Update #3 to Google Maps Directions to GPX data

ようこそいらっしゃいました。
(Welcome in Japanese)!

The Google Maps Directions to GPX now has support for all available languages in Google Maps. What this means is that you can get directions and next turn information in other languages than English.

Update #3 is now live but I am still working on providing accurate "next-turn" information for non-English languages. This will be available shortly.

Try it now


Are you interested in the development of this tool? Here are the previous posts: Original post, Update #1, Update #2, Update #3, Update #4.

Integrating Social Media Markup into Google Blogger Templates

The Google Blogger.com template system is flexible and somewhat programmable. However getting to learn its idiosyncrasies and mastering the template language it are close to impossible.

I wanted to integrate Google+, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest sharing markup into my template. It took me the better part of a day to battle it and force all the relevant data to show up where I liked it to.

To save you the same headache I want to share with you how to do it. Below is a link to a how-to document I put up on GitHub that describes what needs to be done:

View on GitHub

Validators

• Google+: https://developers.google.com/structured-data/testing-tool/
• Facebook: https://developers.facebook.com/tools/debug/
• Twitter: https://cards-dev.twitter.com/validator
• Pinterest: https://developers.pinterest.com/tools/rich-pins/validator/

Ah, now wasn't that easy :)

This article is also available on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/integrating-social-media-markup-google-blogger-sverrir-sigmundarson

Update #2 to Google Maps Directions to GPX data

I've applied several major updates to the tool discussed in this article. Update #1, Update #2, Update #3, Update #4 and Original post.

The Google Maps Directions to GPX has received its second update.

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Change log

• Support for short urls (e.g. "goo.gl/maps/..." links).
• Support for multi destination directions.
• Waypoints will now get a full address into their <desc> field if available.
• Option to exclude creation of waypoints (external to the route).
• Option to provide a custom name for the route.
• Improved error handling and validation of Google Maps links.
• Addressing an issue where if URL is missing sections the Google service will estimate the destination (this will most likely cause an incorrect route to be generated).

Changes to JSON output only 

These have not yet been integrated into the GPX format.

• Inclusion of Google StreetView imagery where available.
• Preliminary support for elevation profile data (only for walking and cycling directions).
• Turn information available in markup format ("step" field).
• List of all countries the route passes through.
• List of all destinations in route (in addition to start and finish).

Try it


Map Link with Multi Destination Directions

Map Link with Cycling Directions (will have elevation data)

Update #1 to Google Maps Directions to GPX data

I've applied several major updates to the tool discussed in this article. Update #1, Update #2, Update #3, Update #4 and Original post.

In a previous post I shared an experimental tool that I had been tinkering with that converts Google directions to GPX format.

After quite a few interesting suggestions and discussions with readers I want to present Update #1 to this tool.

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Major changes

1. New and more user friendly UI with error checking.
2. More control over output format and output file types (the tool now defaults to generating a file that has the broadest compatibility with the GPX standard).
3. Auto-generation of unique route point names (format "RPxxx").
4. Option to include the full direction text with each route point in the <desc> field.
5. Option to include a brief next turn information with each route point in the <cmt> field.
6. Optional JSON response for future web-development

The new UI with all options

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