Android Google Maps Chapter 1

Android allows us to integrate google maps in our application. You can show any location on the map , or can show different routes on the map etc. You can also customize the map according to your choices.

Adding Google Map

Google provides this facility using google play services library which you have to download externally. After downloading , you have to integrate it with your project.In the end you have to integrate your application with google via google console. This is completely discussed in the example.

Google Map - Activity file

Google provides GoogleMap and MapFragment api to integrate map in your android application. In order to use GoogleMap , you have to create an object of GoogleMap and get the reference of map from the xml layout file.Its syntax is given below:

GoogleMap googleMap;

googleMap = ((MapFragment) getFragmentManager().findFragmentById(R.id.map)).getMap()

Google Map - Layout file

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:orientation="vertical" >
   </LinearLayout>

AndroidManifest file

    android:targetSdkVersion="17" />
    <permission android:name="com.example.testmapv2.permission.MAPS_RECEIVE"
     android:protectionLevel="signature"></permission>
    <uses-permission android:name="com.example.testmapv2.permission.MAPS_RECEIVE"/>
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE"/>
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET"/>
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"/>
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION"/>
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION"/>
    <uses-permission android:name="com.google.android.providers.gsf.permission.READ_GSERVICES"/>

    <uses-feature
        android:glEsVersion="0x00020000"
        android:required="true" >
    </uses-feature>
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION"/>
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION"/>
    <application
        android:allowBackup="true"
        android:icon="@drawable/ic_launcher"
        android:label="@string/app_name"
        android:theme="@style/AppTheme" >
        <activity
            android:name="com.example.testmapv2.MainActivity"
            android:label="@string/app_name" >
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
                <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />

            </intent-filter>
        </activity>
        <meta-data android:name="com.google.android.maps.v2.API_KEY"
            android:value="key"/>
        <meta-data android:name="com.google.android.gms.version" android:value="@integer/google_play_services_version" />

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the next tutorial we will discuss how to generate the key file using Eclipse IDE.