Discussion Forums  >  Plugins, Customizing, Source Code

Replies: 23    Views: 166

Susan Metoxen
buzztouch Evangelist
Profile
Posts: 1706
Reg: May 01, 2011
Hopkins, Minnes...
26,260
03/07/13 06:13 PM (12 years ago)

Two New Plugins Today--ML Location Map and Tic Tac Toe

There already is a forum post on the Tic Tac Toe game, but I didn't see one on the ML Location Map yet. The ML Location Map was made by @Mackimack. It allows you to have custom images in your maps. I will be using this in all of my apps!
 
andydahl
Aspiring developer
Profile
Posts: 209
Reg: Jul 20, 2011
Villa Grove
4,540
like
03/07/13 06:29 PM (12 years ago)
Susan, Do you know if you can include more than 3 custom points on a map with the ML Location Map? It looks like a great plugin, but would need more than 3 points. I don't really care about the colors so much. Thanks, Andy
 
Susan Metoxen
buzztouch Evangelist
Profile
Posts: 1706
Reg: May 01, 2011
Hopkins, Minnes...
26,260
like
03/07/13 06:40 PM (12 years ago)
I only tested with three locations, but it is three images. I don't think there is a limit on the number of locations. Except for adding the images, this works very similarly to the custom location map.
 
andydahl
Aspiring developer
Profile
Posts: 209
Reg: Jul 20, 2011
Villa Grove
4,540
like
03/07/13 06:43 PM (12 years ago)
Not to sound negative, but that's too bad! Would be a "must buy" if it supported more. Thanks, Andy
 
MadRod
Aspiring developer
Profile
Posts: 1853
Reg: Apr 12, 2012
Lisbon
27,930
like
03/07/13 06:47 PM (12 years ago)
I think the plugin supports three different images, but you can add as many locations as you want.
 
Susan Metoxen
buzztouch Evangelist
Profile
Posts: 1706
Reg: May 01, 2011
Hopkins, Minnes...
26,260
like
03/07/13 06:52 PM (12 years ago)
You can also have up to three images each time you add the screen. This plugin is sweet!
 
Antonios
Apple Fan
Profile
Posts: 381
Reg: Feb 12, 2013
Korinthos, Gree...
4,610
like
03/07/13 06:54 PM (12 years ago)
@Susan Yes but with this solution you can't have all your map locations in one screen…right?
 
chris1
Code is Art
Profile
Posts: 3862
Reg: Aug 10, 2012
Austin, TX
50,120
like
03/07/13 08:24 PM (12 years ago)
Haven't seen the code, but it would seem like the limit on 3 images is a fairly easy one to overcome with some slight modification.
 
Susan Metoxen
buzztouch Evangelist
Profile
Posts: 1706
Reg: May 01, 2011
Hopkins, Minnes...
26,260
like
03/07/13 08:37 PM (12 years ago)
The code changes would be fairly easy if you are self hosting. There is no limit on the number of locations--just on the number of images. Plus, you could have more screens, and three images in each screen. The other thing that is cool about this is that you can put an image in the pop-up message too.
 
Suvinay pawa
buzztouch Evangelist
Profile
Posts: 599
Reg: Aug 01, 2012
location unknow...
9,890
like
03/07/13 08:53 PM (12 years ago)
Lol ! I was being happy about the map plugin and then I see no android version..I think I have to come up with more ...just waitin for 25 march.
 
Mackimack
Apple Fan
Profile
Posts: 481
Reg: Dec 30, 2010
Sweden
14,310
like
03/08/13 03:02 AM (12 years ago)
Hi guys. Here is how my plugin works. You can add how many pins you want. If you add 50 red pins and 60 green pins. Then you can choose to remove all red pins and replace them with a custom image like a car or a tree or whatever you want. You do the same thing wiht your green pins and purple pins. Then you can add a small icon to the left of the callout. Same here one for all red one, for all green and one for all purple pins. Then you can choose to replace subtitle text with distance. You will then find out how far it is from the user position to the pin position.
 
Antonios
Apple Fan
Profile
Posts: 381
Reg: Feb 12, 2013
Korinthos, Gree...
4,610
like
03/08/13 03:18 AM (12 years ago)
the last feature with distance seems very cool... Congratulations for your try... :) If I want to add more pin categories and not just 3 am I able to do that?
 
MadRod
Aspiring developer
Profile
Posts: 1853
Reg: Apr 12, 2012
Lisbon
27,930
like
03/08/13 03:25 AM (12 years ago)
hey Mackimack, nice plugin. I assume you can also give diretions that opens up maps,like the existing maps plugin? Thanks.
 
Mackimack
Apple Fan
Profile
Posts: 481
Reg: Dec 30, 2010
Sweden
14,310
like
03/08/13 03:31 AM (12 years ago)
My plug and David Location map is the same, same function. I've just added some more features in my plugin. @ gerogios how many different pin options would you have? would you like to have 5 or 10 different pin types? I could add it into the next version.
 
