target="_blank" Google Maps

[incrediblehelp]

Any idea why when I add target="_blank" to the link code into Google Map
balloons it disappears? I am trying to make it so the links inside the
balloons open in a new window, because it is not ideal to open a page
in the small map window. Not sure if their are many Google Maps pros out there.

Here is the map I created and embedded on my clients website:

Hawaiian Pool Builders Swimming Pool Directory for Ohio and Michigan


Thanks for your help.

[carpediem]

Hi Incrediblehelp,

Glancing at the code, it looks as though there is a Google Map embedded in an IFRAME on the page. This would require the use of target=”_top” to draw on the parent page, or as you have suggested, target=”_blank” to open another window/tab.

The Google Maps code itself is obfuscated, and is difficult to look through – it appears as though some sort of map generator was used to create it. Typically, markers are added to maps using the following javascript:

var marker = new GMarker(point);
map.addOverlay(marker);
marker.openInfoWindowHtml(‘<a href=”url” target=”_blank”>Link</a>’);

Where “map” is the Google Map object. The JavaScript code seems to be using arrays to define the points, so there may not be a mechanism built-in to add the target parameter to the link URLs.


Hope that helps!



~D

[incrediblehelp]

Thanks D. Yup I used the new Google My Maps feature and by-passed using the Maps API.

[carpediem]

I briefly looked through the new MyMaps feature of Google Maps and cannot find any settings or options that allow a target to be set for the links within the map.

I am used to using the Google Maps API which is more flexible than the MyMaps, but obviously much more difficult to use than MyMaps. Depending on the complexity of your map requirements, you may want to look into using the API as opposed to the MyMaps interface.

Failing that, there may be some HTML/JS trick to assign a target to the IFRAME itself. Setting a base target on your main page won't translate to the IFRAME, and the W3C spec does not allow for a target parameter within an IFRAME tag, so offhand I am not sure how to accomplish that, either. Perhaps there is a way to create a JavaScript object from the IFRAME and assign a target to it?

Hope that helps.


~D

[incrediblehelp]

D I have looked at the API and was setting the map up this way, but using My Maps is a lot easier, especially for the client to manage. Thanks for your feedback thus far. Any other ideas out there?

[wige]

I don't suppose you have a link to documentation for creating MyMaps maps do you? I did a few searches but couldn't find anything. Not sure if I need an account first or something.

[incrediblehelp]

wige maybe here?

Maps Help

[wige]

Now why couldn't I find that...

Anyway, I set up a test map and entering the points manually I was able to get it to accept the target="_blank" attribute. However they strip that tag when you log out. I think that this falls into their "suspicious tags" definition. Best thing I can think to try is using a javascript instead.

[incrediblehelp]

Originally Posted by wige

However they strip that tag when you log out. I think that this falls into their "suspicious tags" definition. Best thing I can think to try is using a javascript instead.

Yeah mine was stripped out to. I will play with JavaScript more.

[computergenius]

I don't know if this is any help to you, but if you look at
Map of Cartama, Malaga, Andalucia
the balloon on the left has a link to another site, which opens in another tab.

The whole page is created from a database.

If there is anything there that you want to use, or need clarification on, please ask.

[incrediblehelp]

Did you use the API or the new My Maps feature? Looks like the API to me. I am trying to figure it out when using the new My Maps feature.

[computergenius]

Originally Posted by incrediblehelp

Did you use the API or the new My Maps feature? Looks like the API to me. I am trying to figure it out when using the new My Maps feature.

Yes, it's the API.

You seem to be determined to do it the hard way (:->

You say "using My Maps is a lot easier, especially for the client to manage" -
what is it that you want the client to be able to do?

And when you say client, I assume that you been the website owner?

[incrediblehelp]

Yeah the website owner, so they add and change balloons, land marks, text and so forth. Maybe I need to look at the API again.

[computergenius]

I did that somewhere, a project that is "going to be finished one day". I will see what I can find, although I am not sure what the site owner could do - I know that they could slide a balloon around, and activate it, but I am not sure what else.

It works through a control panel page, and changes the data in a SQL database. All my pages on Hot Costa are built from databases.

Would that be any help to you?

