Solved: Re: Google map and pin in PowerApps

Anonymous · ‎06-26-2016

Hi, I am doing my best to learn the PowerApps program but i am having difficulty getting google maps to work. I want to make an app that starts with google maps with a pin set to my location and i can move it around. Do i put my google api code in spmewhere on the google drive connection?

hngdev · ‎06-27-2016

Hello there,

As far as I know, we can't apply dynamic maps into the app yet. However, you are still able to do it by using Google static map.

Here is the link to Google static map.

Basically, it returns a link to a png file then you can use that file with Image controller to display the maps.

For example,

This is the link that Google Static Map will return:

https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/staticmap?center=[latitude], [longitude]&zoom=18&size=600x600&key=[Your_Google_API_Key]&markers=color:red%7Clabel:A%7C[latitude], [longitude]

In PowerApps studio, create a Image controller with the Image property of the link above:

The result:

View solution in original post

hngdev · ‎06-27-2016

did you test the link with the browser? did it work?

I checked on my browser by this link (there are no spaces in the link), it works:

https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/staticmap?center=40.7128,-74.0059&zoom=18&size=600x600&key=[API_KEY]&markers=color:red%7Clabel:A%7C40.7128,-74.0059

if it works, it may be the issue from the studio.

In studio, make sure you put the link inside the double quotes (""), if you copy the one with the double quotes in the solution, make sure you replace them by typing the new one.

what happen is that the browser may use a different encoder from the one that the studio use.

Anyways, try to make it work with the browser first.

View solution in original post

hngdev · ‎06-27-2016

Hello there,

As far as I know, we can't apply dynamic maps into the app yet. However, you are still able to do it by using Google static map.

Here is the link to Google static map.

Basically, it returns a link to a png file then you can use that file with Image controller to display the maps.

For example,

This is the link that Google Static Map will return:

https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/staticmap?center=[latitude], [longitude]&zoom=18&size=600x600&key=[Your_Google_API_Key]&markers=color:red%7Clabel:A%7C[latitude], [longitude]

In PowerApps studio, create a Image controller with the Image property of the link above:

The result:

Anonymous · ‎06-27-2016

Thank you for the help. I got an api key for a static map, inserted it into the formula you gave me and put that in the image credentials and i am recieving an unexpected token error and there's no display. Do you know why this is happening?

hngdev · ‎06-27-2016

did you test the link with the browser? did it work?

I checked on my browser by this link (there are no spaces in the link), it works:

https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/staticmap?center=40.7128,-74.0059&zoom=18&size=600x600&key=[API_KEY]&markers=color:red%7Clabel:A%7C40.7128,-74.0059

if it works, it may be the issue from the studio.

In studio, make sure you put the link inside the double quotes (""), if you copy the one with the double quotes in the solution, make sure you replace them by typing the new one.

what happen is that the browser may use a different encoder from the one that the studio use.

Anyways, try to make it work with the browser first.

Anonymous · ‎06-28-2016

Alright i got it working thank you. I hope they incorporate a dynamic map soon.

hngdev · ‎06-28-2016

You're welcome.

markvogt7 · ‎01-03-2017

To the guy who "got it working" - what you DID is actually the key to helping the rest of us! 😉 ...

Please share what it took to finally get the GoogleAPI to the static map image working.

I'm experiencing the same "unexpected token" error, and when I try to paste this same URL simply into a browser, I get the message

The Google Maps API server rejected your request. This API project is not authorized to use this API. Please ensure this API is activated in the Google Developers Console: https://console.developers.google.com/apis/api/static_maps_backend?project=_

I'm brand-new to Google Maps API, so it's mostly a newbie question about "enabling the API" I think.

I'm not clear on the distinction between the "project" that GOOGLE forces you to create, and the PowerApps application "project" in which I actually WANT to use this URL:

https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/staticmap?center=40.7128,-74.0059&zoom=18&size=600x600&key=[Mar... generated Google API key]&markers=color:red%7Clabel:A%7C40.7128,-74.0059

Each time I browse to the Google Developer's console for the API key, I see a "Enable API" button, but when I click on it, NOTHING happens. It's all very frustrating being a veteran developer (decades literally), but a total newbie with the Google API 😉 ...

I'll keep at this, and when I discover my own little trip-ups, I'll come back & update this post 🙂

-Mark Vogt

################### 30 MINUTES LATER ... #####################

OK - I got it working... and it WAS all about my newbies-not-understanding-GoogleDeveloperAPI administration.

