Map Component vs Google Maps

[David Taylor]

How come the results generated by the "query" around a post code (zip code) are different from doing the same query into maps.google.com? The component seems to return significantly less and less accurate results?

[Kishore Subramanian]

Hi David,

It should approximately be the same. The Maps component uses the Google Places API to get the results and I am not sure what Google Maps uses internally. The results also depend on the search radius and the center of the Map. 

Kishore

[David Taylor]

That's what I assumed, but they are wildly different. When I build a component to search on the query "charity shop" near my location, I get zero results. When I search Google Maps: https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=charity+shop,+chipping+sodbury&hl=en&sll=51.45866,-2.59655&sspn=0.038612,0.111494&hq=charity+shop,&hnear=Chipping+Sodbury,+South+Gloucestershire,+United+Kingdom&t=m&z=15

I get loads. I'm wondering if there are different types of markers, some of which Google Maps will show, but the Map Component doesn't?

[Kishore Subramanian]

Hi David,

I just tried it in GWD.

Lat/Lon = 51.5380° N, 2.3940° W

Query = Charity Shop

Search Radius = 2000

I see results that are identical to the ones in Google Maps (see attached screenshot).

Are you by any chance using Query = "Charity Shop, Chipping Sodbury" ?

Kishore (GWD team)

[David Taylor]

Ah, no I see. It's related to the Search Radius. I had not set it that low, assuming that it would adjust what was shown as I zoomed in.

That's fine I understand.

Another question on the Map Component then, if I can. Is it possible to send an OR within the Query String, so ' "Charity" OR "Charity Shop" ' as the query variable? "|" maybe?

Thanks for the help.

[Kishore Subramanian]

David,

We use the Places Text Search - https://developers.google.com/places/documentation/search#TextSearchRequests. So any valid value supported by the API should do it.

~ Kishore