Google Maps Courses

Google Maps Developer Bundle

Course Summary
This bundles consists of our Introduction to the Google Maps API, Advanced Google Maps API Programming, Building Rich Google Maps Interfaces with Dojo, and Debugging Google Maps Applications with Firefox and Firebug courses.

Introduction to the Google Maps API
This is our entry level course for the Google Maps API, and is designed to enable you to build Google Maps applications for the web.  You will learn how to create maps, add map controls for user interactions (zooming, and panning), programmatically alter the map extent, add points of interest to the map, create lines and polygons on a map, add custom icons, geocode addresses on the fly, read addresses from XML or KML files, calculate driving directions, view current traffic conditions, display a street view, integrate with Google Earth, and display aerial photography.

Advanced Google Maps API Programming
Building on the concepts learned in our Introduction to the Google Maps API course, this course covers advanced concepts and techniques for the Maps API. We are going to cover a lot of ground in this course starting with the Google Maps Utility classes. Utility classes are special purposes objects including MarkerManager for managing large numbers of markers efficiently.  MarkerClusterer also helps manage large concentrations of markers by aggregating neighboring markers into a single marker typically labeled with the number of markers represented by the symbol.  Other utility classes that we will cover include ProgressBar for displaying progress information of long running functions, ExtInfoWindow for custom info windows, and many others.  One of the more important and interesting topics in this class is the creation of your own custom data layers that can be draped on top of Google Maps.  You'll also learn how to determine your users current location through GPS or IP Address. Furthermore, we'll explore some advanced geocoding techniques, learn how to read JSON format data files, examine performance considerations for your application, preview the new Google Maps 3, and wrap up with an overview of the Google Maps Data API and tips and tricks.

Building Rich Google Maps User Interfaces with Dojo
This course was designed as a supplement to our Introduction to the Google Maps API and Advanced Google Maps API Programming courses.  Dojo is an excellent JavaScript framework for creating rich Internet applications.  Dojo is composed of three projects including Dojo Base and Core, Dijits, and DojoX.  Many web application developers choose Dojo because of the rich user interface controls provided by Dijit and DojoX.  However, Dojo is much more than a JavaScript user interface toolkit.  Dojo handles browser normalization, fixes browser compatibilities, DOM querying, remote scripting, drag and drop, data store API, localization and internationalization, cookie handling, accessibility, and more.  One of the most common requirements of a Google Maps application is to plot points of interest (markers) on a map.  In this course you'll learn how to use the Dojo Data API to read point data from XML, JSON, and CSV format data files and plot them on a Google Map. And of course we won't neglect the wonderful user interface controls provided by Dijit and DojoX.  We'll take a look at form and layout controls, Tree, DataGrid, charting, and image display controls. 

Debugging Google Maps Applications with Firefox and Firebug
This course was designed as a supplement to our Introduction to the Google Maps API and Advanced Google Maps API Programming courses. The Google Maps API contains a handy debugging window that you can use to display messages and errors.  However, there are times when you will need a more robust debugging tool.  In this module you will learn how to use Firebug with Firefox to debug and optimize your web applications. Firebug integrates with Firefox to put a wealth of web development tools at your fingertips while you browse. You can edit, debug, and monitor CSS, HTML, and JavaScript live in any web page.  Firebug contains a great debugger for examining your JavaScript code.  With the debugger you can pause code execution through breakpoints, examine variable contents at the breakpoint, continue code execution, step into a JavaScript function one line at a time, and step over and step out of code blocks.  The debugging toolbar is accessed through the Script tab and is activated after you have set a breakpoint in your code and execution reaches the breakpoint.  This debugging toolbar is a revelation for long time web application developers and makes your development efforts much more efficient.

Creating Mapplets with Google Gadgets
Mapplets are widgets or mini-applications that are served inside the Google Maps site. You can put anything inside this mini-webpage that you can put into a normal webpage, including HTML, JavaScript, and Flash. Google provides a JavaScript API that gives the Mapplet access to services such as manipulating the map, fetching remote data, and storing user preferences.

Intended Audience
This course is designed for all levels.

Purchase Online
E-Delivery: $190.00 (Email with downlink link) - If purchased indivdually these courses would cost $300 at regular price.

Mail Delivery: $240.00  (U.S. and Canada Only) - If purchased individually these courses would cost $375 at regular price.