I use googlemaps in my app, but instead creating the map references that display as pins one by one in my app control panel, I would like to load them all from an external file. I read a post using php, but I have never done any php programming and to be honest, I didn't understand the implementation. I was hoping to create the references in excel, output a CSV and somehow use that, updating the map references file from time to time. Is this easily doable? If not, any idea's would be welcome. Thanks in advance, Alan

Alan, There is a forum member named Stobe that actually created a tool that allows you to do just as you requested. His website is http://idevdepot.com/category/buzztouch-tutorials/stobes-buzztouch-tools/mapmaker-tool and it is called the MapMaker tool. I think the tool is like $15.00., Money well spent. Hope this helps you out.

Hi Alan. Take a look at www.batchgeo.com It creates a Google map from your CSV file. No need to find lat/long either. Open in BT_customURL screen.

@Rad Doc, @Red Dog, thanks to you both for your suggestions, I'll follow them both up. Cheers, Alan

Thanks for the plug Rad Doc Depending on how you want the end user to be able to utilize the map (online vs offline, etc), you have a few options. With my MapMaker tool (or CSV2JSON as it was originally called), you can use a CSV file to create the proper JSON to "feed" Buzztouch's Location Map screen. Using another little code hack that David and I came up with, you can either host that resulting JSON text file online (dropbox, etc) for easy editing, or you can include in directly in you (iOS) xCode project so the app won't require any internet access to display the pins (not even the first time to cache). Let me know if you have any more questions. Feel free to PM me here.

Now that I know it is feasible (haven't tried it yet) I was thinking of hosting the json file in a dropbox or somewhere similar, so that the maps can be easily updated. Does that work or is a hack needed? Also wondering if the app can display more info i.e. can it be fed to produce results similar to www.batchgeo.com? I now feel I'm tying to run before taking my first step...

Yes, you can host the resulting file on dropbox without any hacks. And the latest version of MapMaker allows you to include a URL in your CSV file for each location, and it will code the correct JSON to link the map pins to a website address.

Stobe, Latest release / Modification is complete? Can we get it on your site? Please advise. Anthony

Sorry bout that. I was referencing Menu list tool? Can we link to custom urls yet?

The latest release (v1.1.1) was sent out via email to anyone who purchased an older verion. (not the work-in-progress that I've been talking to you about).