Enables easy Google map + overlays creation in Ruby apps

Google Maps for Rails ¶ ↑

Gmaps4rails is developed to simply create a Google Map with overlays (markers, infowindows…). Yet it's backed on a very flexible codebase which could be prone to accept other map providers.

Use it with any Ruby app (I guess you could simply take the js anywhere if you like).

Here is a quick tutorial on youtube, and my presentation on speaker deck.

For live examples, see here.

A note for < 2.x users¶ ↑

Google-Maps-for-Rails-2.0 is an important rewrite to keep the minimum code and features. If you're migrating from previous versions, you may want to read the rationale about it.

Requirements¶ ↑

1) Gemfile

gem 'gmaps4rails'

2) HTML

Add a div to bear your map, example:

<div style='width: 800px;'>
  <div id="map" style='width: 800px; height: 400px;'></div>
</div>

3) Javascript Dependencies:

Insert google scripts in your dom:

<script src="//maps.google.com/maps/api/js?key=[your API key]"></script>
<script src="//cdn.rawgit.com/mahnunchik/markerclustererplus/master/dist/markerclusterer.min.js"></script>
<script src='//cdn.rawgit.com/printercu/google-maps-utility-library-v3-read-only/master/infobox/src/infobox_packed.js' type='text/javascript'></script> <!-- only if you need custom infoboxes -->

You'll require underscore.js too, see here: underscorejs.org/ (`lo-dash` is compatible too, your choice!).

4) Javascript source code

If you have the asset pipeline, add this:

//= require underscore
//= require gmaps/google

If you don't have asset pipeline, you'll need to import the js OR coffee files:

rails g gmaps4rails:copy_js

rails g gmaps4rails:copy_coffee

5) Javascript code:

Create your map:

handler = Gmaps.build('Google');
handler.buildMap({ provider: {}, internal: {id: 'map'}}, function(){
  markers = handler.addMarkers([
    {
      "lat": 0,
      "lng": 0,
      "picture": {
        "url": "http://people.mozilla.com/~faaborg/files/shiretoko/firefoxIcon/firefox-32.png",
        "width":  32,
        "height": 32
      },
      "infowindow": "hello!"
    }
  ]);
  handler.bounds.extendWith(markers);
  handler.fitMapToBounds();
});

6) Add options:

You're likely going to want to customize your maps by passing an options object. Using the example above, let's say you'd like to disable the map controls. This and any other options you can find in the Google Maps API reference can be passed into the `provider` options hash like so:

handler = Gmaps.build('Google');
handler.buildMap({
    provider: {
      disableDefaultUI: true
      // pass in other Google Maps API options here
    },
    internal: {
      id: 'map'
    }
  },
  function(){
    markers = handler.addMarkers([
      {
        "lat": 0,
        "lng": 0,
        "picture": {
          "url": "http://people.mozilla.com/~faaborg/files/shiretoko/firefoxIcon/firefox-32.png",
          "width":  32,
          "height": 32
        },
        "infowindow": "hello!"
      }
    ]);
    handler.bounds.extendWith(markers);
    handler.fitMapToBounds();
  }
);

You can see other examples of adding `provider` options in the live examples. Also, check the wiki for further documentation on the possible JavaScript methods.

Generating JSON¶ ↑

In your controller:

@users = User.all
@hash = Gmaps4rails.build_markers(@users) do |user, marker|
  marker.lat user.latitude
  marker.lng user.longitude
end

In your view:

<script>
    markers = handler.addMarkers(<%=raw @hash.to_json %>);
</script>

Easily customizable¶ ↑

You can change almost everything with a few lines of code. See details here.

Options¶ ↑

• Markers with Info window, Custom Picture, RichMarkers (make your own markers with custom html)

• Circles, Polylines, Polygons, Kml

• Refresh your map on the fly with Javascript (and Ajax)

• More details in the Wiki

Todo?¶ ↑

Feel free to contact us, you have your say.

Copyright¶ ↑

MIT license.

Author: Benjamin Roth

Contributors