#273 Geocoder

Keep in mind that doing geocode server side is not a best practice.
Google API limit is 2500 req/day (and decrease every year :))
Should be done client side with plugin like this: https://github.com/sgruhier/jquery-addresspicker

What's the difference between Geocoder and GeoKit? I've used GeoKit before and found it very good.

Here's another way to work with Google Maps: jquery-ui-map - a jQuery plugin.

http://code.google.com/p/jquery-ui-map/

Someone know how can I set intersections?

The crappy thing about using the Google Maps API is that there is a commercial restriction on the data. If your app makes money, then you need a license, which will run you $10K/year. Ouch!

I use my own helper to put the map code into the head via content for. The gem isn't worth the hassle IMO.

Awesome cast, concise and clear.

been playing with the gem but cannot figure out how to change from miles to km or is this even an option?

I was under the impression that you should use a decimal data type when storing the latitude and longitude because a float isn't precise enough, what are your thoughts on this?

If only I had known about this gem before I finished my collegiate capstone project. =(

Oh well, still won the contest =P

Hello, Ryan.

Five days ago I installed gmaps4rails gem and, since then, I'm very happy with it. So I feel compelled to testify about its easiness of use, specially with maps handling.

Just out of the box, gmaps4rails offers the ability to show a collection of items in a map, which, by the way, is also easy to set with a helper method.

I don't know if this "is" Google API or gmaps4rails, but the default map groups the items when you zoom out.

I believe that, by the default, geocoding happens after validations. And you can set your callback method.

So, Ryan, could you please make a screencast about gmaps4rails?
Thanks!

Ryan, Thanks. Your screencasts have helped me such a great deal.

Does anyone have inputs on how to find businesses between two points/along the path ?

tried this under rails 3.1 and get

    'uninitialized constant JSON::ParserError
    Rails.root: /Users/marc/src/rails/sample3.1

    Application Trace | Framework Trace | Full Trace
    app/controllers/locations_controller.rb:20:in `create'
    This error occurred while loading the following files:
       multi_json/engines/json_gem'

Any ideas?

Edit: fixed formatting - @sethvargo

Geocoder is a great gem and works perfectly fine for me until
I added will_paginate to paginate the results using .near()

@jobs = Job.near(@address, @miles).paginate(:page => params[:page], :per_page => 10)

It never gives me the correct number of items on the view which is really weird. Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

Man you are a life saver. Thanks for the episode.

Is it possible to make the method of geocoding conditional? i want to geocode by ip_address by default but if the user updates there current address, I want to then geocode by that.Anyone have ideas on how to do that? something like

class Patron < ActiveRecord::Base
  attr_accessible :ip_address, :address, :latitude, :longitude
  
  unless self.address.nil?
    geocoded_by :ip_address
  else
    geocoded_by :address
  end  
  
  after_validation :geocode 
end

How are people who are using this testing? I'm trying to find the best place to insert a hook to prevent actual geocoding during my tests.

For some reason my Nearby Locations aren't working. I haven't tried to go past that part. I've tried copy and pasting the code into the right files and it still doesn't work :(. Anyone have an idea as to what would be causing this?

How does the distance_from work? Is the distance considering the streets, the same as used on maps.google.com (by walk, by car, by bus and etc) or just straight point to point?

It looks good, but it's not ready to use in nontrivial projects, you cannot use namescopes, something like this doesn't works

Product.published.near("Barcelona", 50, :order => :distance)

:(

i am getting the following error when trying to add form for search functionality
TypeError in Locations#index

Showing c:/rails/maps/app/views/locations/index.html.erb where line #4 raised:

can't convert Symbol into Integer
Extracted source (around line #4):

1: All Locations
2: <%= form_tag locations_path, :method => :get do %>
3:
4: <%= text_field_tag :search, :params[:search] %>
5: <%= submit_tag "search near", :name => nil %>
6:
7: <% end %>
Rails.root: c:/rails/maps

FYI, anyone attempting to add search through an association:

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/8867844/model-association-issue-in-rails/8868269#8868269

Anyone know how to use this to convert a search into a zip code?

For me the application does not show the near by locations, even if I run the code as is..

Anyone had similar problems?

Would appreciate any help on how to fix this.

Thx

Hi.. I am working with geocoder.
In my model, i am having fields like location, city, state, country and Pin code/ Zip code..
With the help of Geocoder i could be able to locate the complete address including street, city, state and country.

But my requirement is i need to locate the place with the help of Zip code too...

Here is my model:

class Employee < ActiveRecord::Base
attr_accessible :name, :location, :city, :state, :country, :pincode, :latitude, :longitude
def address
[location, city, state, country].compact.join(', ')
end
geocoded_by :address
after_validation :geocode, :if => :location_changed?
end

Can anyone help me out????????????

Hi. . . another great cast. . .
Any pointers to tutorials for using ipaddress with geocoder.
I've tried a few things but have not gotten it to work.
Many thanks

Hi anyone know how to add advanced search, by name and address ...???

You sir, made my day!