Android Google Map V2

Before starting a new project of Google map V2,

we need to go through some pre required steps. These steps involves importing required library, generating SHA1 fingerprint and configuring maps in google console.

1. Downloading Google Play Services

we need to download google play services from SDK manger.

Open Eclipse ⇒ Windows ⇒ Android SDK Manager and check whether you have already downloaded Google Play Services or not under Extras section. If not select play services and install the package.

2. Importing Google Play Services into Eclipse

1. In Eclipse goto File ⇒ Import ⇒ Android ⇒ Existing Android Code Into Workspace

2. Click on Browse and select Google Play Services project from your android sdk folder. You can locate play services library project from

android-sdk-windows\extras\google\google_play_services\libproject\google-play-services_lib

3. Importantly while importing check Copy projects into workspace option as shown in the below image.

3. Getting the Google Maps API key

1. Same as in maps v1 we need to generate SHA-1 fingerprint using java keytool. Open your terminal and execute the following command to generate SHA-1 fingerprint.

keytool -list -v -keystore "%USERPROFILE%\.android\debug.keystore" -alias androiddebugkey -storepass android -keypass android

For example as par my system:

C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_26\bin >keytool.exe -V -list -alias androiddebugkey -keystore "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\.android \debug.keystore" -storepass android -keypass android

Consider your jdk-bin path in the first path place and your home user directory in thesecond path. For windows 7 it is like    C:\Users\username\.android\debug.keystore

In the output you can see SHA 1 finger print.

2. Now open Google API Console

3. Select Services on left side and turn on Google Maps Android API v2

4. Now select API Access on left side and on the right side click on Create new Android key…

5. It will popup a window asking the SHA1 and package name. Enter your SHA 1 and your android project package name separated by semicolon ; and click on create.

note down the API key which required later in our project.

4. Creating new Project

After completing required configuration, It’s time to start our project.

1. In Eclipse create a new project by going to File ⇒ New ⇒ Android Application Project and fill required details. I kept my project name as Google Maps V2 and package name asinfo.androidhive.info

2. Now we need to use Google Play Services project as a library to use project. So right click on project and select properties. In the properties window on left side select Android. On the right you can see aAdd button under library section. Click it and select google play services project which we imported previously.

3. Add the Map Key in the manifest file. Open AndroidManifest.xml file and add the following code before tag. Replace the android:value with your map key which you got from google console.

<!-- Goolge Maps API Key -->

<meta-data

     android:name="com.google.android.maps.v2.API_KEY"

     android:value="Your API Key" />

 4. Google maps needs following permissions and features.

ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE – To check network state whether data can be downloaded or not

INTERNET – To check internet connection status

WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE – To write to external storage as google maps store map data in external storage

ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION – To determine user’s location using WiFi and mobile cell data

ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION – To determine user’s location using GPS

OpenGL ES V2 – Required for Google Maps V2

Finally my AndroidManifest.xml file looks like this (Replace the package name with your project package)

AndroidManifest.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"

    package="com.prashant.googlemapsv2"

    android:versionCode="1"

    android:versionName="1.0" >

    <permission

        android:name="com.prashant.googlemapsv2".permission.MAPS_RECEIVE"

        android:protectionLevel="signature" />

    <uses-permission android:name="com.prashant.googlemapsv2".permission.MAPS_RECEIVE" />

    <uses-sdk

        android:minSdkVersion="12"

        android:targetSdkVersion="17" />

    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE" />

    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />

    <uses-permission android:name="com.google.android.providers.gsf.permission.READ_GSERVICES" />

    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />

    <!-- Required to show current location -->

    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION" />

    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION" />

    <!-- Required OpenGL ES 2.0. for Maps V2 -->

    <uses-feature

        android:glEsVersion="0x00020000"

        android:required="true" />

    <application

        android:allowBackup="true"

        android:icon="@drawable/ic_launcher"

        android:label="@string/app_name">

        <activity

            android:name="com.prashant.googlemapsv2".MainActivity"

            android:label="@string/app_name"

            android:theme="@style/AppBaseTheme">

            <intent-filter>

                <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />

                <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />

            </intent-filter>

        </activity>

        <!-- Goolge API Key -->

        <meta-data

            android:name="com.google.android.maps.v2.API_KEY"

            android:value="AIzaSyBZMlkOv4sj-M5JO9p6wksdax4TEjDVLgo" />

    </application>

</manifest>

5. New google maps are implemented using MapFragments which is a sub class of Fragmentsclass. Open your main activity layout file activity_main.xml file and add following code. I usedRelativeLayout as a parent element. You can remove it and use MapFragment directly.

activity_main.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<RelativeLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"

    android:layout_width="fill_parent"

    android:layout_height="fill_parent" >

    <fragment

        android:id="@+id/map"

        android:name="com.google.android.gms.maps.MapFragment"

        android:layout_width="match_parent"

        android:layout_height="match_parent"/>

</RelativeLayout>

6. Add the following code in your Main Activity java MainActivity.java class.

MainActivity.java

public class MainActivity extends Activity {

    // Google Map

    private GoogleMap googleMap;

    @Override

    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {

        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);

        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);

        try {

            // Loading map

            initilizeMap();

        } catch (Exception e) {

            e.printStackTrace();

        }

   }

    private void initilizeMap() {

        if (googleMap == null) {

            googleMap = ((MapFragment) getFragmentManager().findFragmentById(

                    R.id.map)).getMap();

            // check if map is created successfully or not

            if (googleMap == null) {

                Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(),

                        "Sorry! unable to create maps", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT)

                        .show();

            }

        }

    }

    @Override

    protected void onResume() {

        super.onResume();

        initilizeMap();

    }

}