A Backbone JS extension for interacting with the Google Maps API (v3.10)
I am currently working on a library called Aeris.js which may serve as a replacement for Backbone.GoogleMaps. The original intent of Aeris.js was to render weather data, but along the way I had to create a set of abstractions for rendering large amounts of data from various APIs onto maps. The library is much cleaner than Backbone.GoogleMaps, and it's fully tested. I'm also paid to work on it, which means I have more time to support it :)
I put together a jsfiddle which shows how you can bind a Backbone.Collection to a collection of markers. That's really just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Aeris.js functionality (see the github page for docs and demos): Aeris.js also supports:
- Seamlessly switch between map libraries (Google Maps, Leaflet, Open Layers)
- Additional map objects (Info boxes, custom tile layers, KML, Polygons, and Polylines)
- Binding to map objects using Backbone.Events (eg.
marker.on('change:position', cb)) - Marker clustering
- Geocode / geolocation services
I am glad so many people have found the Backbone.GoogleMaps library useful. To make Aeris.js more accessible outside of weather applications, I would love to split up the basic mapping functionality into its own repo. If you'd like to give me a hand with this, send me a message and we can put together a game plan. You can find my contact info in my user profile
Backbone.GoogleMaps is a simple Backbone JS extension for simplified interactions with the Google Maps API. The motivation for creating this extension was to have an easy way to sync data about maps locations from a database with the Google Maps UI, using Backbone's RESTful interface.
View the files in the example directory for working samples. Don't forget to add your Google Maps API key:
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?key=[YOUR_API_KEY]&sensor=false"></script>
A simple example:
// Create Google map instance
var places = new Backbone.GoogleMaps.LocationCollection([
{
title: "Walker Art Center",
lat: 44.9796635,
lng: -93.2748776
},
{
title: "Science Museum of Minnesota",
lat: 44.9429618,
lng: -93.0981016
}
]);
var map = new google.maps.Map($('#map_canvas')[0], {
center: new google.maps.LatLng(44.9796635, -93.2748776),
zoom: 12,
mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP
});
// Render Markers
var markerCollectionView = new Backbone.GoogleMaps.MarkerCollectionView({
collection: places,
map: map
});
markerCollectionView.render();Backbone.GoogleMaps is packaged with several customizable components.
Represents a lat/lng location on a map. Extends Backbone.Model.
| Property | Default Value | Description |
| lat | 0 | The location's latitude |
| lng | 0 | The location's longitute |
| selected | false | A flag for selecting a location |
| title | "" | Location title |
| Method | Parameters | Return Value | Description |
| select | Sets the model's selected property as true. Triggers a "selected" event on the model. | ||
| deselect | Sets the model's selected property as false. Triggers a "deselected" event on the model. | ||
| toggleSelect | Toggles the model's selected property. | ||
| getLatLng | google.maps.LatLng instance | Returns the latitude and longitude of the model |
A collection of GoogleMaps.Location objects. Extends Backbone.Collection.
Only a single Location model can be selected in a given LocationCollection at any time.
A generic GoogleMaps view, for controlling a maps overlay instance. Extends Backbone.View.
| Property | Default Value | Description |
| map | The google.maps.Map instance to which the overlay is attached | |
| mapEvents | {} | Hash of Google Map events. Events are attached to this.gOverlay (google map or overlay) |
| gOverlay | this.map | The overlay instance controlled by this view |
| overlayOptions | {} | Properties set on this.gOverlay upon creation of the google maps overlay instance |
| Method | Parameters | Return Value | Description |
| bindMapEvents | mapEvents (optional) | Attaches listeners for the events in the mapEvents hash to this.gOverlay |
View controller for a google.maps.InfoWindow overlay instance. Extends GoogleMaps.MapView.
| Property | Default Value | Description |
| gOverlay | Instance of google.maps.InfoWindow | The instance of the Google maps InfoWindow controlled by this view |
| marker (REQUIRED) | The marker associated with this.gOverlay | |
| template | "<h2><%=title %></h2>" | A selector string for a template element |
| Method | Parameters | Return Value | Description |
| render | this | Instantiates a google.maps.InfoWindow object, and displays it on this.map |
View controller for a marker overlay. Extends GoogleMaps.MapView.
| Property | Default Value | Description |
| gOverlay | Instance of google.maps.Marker | The instance of the Google maps Marker overlay controlled by this view |
| infoWindow | GoogleMaps.InfoWindow | The InfoWindow view class used to when opening an infoWindow for this marker |
<tr>
<td>toggleSelect</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>A pass-through to this.model.toggleSelect()</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>render</td>
<td></td>
<td>this</td>
<td>Sets as visisible this.gOverlay (the marker instance itself is created in the constructor)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>openDetail</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>opens the InfoWindow associated with this marker</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>closeDetail</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>closes the InfoWindow associated with this marker</td>
</tr>
| Method | Parameters | Return Value | Description |
| refreshOverlay | Updates the position of the marker view on the map |
View controller for a collection of GoogleMaps.MarkerView instances. Extends Backbone.View.
| Property | Default Value | Description |
| markerView | GoogleMaps.MarkerView | The MarkerView view class used to when creating child MarkerView instances |
| map | The google.maps.Map instance to which the overlay is attached |
| Method | Parameters | Return Value | Description |
| render | collection (optional - defaults to this.collection) | Renders and displays MarkerViews for each model in this.collection | |
| closeChildren | Removes all child MarkerView views | ||
| closeChild | child (Location model, or MarkerView instance) | Closes a single child MarkerView instance | |
| addChild | child (Location model) | Renders and displays a single MarkerView | |
| refresh | Closes all child MarkerView instances, and opens new instances |