My Note Book: Android google maps tutorial

Google provides via Google play a library for using Google Maps in your application. The following description is based on the Google Maps Android API v2 which provides significant improvements to the older API version.

The library provides the com.google.android.gms.maps.MapFragment class and the MapView class for displaying the map component.

You need to add additional information to your AndroidManifest.xml file to use Google Maps.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    package="com.vogella.android.locationapi.maps"
    android:versionCode="1"
    android:versionName="1.0" >

    <uses-sdk
        android:minSdkVersion="17"
        android:targetSdkVersion="17" />

    <permission
        android:name="com.vogella.android.locationapi.maps.permission.MAPS_RECEIVE"
        android:protectionLevel="signature" />

    <uses-feature
        android:glEsVersion="0x00020000"
        android:required="true" />

    <uses-permission android:name="com.vogella.android.locationapi.maps.permission.MAPS_RECEIVE" />
    <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" />

    <application
        android:allowBackup="true"
        android:icon="@drawable/ic_launcher"
        android:label="@string/app_name"
        android:theme="@style/AppTheme" >
        <activity
            android:name="com.vogella.android.locationapi.maps.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="your_apikey" />
    </application>

</manifest>

2.2. MapFragment

The MapFragment class extends the Fragment class and provides the life cycle management and the services for displaying a GoogleMap widget. GoogleMap is the class which shows the map. The MapFragment has thegetMap() method to access this class.

the LatLng class can be used to interact with the GoogleView class.

2.3. Markers

You can create markers on the map via the Marker class. This class can be highly customized.

The following code shows an example.

public class MainActivity extends Activity {
  static final LatLng HAMBURG = new LatLng(53.558, 9.927);
  static final LatLng KIEL = new LatLng(53.551, 9.993);
  private GoogleMap map;

  @Override
  protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
    map = ((MapFragment) getFragmentManager().findFragmentById(R.id.map))
        .getMap();
    
    if (map!=null){
      Marker hamburg = map.addMarker(new MarkerOptions().position(HAMBURG)
          .title("Hamburg"));
      Marker kiel = map.addMarker(new MarkerOptions()
          .position(KIEL)
          .title("Kiel")
          .snippet("Kiel is cool")
          .icon(BitmapDescriptorFactory
              .fromResource(R.drawable.ic_launcher)));
    }
    
  }

On the GoogleMap you can register a listener for the markers in your map via thesetOnMarkerClickListener(OnMarkerClickListener) method. The OnMarkerClickListener class defines the onMarkerClicked(Marker) method which is called if a marker is clicked.

Similar to you also listen to drag events and info window clicks.

2.4. Changing the GoogleView

The GoogleMap can be highly customized.

The following example code is taken from the official Google webpage.

static final LatLng HAMBURG = new LatLng(53.558, 9.927);
static final LatLng KIEL = new LatLng(53.551, 9.993);

private GoogleMap map;
... // Obtain the map from a MapFragment or MapView.

//Move the camera instantly to hamburg with a zoom of 15.
map.moveCamera(CameraUpdateFactory.newLatLngZoom(HAMBURG, 15));

// Zoom in, animating the camera.
map.animateCamera(CameraUpdateFactory.zoomTo(10), 2000, null);

2.5. Android emulator and Google Maps

Ensure you create an Google API based emulator. This emulator can also be used to test Google map and other Google Play Service integration.

3. Install Google Play services

3.1. Download the Google Play services

Open the Android SDK Manager and install Extras → Google Play services

3.2. Create an library project for the Google Play Service library

The Android SDK manager downloads the file tosdk/extras/google/google_play_services/libproject/google-play-services_lib .

Import the library from there into Eclipse via the File → Import → Android → Existing Android Code into Workspacemenu entry.

Importing Google services as Android library projec

To use this library define a library dependency in your Android project.

4. Getting the Google Map key

4.1. Google console

To use Google Maps you need to create a valid Google Maps API key. The key is free, you can use it with any of your applications that call the Maps API, and it supports an unlimited number of users.

You get this key via the Google APIs Console. . You have to provide your application signature key and the application package name.

This is based on the key with which you sign your Android application during deployment. During development with Eclipse, Eclipse us automatically creates and uses a debug key.

4.2. Creating the SHA-1 for your signature key

The Eclipse debug key for signing your application can be found in the userhome/.android/debug.keystore file.

To create the SHA-1 for your debug keystore you use the keytool command from your JDK installation pointing to the debug.keystore file.

keytool -list -v -alias androiddebugkey \
-keystore <path_to_debug_keystore>debug.keystore \
-storepass android -keypass android

Copy the SHA-1 output, as you need this later.

4.3. Register with the Google APIs Console

You have to register in the Google APIs Console that you want to use Google Maps for Android. You can reach this console via the following link: Google APIs Console. Select here the Services entry.

Activate the Google Maps Android API v2.

