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Google maps geolocation. Possible without JS?

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May 14.2010

Ok guys, i know its been a while since ive posted here but i was wondering if anyone can help me out. Basically im writing a script that requires me to get the latitude and longitude values of a postcode/zip code/whatever system they use everywhere else. Now, google maps api provides functionality for this, however its JS/AJAX. Now, my script outputs a XML file for an iPhone app(btw, we are doing the geolocation server side for a good reason haha) to read, so i dont want to be playing around with any javascript generated content.

So my question is, does google provide a ‘static’ version of the JS api because i cant find it. I dont need the map itself, just the latitude and longitude value (because the map would be pretty useless in the XML). I’ve posted this on the PHP forum because i would rather do it all in PHP. Any ideas?

Cheers guys.

Ryan

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5 Comments(s) ↴

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@ilbonparaurtiMay 16.2010 — There are all types of mysql-based geolocation scripts out there. You could easily set up your own server to receive a zip code and output the lat/long.
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@ryanlundauthorMay 17.2010 — Yeah i originally thought that, but there are two problems with it.

a) the app is a worldwide app therefore a MASSIVE database would be required - and im not even sure where on earth you would get one like that.

b) the accuracy of the databases isnt always that good, and sometimes neither is the coverage.

Either way thankyou for the reply - was beginning to wonder if anyone would haha. At the moment im working on a system to run the google maps JS one in the background - we'll see how that goes lol.

Ryan
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@ryanlundauthorMay 17.2010 — Ok guys, got an update for you. I've built a system that removes the javascript out of the Google Local Search API and uses a curl request. So now you can get the latitude and longitude of a postcode/zip code etc using only php, without the use of a massive database or any of the other bull**** that goes with it.

If anyone wants it, PM me ?
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@digitalwebMay 17.2010 — Hi,

I was looking for the solution for the same.

Thanks for the post.
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@ryanlundauthorMay 17.2010 — Drop me your email and ill send over what ive got. Ive also created a 2 distance measurment functions (using two different algorithms) so you can easily do radius searches and such like on a database or whatever you need to do with it.

/*******************EDIT***********************

these functions are only in testing stage. no error handling

or anything has yet been put in it. you can either wait for

me to put it in, or do it yourself. either ones fine for me

because ive gotta do it anyways.

*********************************************/
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