What's new: Enhancements and fixes
9-2-2010 Gmap4 version 1.7.2
GPX and TPO files will now be displayed so they fill the map area as much as possible. The default zoom
(supplied by Google) caused maps showing GPX/TPO files to be zoomed out further than needed. This
has been reported as a bug to Google.
8-31-2010 Gmap4 version 1.7.1
TPO files can now be displayed. These files are produced by various versions of the TOPO!
software from National Geographic. Please see the 'Help' file for more info on this feature.
8-15-2010 Gmap4 version 1.6.003
Fixed a run time problem that occasionally caused Gmap4 to not display either a map or an error message. Ouch!
This problem related to some KML files and the way in which Gmap4 was reading the file to obtain
the name to be used at the top of the map.
8-7-2010 Gmap4 version 1.6.002
Minor update to maintain compatibility with Google Sites. If you do not have your own
website, then Google Sites is an excellent way to place your GPX, KML and KMZ files online so they
can be viewed with Gmap4.
7-23-2010 Gmap4 version 1.6.001
1. If you are a previous user, please see the items labeled "new" in the table of contents
of the updated Gmap4 'Help' file.
2. Gmap4 can now read KMZ files. There are limits on file size.
See the Gmap4 'Help' file for details.
3. If you do not have your own website, then the recommended free
way to place KML/KMZ/GPX files online is by using Google Sites instead of Google Documents.
4. The default map view is now Google terrain instead of the MyTopo topographic maps. To override
this default so the MyTopo maps are displayed, just add &t=t2 to the URL you use to launch Gmap4.
5. The screen now continuously displays coordinates for the cursor and the center of the visible map.
6. If the amount of screen real estate available to Gmap4 is more than 700 pixels wide,
then a large pan/zoom control will appear in the upper left corner of your screen, otherwise a small
zoom control will appear.
7. Gmap4 now uses version 3 of the Google Maps API (Application Program Interface).
This change positions Gmap4 so that additional features, such trip planning, can be added.
This API supports the following browser and operating system combinations:
IE 7.0+ (Windows)
Firefox 3.0+ (Windows|Mac|Linux)
Safari 4+ (Mac|iPhone)
Chrome (Windows|Mac|Linux)
Android
No special programming has been done (yet) to support the use of Gmap4 on phones. If it works
at all, be happy.
6-26-2010 Gmap4 version 1.5.012
1. Yippee! You can once again place your KML and GPX files online as Google Documents.
Earlier this year changes were made to Google Documents which broke this feature of Gmap4. The
Gmap4 code has now been revised to work with these changes.
Did I mention that Google Documents is a free service from Google? Please review the updated Gmap4
Help file to see the recommended workflow. If you do not have your own website, then this is the recommended
way to place your KML and/or GPX files online so you can view them with Gmap4.
2. Gmap4 now avoids problems that can be caused by the cache that Google maintains on your computer.
If you update your data file, then Gmap4 will now display the most recent version of your map and not the map
produced by the prior version of your data file that is still lurking in Google's cache on your computer.
Be sure to read about the 'refresh' URL parameter in the Gmap4 'Help' file.
3. Are you making KML files that have clickable icons that display an info balloon containing
text and/or photo links?
The definition of those 'info balloons' in your KML file can now extend over multiple lines. This makes it
much easier to control the formatting of the info balloons. Also, the sample KML files have been improved to show
a better way to include clickable photos inside your info balloons. Please see the demo KML files
described in the appendix of the 'Help' file.
4. KML demo file #3 has been added to the appendix of the 'Help' file. This file includes an example and step-by-step instructions for
making a map that includes data from multiple files. For example, you could produce a KML file that
has (1) your GPS track from a hike and (2) is linked to a second KML file that displays an icon on each mountain
summit in your area. Or you could produce a KML file that is linked to several other KML files which
each contain one or more of your GPS tracks. The linked files can also be Google 'MyMaps'.
1-6-2010 Gmap4 version 1.4.065 Added an item to the Action menu to go to the new Gmap4 website.
1-1-2010 Gmap4 version 1.4.061 Fixed a bug related to saving a KML or GPX file as a Google Document
12-29-2009 Gmap4 version 1.4.048 Added the ability to read Google MyMaps. Corrected a bug in the menu action to display the URL one would use to generate the map currently on the screen. The Actions menu is now used to display the Gmap4 version number. Also the current zoom level and map center are now accessed via the Actions menu.
12-21-2009 Gmap4 version 1.3.035 Revised the onscreen interface to use drop down menus, adjusted message display to work correctly in an iframe down to 400 pixels by 400 pixels, locked in Google Maps API version 2.184
12-14-2009 Gmap4 version 1.2.084 Right click now displays both lat,lon and lon,lat
12-12-2009 Gmap4 version 1.2.083 'Help' file added
12-7-2009 Gmap4 version 1.2.074 Read gpx/txt files that are hosted online (for free) as Google documents
12-5-2009 Gmap4 version 1.2.041 hardcoded several GPSBabel options so maps from GPX files display better
12-4-2009 Gmap4 version 1.2.018 added support for gpx files
12-3-2009 Gmap4 version 1.1.150 Read kml/txt files that are hosted online (for free) as Google documents
11-26-2009 Gmap4 version 1.0 Initial release