work on Froyo and later?

Anyone with a little time to spare might like to read this blog: Cyril Mottier » The Google Maps Android API v2 utopia.
Written by a chap that's very familiar with the original version of the android maps library, he's not very positive and says at the end of the day the released version 2 is buggy and ought to have been a beta release.

(Can't be any worse than all the current 3rd party mapping libraries i think - they tend to be an ongoing bug-fix).

Martin.

 

[thedesolatesoul]

This API doesn't have a usage limit: https://developers.google.com/maps/faq#usage_apis

Ah, nice, I should read more closely. Thanks.

The next update is a large one. It deserves two points

Oh, boy. I'm hearing lots of good things about this one!

 

[Erel]

Does that mean that the B4A implementation will work only on Honeycomb and later

Yes. The implementation is based on fragments.

 

[rbsoft]

Just what I need for my next project...

 

[Erel]

The beta version is now available. If you like you can test it.

 

[bluedude]

Marker click event

Hi Erel,

Testing the map view and it works great and fast (loaded thousands of points). Is there a Marker click event?

Cheers,

 

[Erel]

There is a click event. Check the events of MapFragment (write sub and then press on tab). I'm not in front of a computer so I cannot check it myself.

 

[bluedude]

Erel,

Ok, found it and works.

 

[walterf25]

Google API

Hi Erel, i'm trying to update one of my apps, i need to include google maps, i'm following your instructions, everything runs great except i do not see the map just a white screen, i double checked the api key number and everything seems to be ok, i need your help, maybe you can figure out what i'm doing wrong?

attached is an image showing my api key and the information extracted from my private sign key.



and here's is my manifest file:

AddManifestText(
<uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="4" android:targetSdkVersion="14"/>
<supports-screens android:largeScreens="true"
android:normalScreens="true"
android:smallScreens="true"
android:anyDensity="true"/>)
SetApplicationAttribute(android:icon, "@drawable/icon")
SetApplicationAttribute(android:label, "$LABEL$")


AddManifestText( <permission
android:name="$PACKAGE$.permission.MAPS_RECEIVE"
androidrotectionLevel="signature"/>
<uses-feature android:glEsVersion="0x00020000" android:required="true"/>)

AddApplicationText(<meta-data
android:name="com.google.android.maps.v2.API_KEY"
android:value="AIzaSyBYVvwzpy--3K6qLNebS518QcvdMsl49wE"/>)

hopefully you can give me some tips on how to fix this issue!

Thanks,
Walter

 

[Erel]

Have you enabled the correct Google maps service?

 

[walterf25]

Google Maps

Hi Erel, thanks yeah i did not realize i had not installed google maps on my device, just installed it and everything works like a charm, thanks this is awesome!

:sign0060:

 

[JTmartins]

Google Play Services

I copied google-play-services executable jar file to internal libs of B4A.

However no new lib appears in my B4A even after restarting B4A...What's missing ?

Version 2.02 here

Thanks

Jose

 

[fboneol]

I have the same problem. the google play services lib is not listed.

 

[JTmartins]

GoogleMaps - v1.00

I think this is what is missing The library GoogleMaps - v1.00, which I can't find to download, but it is mentioned in the documentation tab.

Thanks

José

 

[imbault]

Same problem with the 2.5beta 4 I've just downloaded

Patrick

 

[Erel]

The library is now attached to the first post...