One of the requirements of Section 508 is that pages be readable without stylesheets:
§ 1194.22 (d) Documents shall be organized so they are readable without requiring an associated style sheet.
We're currently facing a problem where Google Maps do not work without styles enabled (go figure). All the different pieces of the map just print out in order with no meaning. I've attached a sample image below.
Is there any easy way to deal with this? The only thing I can think of is to use JavaScript to test to see if CSS is disabled (a terrible thing to do, I know, I know) and then remove the map div and replace it with a static map that shows the same content. (If JavaScript is disabled too it's a moot point as the map won't even load.) Obviously the static map doesn't incorporate all the same functionality (zoom, pan, etc.), but it provides a readable page. So:
Is there another way to make Google Maps 508 compliant regarding styles disabled?
If not, how would one go about testing for CSS being disabled to do the fix described above?
Example map without styles:
The Standard you are pointing to is mainly for static content. Since a Google Map is highly scripted, you would call upon the Standards in 1194.21 - Software Applications, and have a <noscript> tag following the map saying something like "Google map showing . An accessible version is at ___."
Next when testing the Map, it most likely fail to be compliant, so you should request an equivalent facilitation exception for the map from the agency's Section 508 coordinator. This allows you to serve up a Google Map, but you provide an equivalent method of getting the information. If the static method that Albert pointed to is acceptable, a link to it should be placed in proximity to the Google one,
gmaps for business does not offer this option: https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/business/accessibility
that link is to google maps for business, which i'm assuming you are not using, but its the only maps api link under the a11y policies: http://www.google.com/accessibility/policy/
there is google earth, but that's not what you want i don't think. this is sticky, and not best-practice, but you gotta do what you gotta do...since you can detect when css is off, i would run that function first on page load, if it is, serve up gmaps with a static image map fallback, if its not, only serve up the static map. i wrote a post about using static images as fallbacks, which you can use. NOTE: this doesn't include the entire functionality i just mentioned, just loading gmaps with static image fallback: http://bowdenweb.com/wp/2011/05/optimize-google-maps.html
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Using iframe to display google maps in hres. Lets say 10000x10000 don't work, because google dont allow you to do this. That's what it says when I open the document in internet explorer. I am doing this because I want to make a big screenshots of google maps and then stitch them in photoshop. This will make a big satellite map which I can use to explore off-road routes with my bike without the need to have access to the internet.
Please if anyone have any ideas; maybe an html code which works?
As mentioned #geocodezip there are certain restrictions you should be aware of. The Terms of Service has the following sentence (paragraph 10.1):
No access to APIs or Content except through the Service. You will not access the Maps API(s) or the Content except through the Service. For example, you must not access map tiles or imagery through interfaces or channels (including undocumented Google interfaces) other than the Maps API(s).
Also paragraph 10.5 says:
No derivative works. You will not modify or create a derivative work based on any Content unless expressly permitted to do so under these Terms. For example, the following are prohibited: (i) creating server-side modification of map tiles; (ii) stitching multiple static map images together to display a map that is larger than permitted in the Maps APIs Documentation; or (iii) tracing or copying the copyrightable elements of Google’s maps or building outlines and creating a new work, such as a new mapping or navigation dataset.
https://developers.google.com/maps/terms#10-license-restrictions
Is it possible to use with google api v3 something similar to this: https://earthbuilder.google.com/10446176163891957399-13737975182519107424-4/mapview/
Should I use google map engine to apply the night view overlay?
Please advice
The link no longer works, but assuming you want something like Google Maps' "night mode" (that automatically activates when navigating during night), yes, it's possible!
You need to use map styling, as described in this official documentation.
With style options you can customize the presentation of the standard Google map styles, changing the visual display of features like roads, parks, businesses, and other points of interest. This means that you can emphasize particular components of the map or make the map complement the style of your app.
(...)
To style your map, call GoogleMap.setMapStyle() passing a MapStyleOptions object that contains your style declarations in JSON format.
You can use the Maps Platform Styling Wizard as a quick way to generate a JSON styling object.
I've made a custom Google Map with custom tiles and markers for a fictitious world. It's not public yet but the most obvious correlation is mapwow.com. Is it possible to allow others to now embed MY custom map into their sites or applications? Most of the search results are second-level only (Google > My Site) and I'm ideally looking for third level (Google > My Site > Their Site). My guess is that this would be possible using a) custom URL parameters to center the viewport on a specified lon/lat and b) an IFRAME that points to that URL on my site, but I'm wondering if there is a better or "official" way to do such a thing. An IFRAME isn't really a commonly supported tag in forum or wiki software.
I currently have a map mashup that has locations that I'm populating from my own database. A few users would like to also show that map on their site(s). I'd like to give them the ability to do that, but would like to retain the actual functionality of the map on my own site: like add "stuff" to places on the map through my a web form on my site. I could open the entire API to allow them to create their own form along with the data points, but most of the people wanting to put up the map aren't developers, they are just enthusiasts that have put together a personal page that they want to spice up.
I was thinking I could just provide a JavaScript of some kind that they could then take to place on their site, or maybe an IFRAME of some type, or...any ideas? Anyone implemented this? TIA.
I haven't done anything like this myself, but I think your idea to utilise an iframe is on the right track. In fact, this is how Google Maps generates its embed code.
Your app will need to generate a URL with all relevant Google Map parameters such as bounds, zoom level as well as your application-specific params. Any event that triggers the map to re-draw (drag, zoom, etc.) will generate a new URL.
If you try the embed link in Google Maps as an example, it generates a URL that looks something like this:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&sll=45.434035,12.339057&sspn=0.003294,0.004812&ie=UTF8&ll=45.432724,12.338966&spn=0.006588,0.009624&t=h&z=17
This URL can then be wrapped up in an iframe which your end users can place on their web pages.
Re: resizing
Yes, it's possible to dynamically resize it if width/height is part of your application params that generates the embed code. Again using Google Maps as an example:
<iframe
src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&sll=45.434035,12.339057&sspn=0.003294,0.004812&ie=UTF8&ll=45.432724,12.338966&spn=0.006588,0.009624&t=h&z=17&output=embed"
width="(width-param)" height="(height-param)"></iframe>
If you mean resized by user, after it's been displayed, I'm not sure.. most likely, yes.
Well i want to upgrade contact page with dynamic map showing location and give oportunity to calculate route for comapny headquatters. Id it necessery for such simple task use Google api? i mean here generating akey etc? Fo i have any other alternatives to google maps?
There's really no reason to mess with the API at all unless you need to customize the appearance or behavior of gmaps. Why not just use an iframe with a url of:
http://maps.google.com/?q=[you-url-encoded-address-here]
or better yet, set up a textbox and a 'get directions' button to redirect that frame to:
http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=[their-address]&daddr=[your-address]
edit: this works well in modal dialog if you don't want the google logo sticking out like a sore thumb in your pageflow
You could probably embed directly with a specific URL that will configure it to have the destination you want.
By the way, well written answers are much more likely to receive useful responses here.
You could consider http://www.openlayers.org/ as an alternative to google maps.
In fact open layers can be used to add a Google map, or an OpenStreetMap map or a Bing map, etc.