How To Get the Most Out Of 20/20 DataShed's Features for Google Earth

What Is Google Earth?

From Google's own web site (earth.google.com) they explain Google Earth like this:

The idea is simple. It's a globe that sits inside your PC. You point and zoom to anyplace on the planet that you want to explore. Satellite images and local facts zoom into view. Tap into Google search to show local points of interest and facts. Zoom to a specific address to check out an apartment or hotel. View driving directions and even fly along your route. We invite you to try it now.

Google Earth is free for personal use. No registration is required.

The Google Earth software is compatible on Microsoft Windows or the Macintosh operating systems. The software connects and communicates with the Google Earth servers to provide satellite imagery and relevant information on your desktop.

How Does it Work With 20/20 DataShed?

If visitors to your web site have the Google Earth software installed (it's free!), they can take advantage of 20/20 DataShed's Google Earth integration. 20/20 DataShed will produce links for Google Earth so that visitors can view satellite imagery of the property.

Each item in 20/20 DataShed can store the longitude and latitude of any location on the globe. If this information is available and the Google Earth features are enabled in 20/20 DataShed, then your visitors will see a small Google Earth icon () with each listing.

When a visitor clicks on the icon, the Google Earth software will launch on their computer and they'll automatically "fly to" that location on the planet. The item then appears in the Google Earth software with photos and relevant information. an example screenshot of a real estate listing powered by 20/20 DataShed viewed in Google Earth.

How Do I Add or Edit an Item To Ensure that the Google Earth Icon Works Properly?

Easy! (Well...sort of easy.)

1. First, you have to learn the longitude and latitude of the item. Some real estate agents or brokerages may have a GPS system available (perhaps a hand-held or a system in their car). If you do, then you can use that tool to pinpoint any location on the globe. If you do not have a GPS system available, then you can use the Google Earth software itself!

   The screen shot below displays the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. You'll note that the Google Earth client window has a status bar which reports the longitude and latitude. Usually those numbers represent the exact centre of the screen. The bad news is that when you move your mouse on the screen those numbers will change!

   

   Google Earth can display this information in two formats: 1) In "Degrees, Minutes, Seconds"; or 2) in "Degrees". If you currently see "Degrees, Minutes, Seconds" on your screen, then you can change this behaviour in Google Earth's options.

   

2. When you've learned the longitude and latitude, you can enter the longitude and latitude in 20/20 DataShed for the listing. The screen shot below shows the "Item Information" form in the edit window of 20/20 DataShed.

   

   Longitude Tips

   This should always be a number between -180 and +180.

   Positive numbers (0 through 180) indicate the eastern hemisphere.

   Negative numbers (0 through -180) indicate the western hemisphere.

   Latitude Tips

   This should always be a number between -90 and +90.

   Positive numbers (0 through 90) indicate the northern hemisphere.

   Negative numbers (0 through -90) indicate the southern hemisphere.

3. Last...you should always check the "Display Options" of the item to ensure that the Google Earth icon is enabled for the listing. You can navigate to the "Display Options" page by finding this button in the "Edit Listing" window:

   

   Then ensure that the "Google Earth Placemark" option is checked.

   

   Tips

   Note that in the screen shot above, the "Google Earth Placemark" is checked. This will ensure that the Google Earth icon will appear with the listing.

   Also note that the "longitude" and "latitude" fields are not checked. This indicates that the longitude and latitude should not be displayed (that's okay -- the Google Earth will still appear). You can choose to show or hide the "longitude" and "latitude" fields as you wish (those two settings won't effect the "Google Earth Placemark" setting.)

How Do I Configure 20/20 DataShed Administrative Options to Ensure that the Google Earth Features are Enabled?

20/20 DataShed is configured by default to enable the Google Earth features. In most cases, we've done this work for you and you can just sit back and enjoy!

However, if you purchased 20/20 DataShed prior to version 1.0.23 or if the Google Earth features have previously been disabled then you can follow these steps to ensure that the Google Earth features will work properly for your users.

1. Login with administrative privelages to 20/20 DataShed on your web site.
2. Navigate to the "[Your Title] Options" page, then "Item Field Names and Options Groups.
3. Scroll down the page and for each fields set, ensure that:
   • fieldUserDefinedDoubleNumber3 is called "Longitude" (or your language's translation)
   • fieldUserDefinedDoubleNumber4 is called "Latitude" (or your language's translation)
   • iconGoogleEarth is called "Google Earth Placemark" (or your language's translation)
4. Click "Update"
5. Next visit the "Items Default Display Options" panel.
6. For each options group in the drop-down menu, you should ensure that the "Google Earth Placemark" option is selected. (This will ensure that all new items will have this option selected by default.)
7. Click "Update"
8. Next visit the "Items Forms Options" panel.
9. For each options group in the drop-down menu, you can add the "Longitude" and "Latitude" field to the addlistingElementsList option. This will ensure that your users can enter the longitude and latitude for each item during the "Add Listing" form.
10. Click "Update"

11. Last...you should check to ensure that the "item_template(Default).html" file contains the appropriate [GoogleEarth:] token.

    1. Open "item_template(Default).html" in a text editor such as Notepad or a WYSIWYG editor.
    2. Scan that file for the "GoogleEarth" token.
    3. If it exists, great -- the Google Earth features should already be working properly.
    4. If that token is not in that file, then locate these lines:

       [MapQuest:!LINK:value:text{}:img.src{images/fi_mapquest.gif}:img.width{26}:img.aspectratio{19/26}]
[InfoLink:!LINK:value:text{}:img.src{images/fi_info.gif}:img.width{26}:img.aspectratio{19/26}]
etc...

       Those lines in that file produce the little icons for each item. Usually those icons are located above the item's photos.
    5. You can add the following token immediately before those lines:

       [GoogleEarth:!LINK:value:text{}:img.src{images/fi_google_earth.gif}:img.width{26}:img.aspectratio{19/26}]
[MapQuest:!LINK:value:text{}:img.src{images/fi_mapquest.gif}:img.width{26}:img.aspectratio{19/26}]
[InfoLink:!LINK:value:text{}:img.src{images/fi_info.gif}:img.width{26}:img.aspectratio{19/26}]


    6. Save the file.
    7. Upload the file to your web site using the FTP application and overwrite the existing "item_template(Default).html" file.
    8. Reload the listings.asp, newuser.asp, or login.asp page and include the "?objApplication=RemoveAll" querystring in your URL to force 20/20 DataShed to flush out the old template from the server's cache (and reload this new one).

       Example: http://www.your_domain.com/listings.asp?objApplication=RemoveAll

    9. Note that you can also display the Google Earth icon with your items by editing any of the other item templates, including:
       • item_template(Default).html
       • summary(5)view_template(Default).html
       • summary(10)view_template(Default).html
       • summary(25)view_template(Default).html
       • summary(50)view_template(Default).html

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