Antonios
Apple Fan
Profile
Posts: 381
Reg: Feb 12, 2013
Korinthos, Gree...
4,610
like
03/08/13 03:42 AM (12 years ago)
I am very happy to hear that... :) I think that 10-15 is enough almost for everyone, but consider the option to have as many as you want. I don't know if there should be a limit to that, just making suggestions. For now If I want to have at the same screen more than 3 categories isn't available? If not is there a temporary solution to that? Thanks in advance...
 
Dragon007
Lost but trying
Profile
Posts: 1509
Reg: Dec 17, 2011
London
20,590
like
03/08/13 04:03 AM (12 years ago)
Are there any other features to the new Map Location Plugin, other than the custom icons and pins?
 
chris1
Code is Art
Profile
Posts: 3862
Reg: Aug 10, 2012
Austin, TX
50,120
like
03/08/13 04:56 AM (12 years ago)
Sounds like you need to set up 2 sets of child items to handle the requested mod. That gets a little more complicated, but can be done. I did that with my "Menu with hidden slideout" plugin that's in review. Basically you use the item type to distinguish between the two sets. The hardest part is handling the php for the control panel.
 
WallE
Aspiring developer
Profile
Posts: 73
Reg: Jan 29, 2012
Burlington, Can...
2,880
like
05/02/13 06:38 AM (12 years ago)
Re: ML Location Map plugin Nice update to the original BT Map plugin. However, unless you happened to have the old BT map plugin in your project you won't get the toolbar icons displayed as these PNG images aren't contained within the plugin: bt_hybrid.png bt_location.png bt_standard.png bt_terrain.png Should be added in the next plugin update. Thx
 
chris1
Code is Art
Profile
Posts: 3862
Reg: Aug 10, 2012
Austin, TX
50,120
like
05/02/13 06:43 AM (12 years ago)
Interesting catch - under Susan's new rules, those files would have to be included and also start with the developers initials, not BT
 
Susan Metoxen
buzztouch Evangelist
Profile
Posts: 1706
Reg: May 01, 2011
Hopkins, Minnes...
26,260
like
05/02/13 07:49 AM (12 years ago)
Very interesting. It the kind of thing that would be hard to catch in testing because most users have installed the map plugin. Chris is exactly right--when the plugin is updated, the files should be named, "ml_hybrid.png" etc, because then they won't conflict with the other plugin. But don't try changing them in your projects, because the corresponding code references need to be changed too.
 
WallE
Aspiring developer
Profile
Posts: 73
Reg: Jan 29, 2012
Burlington, Can...
2,880
like
05/02/13 10:58 AM (12 years ago)
Really should have been vetted during testing of the plugin before release. Also, the plugin code will need to be updated as it calls the files as 'bt_***' so the original files can be used in the interim as long as you add them manually. Another point would be that IMHO any plugin should provide a manual of some sort as a standard inclusion. Hopefully these points will be taken as constructive criticism and not a negative thing. I love BT and it's community. Keep on coding.
 
chris1
Code is Art
Profile
Posts: 3862
Reg: Aug 10, 2012
Austin, TX
50,120
like
05/02/13 11:04 AM (12 years ago)
yep - changing the initial from bt_ to developer-specific would require changing the code in the .m (and possibly .h) file. But it would be pretty tough to catch this in the review process. If a developer starts referencing files outside their plugin package, it can slip by Susan and David fairly easily, as their focus is less on making sure every detail works and more on making sure the plugin doesn't break an app or cause security issues to the server. The burden is really on the plugin developer to make sure their code doesn't have bugs like this in it. Having a manual is a good idea - more so for some plugins than others. It's already a lot of work to create a plugin of course, but those that take the time to create a manual would probably find better sales results from their plugin.
 
Susan Metoxen
buzztouch Evangelist
Profile
Posts: 1706
Reg: May 01, 2011
Hopkins, Minnes...
26,260
like
05/02/13 11:23 AM (12 years ago)
The process to create a plugin is very complex and requires great attention to detail. All the plugins must work independent of other plugins; moreover, they must work in conjunction with all of the other plugins in a project. I have a checklist of 43 items I go through with each plugin before it goes to market. In addition, each plugin is tested by two other developers. Last but not least, David Book reviews the code in the plugin. Even so, we are continuing our work to improve quality assurance on plugins. One huge barrier for the developers is that it isn't easy to make corrections or updates to a plugin. For example, if a plugin developer wanted to clarify instructions in their read me, they must resubmit their entire plugin package, and then it must be reviewed again by David Book before it can be released. Lots to do! And we will keep working on improvements!
 
WallE
Aspiring developer
Profile
Posts: 73
Reg: Jan 29, 2012
Burlington, Can...
2,880
like
05/02/13 11:29 AM (12 years ago)
I agree with all your points. A manual (even a basic one) would help some potential buyers to make an educated decision whether to buy or not. Especially when the plugin may cost many $$$. BT keeps getting better and better.
 

Login + Screen Name Required to Post

pointerLogin to participate so you can start earning points. Once you're logged in (and have a screen name entered in your profile), you can subscribe to topics, follow users, and start learning how to make apps like the pros.