#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!

any one have solution to find area near to the zip_code i try near method but it will give me all the area which has the same zip_code it can not find near zip_code area so any one have solution then reply me... thanx

i use ex:-> @something = SomeThing.near(params[:search])
in params[:search] i found zip_code of the city like (10001)

if any one have solution of this please reply me

Hello,

I am having issues with the near by locations not showing up in my application. Any ideas as to why or what i need to do to fix it? I followed the tutorial and no luck. Thanks!

I am trying to use geocoder gem to geocode address into latitude and longitude. However when I create a new record, it only records the address string but doesn't contain the latitude and longitude of the given address.
I am behind a proxy, but I have my proxy variable set.

What could be the problem here ?

Looks like there's an typo in the ascii casts in the listing for /app/views/locations/show.html.erb

The first few lines look like it was duplicated and pasted in in the wrong place.

I did everything as given in the tutorial, but somehow i couldn't seem to generate latitude and longitude automatically when i leave the values blank.

Throws an error infact in "show.html.erb" in this particular line
//
<% for location in @location.nearbys(10) %> -> error line

undefined method `each' for nil:NilClass -> error
//

Can any1 pls help. Thanks in advance.

PS: Im using rails 4 so i don't have to write the attr_accessible line. Just to mention.

How does Geocoder comply with section 10.1.3b in the Google Maps TOS?

No Pre-Fetching, Caching, or Storage of Content. You must not pre-fetch, cache, or store any Content, except that you may store: (i) limited amounts of Content for the purpose of improving the performance of your Maps API Implementation if you do so temporarily (and in no event for more than 30 calendar days), securely, and in a manner that does not permit use of the Content outside of the Service; and (ii) any content identifier or key that the Maps APIs Documentation specifically permits you to store. For example, you must not use the Content to create an independent database of "places" or other local listings information.

How to fix this error "Geocoding API not responding fast enough (use Geocoder.configure(:timeout => ...) to set limit)"

How to fix this error "Geocoding API not responding fast enough (use Geocoder.configure(:timeout => ...) to set limit)"

I have configured timeout as 20 but still I get same error.

I'm actually interested in the nearby function. So what I want is that when a user(x) logs in his/her location (lat/long) is calculated and the updated in the database. If another user(y) logs in the nearby function should be able to check if user x is in a 50 mile radius or not. If yes then show it on the main page.... How do I do that please help.

Just kidding super awesome tutorial.... Great work

Just kidding super awesome tutorial.... Great work