An interactive FG map

So I was playing at the drupal site (FG's engine) and found that I can add interactive google maps to posts. Cool, cool. That way people can easily find that super cool underground party. Okay... yay, is that really worth a post? No. The cool part is that you can use the module to designate a location for users and for storeys. That way each user here at FG can designate a spot on the globe where they are located. Pretty cool, right? It gets better, the module also makes a summary map of FG members and storyes with a specified location (see below... also try clicking on the marker for the member/story teaser popup).

Story Map: http://fearlessgearless.com/map/node

User Map: http://fearlessgearless.com/map/user

The thing I was not expecting was when you click on a pin, the user picture pops up (see screen capture below). How cool. So frickin' get drinking and start load up where you all be!

Yo the Wease be here beeeatch!

Adding yourself to the FG user map

Method 1:

1. Log in
2. Go to your user account ("my account" in the left nav menu)
3. Click on the "Edit" Tab
4. Click on "Location map"
5. Click and drag to move the map. Click the zoom button on the left to get closer/farther. Then click on where you want your location to be. If you screw the pooch, just click on the pin to make it disappear then try again you drunken slob!
6. Rejoice and drink some more

Method 2:

1. Log in
2. Go to the user map: http://fearlessgearless.com/map/user
3. Go to the bottom of the map, click on the link to edit your location.
4. Do like step 5 in Method 1
5. Drink and repeat as necessary

Giving a story a location:

When you create out either a story, image or blog "node" type you can asign a location to that node by using the interactive map at the bottom of the node creation form. Click and drag to postition the map. Click to put a marker where the location is. If you made a mistake click on the marker again to make it disappear and try again. This location is shown in the location map summary (http://fearlessgearless.com/map/node). It is currently NOT displayed automatically when you view the node (that would make sense eh?) because currently the map module is development and it is having issues.

Adding Maps to Posts or Events:

You can also add one off maps to posts and events. If you are logged in there will be a link in the left navigation menu that says "build a GMap macro," click on. Fiddle with the map until it what you want (including drawing lines) then at the bottom will be a text box with the map code (da macro) for your google map. Copy then paste it in the post or event you are creating and like magic the map will appear before your very eyes when you save the post. Its great for posting in the events calendar.

For example, here is an interactive map of where the Burnaby Velodrome is located:

Macro Code

[gmap |id=map |center=49.28992220230797, -122.93649673461914 |zoom=13 |width=500px |height=400px |control=Large |type=Satellite |markers=49.28902649017895,-122.94061660766602]

Resulting Map

Directions and Routes

The advantage with the macro map creation, is that you can draw routes that you take. For example, you can ride from commercial to Simon Fraser University by trail. How? The Trans Canada Trail, that's how!