4.4. Create key for your application

You need later to register your application via its package in this console together with the SHA-1 fingerprint of your signature key. For this you select the entry and click on the API Access entry. Afterwards click on the Create new Android key... entry.

Enter your SHA-1 fingerprint and the package of your application separated by a semicolon. For example you can use the com.vogella.android.locationapi.maps package.

The procedure is described in detail in the following link: Getting a Google Maps key.

5. Tutorial: Google Maps

5.1. Target of this exercise

In this exercise you create an Android application which shows a GoogleMap via a fragment.

5.2. Install Google Play Services

Download and install the Google Play Service. See Section 3, “Install Google Play services” for details.

5.3. Get API key for Google Maps

Get your API key for Google maps, as described in Section 4, “Getting the Google Map key”.

5.4. Create Project

Create a new Android project called com.vogella.android.locationapi.maps with an activity called ShowMapActivity.

5.5. Add permissions to the project

Change the manifest file file to the following code by adding permissions to your application.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    package="com.vogella.android.locationapi.maps"
    android:versionCode="1"
    android:versionName="1.0" >

    <uses-sdk
        android:minSdkVersion="17"
        android:targetSdkVersion="17" />

    <permission
        android:name="com.vogella.android.locationapi.maps.permission.MAPS_RECEIVE"
        android:protectionLevel="signature" />

    <uses-feature
        android:glEsVersion="0x00020000"
        android:required="true" />

    <uses-permission android:name="com.vogella.android.locationapi.maps.permission.MAPS_RECEIVE" />
    <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" />

    <application
        android:allowBackup="true"
        android:icon="@drawable/ic_launcher"
        android:label="@string/app_name"
        android:theme="@style/AppTheme" >
        <activity
            android:name="com.vogella.android.locationapi.maps.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="your_apikey" />
    </application>

</manifest>

Get a valid API key for your application and enter this key in the AndroidManifest.xml file.

5.6. Adjust layout file

In this example we use the MapFragment. Change your layout file to the following code.

<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    tools:context=".MainActivity" >

    <fragment
        android:id="@+id/map"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="match_parent"
        class="com.google.android.gms.maps.MapFragment" />

</RelativeLayout>

5.7. Activity

Change your activity to the following.

package com.vogella.android.locationapi.maps;

import android.app.Activity;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.view.Menu;

import com.google.android.gms.maps.CameraUpdateFactory;
import com.google.android.gms.maps.GoogleMap;
import com.google.android.gms.maps.MapFragment;
import com.google.android.gms.maps.model.BitmapDescriptorFactory;
import com.google.android.gms.maps.model.LatLng;
import com.google.android.gms.maps.model.Marker;
import com.google.android.gms.maps.model.MarkerOptions;

public class MainActivity extends Activity {
  static final LatLng HAMBURG = new LatLng(53.558, 9.927);
  static final LatLng KIEL = new LatLng(53.551, 9.993);
  private GoogleMap map;

  @Override
  protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
    map = ((MapFragment) getFragmentManager().findFragmentById(R.id.map))
        .getMap();
    Marker hamburg = map.addMarker(new MarkerOptions().position(HAMBURG)
        .title("Hamburg"));
    Marker kiel = map.addMarker(new MarkerOptions()
        .position(KIEL)
        .title("Kiel")
        .snippet("Kiel is cool")
        .icon(BitmapDescriptorFactory
            .fromResource(R.drawable.ic_launcher)));

    // Move the camera instantly to hamburg with a zoom of 15.
    map.moveCamera(CameraUpdateFactory.newLatLngZoom(HAMBURG, 15));

    // Zoom in, animating the camera.
    map.animateCamera(CameraUpdateFactory.zoomTo(10), 2000, null);
  }

  @Override
  public boolean onCreateOptionsMenu(Menu menu) {
    getMenuInflater().inflate(R.menu.activity_main, menu);
    return true;
  }

}

5.8. Run and Test

Run and test your application. You should be able to zoom in and out and send new geo coordinates to your activity via the Emulator.

6. About this website

6.1. Donate to support free tutorials

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6.2. Questions and discussion

Writing and updating these tutorials is a lot of work. If this free community service was helpful, you can support the cause by giving a tip as well as reporting typos and factual errors.

If you find errors in this tutorial, please notify me (see the top of the page). Please note that due to the high volume of feedback I receive, I cannot answer questions to your implementation. Ensure you have read the vogella FAQ as I don't respond to questions already answered there.

6.3. License for this tutorial and its code

This tutorial is Open Content under the CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 DE license. Source code in this tutorial is distributed under the Eclipse Public License. See the vogella License page for details on the terms of reuse.

7. Links and Literature

7.1. Source Code

Source Code of Examples

7.2. Android Resources

Introduction to Android Development

Android Location API and Google Maps

Android Homepage

My Note Book

Saturday, May 30, 2015

Android google maps tutorial

Google Maps Android API v2 - Tutorial

Lars Vogel

1. Android Basics

2. Google Maps

2.1. MapsView