It turns out I HADN'T actually "enabled" the API; I was clicking on a button labeled "Enable API" (NOT "Enable APIs" like I've seen in other literature, so being reasonable I thought clicking on an button labeled "Enable API" would in fact enable what I thought was some large "API" encompassing all things Google - this was a MIS-conception on my part.

So if you're brand-spanking new to trying to use Google Maps in your PowerApps, here is my "primer" on specifically (no generalizing) what I did to embed a static Google Map into an image control on a screen in a PowerApps application:

HOW TO EMBED A BASIC GOOGLE STATIC MAP IMAGE IN YOUR POWERAPPS APPLICATION:

GET YOURSELF A GOOGLE DEVELOPER API KEY...

BROWSE to https://console.developers.google.com

LOGIN with your google account (if you DON'T yet have a google account [eg. markevogt@gmail.com], then go get one)

=> your browser displays the default Google Developer Console (https://console.developers.google.com/iam-admin/projects)

CLICK on button "Create Project"

=> Create Project Dialog Box displays

ENTER a new name which identifies to Google what this API key will be used to access;

for my PowerApps mobile application, I called my associated Google project "WP Reporter",

since this is a little waypoint-capturing mobile app;

=> on-the-fly a new unique GoogleProjectID will be generated and displayed right in the dialog box; I DON'T know

how important it is to keep this ID secure, so I'll lie and say it is "snugglyrabidchinchilla123";

CLICK "Create Project" button on dialog box

=> Google Developer Console provisions a new "google project" and displays it in a list

NAVIGATE to the Google Console Project Page for this project

CLICK on the Dashboard tab

CLICK on button "Enable API" (which DOESN'T actually enable any API)

=> Library tab auto-selects, and a list of ALL of Google APIs are displayed

NAVIGATE/FIND the API named Google Static Maps API
CLICK on the link to Google Static Maps API

=> Google Static Maps API "Enablement" Page displays

CLICK on button "Enable"

=> the page updates its content

CLICK on button "Create Credentials"

=> the AddCredentialsToYourProject Page displays

CLICK on button "What Credentials Do I Need?"

=> Google GENERATES a new API key - yay !!!

Here's what a key looks like (deliberately polluted slightly): AIzaSyAF9Mh6B7EKgbSc_Riur9fodXwovTrfy38

CLICK "Done" button

=> you now have a Google "project" - more like a virtual "usage account" pretty much used by Google to CONTROL (throttle, admin, etc) how much of Google cool resources you use. YOU reference this API key in your URL, Google parses this API key out of the URL, then uses it to look up the "project", see how many requests you've made, and eventually THROTTLES how many requests it permits... that sort of control

USE YOUR NEW GOOGLE DEVELOPER API KEY IN A BROWSER...

COMPOSE a URL query which calls the Google Static Maps API, and includes your API key as a querystring parameter:

https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/staticmap?center=40.7128,-74.0059&zoom=18&size=600x600&key=AIza...

PASTE this into a browser to confirm it works (remember I POLLUTED the API key here)

NOW IN YOUR POWERAPPS PROJECT...

ADD a new screen

ADD an Image control to the screen

CONFIGURE the "Image" property of the Image control with this same URL - WRAPPED IN DOUBLE QUOTES:
"https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/staticmap?center=40.7128,-74.0059&zoom=18&size=600x600&key=AIza..."

=> the image will update in REAL-TIME (that's what PowerApps "data flow" live data binding is handy for) 🙂

LATER...
REPLACE all hard-coded references to a LAT/LONG with PowerApps "Location.Latitude" and "Location.Longitude", and you'll be capturing not only LAT/LONGs in your mobile app, but you'll have a nice image to CONFIRM you got the location right.

Hope others benefit from this newbie step-through!

🙂

Cheers,

-Mark Vogt

Anonymous · ‎03-06-2017

Great post Mark.

Is it possible to insert a more dynamic map into PowerApps? It would be nice to have a map that a user can zoom in/out on. Or give direction from the current device's location the specified location and update at the user travels. Or even add the street view.

Mike8 · ‎03-07-2017

Thank you markvogt7. It works fine.
If you also have any ideas how to make the map zoom in and out please let us know.

Anonymous · ‎03-26-2017

Hi guys

I am close to the end of Marks glorious instructions however, My map/image control keeps bringing up a picture/map of a very far away foreign location...

Any suggestions?

Regards
Lorcan