[incrediblehelp]

Well I just tried this Javascript method:

Click here for the <a href="http://www.hawaiianpoolbuilders.com/adrian-pools.html" onclick="return !window.open(this.href);">Adrian, Michgan Swimming Pool</a> page.

and that doesnt work either.

[incrediblehelp]

Pete mostly so they can edit themselves in the balloons. Don't want anything more "codie" than the My Maps set up or it will be to hard for them to edits on their own.

[incrediblehelp]

Good thread on this here:

Google Embeddable Maps Issue

[TrafficProducer]

KML is a file format used to display geographic data in an Earth browser, such as Google Earth, Google Maps, and Google Maps for mobile. KML uses a tag-based structure with nested elements and attributes and is based on the XML standard.

GoogleMapBuilder, a spreadsheet-to-map utility. The first DIY tool on the web that allows you to create an interactive Google Map on your website with "point-and-click" ease.

Google Mapplets are mini-applications that you can embed within the Google Maps

[TrafficProducer]

Sorry posted twice, it's late and I off to bed.

[computergenius]

Originally Posted by incrediblehelp

Don't want anything more "codie" than the My Maps set up

I see, you want them to re-code the page(s).

In my solution, they fill in boxes on screen, (like the one that I am filling in now <G>), the pre-written code puts the data into a database, and the page displays information from the database.

Different to what you are doing, obviously.

[pagetta]

I'm not sure if the way you're doing it it would be possible to do this but i added css to my google map to make the text and box smaller so it fitted better on my page as my map was about the same size as yours

[okparrothead]

Hi all!

Incredible,

I use this jscript to open in a new window:

onclick="this.target='_blank';"

I'm no jscript wizard, so this may not work for you.

Also,

I tried to use the MyMaps function this morning and for the location I was needing, it displayed a different location on google maps site than was displayed using the scriptlet it generated for me. Bogus data somewhere.

I'll try the API.

Peace

[wige]

The more I play around with this, including using a few different variations of javascripts, and also after reading through a lot of Google Groups posts on the issue, it seems that Google has put filtering code in to disallow any javascripts or target tags. They seem to filter out automatically when the page is saved, probably to force developers to use the API.

[incrediblehelp]

Yup seeing the same thing wige. Just pretty dumb to be honest for this small feature to not be available as I have found many threads complaining about the same thing.

[wige]

I don't know about that - actually seems pretty clever to me. It gives the casual user who just wants a simple map on his or her web page with an easy-to-implement solution, while forcing anyone who wants a more complex solution (and is likely to generate more bandwidth and eventually need additional capabilities) to use the API right from the start, where Google can implement more bandwidth controls, and ensure that the developer won't get frustrated in the future when they eventually migrate to the API when they can get frustrated today implementing it now.

[incrediblehelp]

Yes wige, but most of the average users wont even use the link option in the balloon if it opens in the same iframe window of the map. That is dumb.

[Webnauts]

Did you already try using this? The Perfect Pop-up (creating accessible pop-up windows) | Tutorials | Accessify

[incrediblehelp]

John the main issue that Google is filtering out code when adding it in the balloon.

[wige]

It seems that the only attribute Google is allowing in a link tag is href, and only keeping the href if it contains a URL. Not only does there seem to be no way to add javascripts, it does not seem possible to add a rel attribute either.

[incrediblehelp]

I searched everywhere for input or answers from Google on this and nothing. So disappointing.

One thing I did learn that Google Groups is pretty much useless for tough questions.

[Graphix-Effectz]

I dont know if this will help you or not but I use <A HREF="http://your-site.com/ In my Sites for it to use other windows.I dunno if you like to use Java or if you can use it or not..Just thought I'd try..

[Graphix-Effectz]

Well I was gonna offer my solution but it wont save it the way I type it.so if u wanna no how I think it would

work,then feel free to email me. my info is in my profile thru msn messenger..

[incrediblehelp]

Nope as stated above, Google strips out code elements and javascript that I have been trying to add.

[incrediblehelp]

As first noted at Remote Sensing Tools it seem Google MyMaps balloon links are now opening in a parent window. Yeah for Google as they have fixed their own problem with enough crying from me!

[Webnauts]

Have you been here already? Developer Knowledge Base - Tutorial: Creating Your First Map

[incrediblehelp]

Yeah that was more for the API John. This issue was with MyMaps.