Improve Google Map Integration

Question

Hi All,

I have been adding a lot of categories over the past couple of months, as I add and research profiles that can use those categories.

The issue I have is the inconsistency of the zoom level that Wikitree adds to the Google Map URL.  This number is found at the end of the URL. i.e.

* https://www.google.com/maps/@-33.8067644,151.0941754,11z gives a zoom level of 11, showing the whole of Sydney

* https://www.google.com/maps/@-33.8067644,151.0941754,14z gives a zoom level of 14, showing an individual suburb.

The higher the number the closer the zoom.  So a level of 19 shows individual structures easily.

So lets look at the inconsistency:

* Category Type Congregation: Zoom Level 19. Shows the Building Structure, Great level of zoom. Perfect. e.g. Category: [https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Category:St_Luke%27s_Anglican_Church%2C_Gulgong%2C_New_South_Wales St Luke's Anglican Church, Gulgong, New South Wales]

* Category Type Cemetery: Zoom Level 19.  Too close for most cemeteries.  Suggested Zoom Level of 17. e.g. Category: [https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Category:Woronora_Memorial_Park%2C_Sutherland%2C_New_South_Wales Woronora Memorial Park, Sutherland, New South Wales]

* Category Type Structure: Zoom Level 11. You are never going to find the structure at this level of zoom.  Suggested level of zoom 19. e.g. Category: [https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Category:Mudgee_District_Hospital%2C_Mudgee%2C_New_South_Wales Mudgee District Hospital, Mudgee, New South Wales]

* Category Type Location: Zoom Level 11. In crowded metropolitan areas this is useless. In rural areas it may work, buth both metroploitan and rural works better when a zoom of 14 is applied.  Rural could be tighter but 14 is a good compromise. Suggested zoom 14. e.g. Category: [https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Category:Ryde%2C_New_South_Wales Ryde, New South Wales[, Metropolian; Category: [https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Category:Rylstone%2C_New_South_Wales Rylstone, New South Wales] Rural.

I give this critic in the hope that it will lead to change, as I have done the research to back up these suggestions for Australia.  I am sure that these suggestions would improve the integration of Google Maps for all users regardless of location if they could be implemented.  

Regards

Craig Rayner

Answer 1

I checked the base CIB template https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Template:CategoryInfoBox and we already have the coordinatescale parameter. The default is 10 for OpenStreetMap and to 11 for Google. Google is always +1. I am not sure why. OSM used to have only 18 levels. now it supports 19, so we can make both levels equal. I will look into it tomorrow.

For cemeteries https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Template:CategoryInfoBox_Cemetery it is set to |coordinatescale= 18

For Congregation https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Template:CategoryInfoBox_Congregation it is also set to 18

And MiningDisaster https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Template:CategoryInfoBox_MiningDisaster is also set to 18

Here you can see where it is set. https://wikitree.sdms.si/default.htm?report=srch8&Query=coordinatescale

I can add the levels also to other CIBs with location.

Comments

It would be great if some defaults could be added to the Structure and Location  Ales.  Thanks.   

Can a user override the defaults by adding the coordinatescale parameter with a different value.  I tried by adding to existing categories and creating a new category, but it did not seem to make a difference. 

---

That parameter is not customizable by CIB boxes. It could be done, but I think it would be hard for users to set it correctly. I think with proper defaults there is no need for it. The only exception is the CIB Location, where it can be a continent or community.

For location, I could base the level on profiles parameter. If it is "no" (top level category) or "maybe" (mid level category) I will try to do something.  For locations, I could also get the required levels on WT+ and update the categories automatically based on the subcategory locations. I just imported the CIB Locations see: https://wikitree.sdms.si/maps and turn Locations on in Layers on the left.

I set new defaults to:

• Congregation: 19
• Cemetery: 17
• Structure: 19
• MiningDisaster: 18
• Location:
  • profiles=no:11
  • profiles=maybe:13
  • profiles=:15

Can you try the levels if they are better now and if there is a need for some further adjuctment.

---

Thanks Ales.  Much improved