Using Google Maps V2 in Android

1. Downloading Google Play Services

Google made new Maps V2 API as a part of Google Play Services SDK. So before we start developing maps we need to download google play services from SDK manger. You can open SDK manager either from Eclipse or from android sdk folder.

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.

Downloading Google Play Services

2.Importing Google Play Services in Eclipse

After downloading play services we need to import it to Eclipse which will be used as a library for our maps project.

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.

Importing Google Play Services

3. Getting Google Map 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.

On Windows

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




On Linux or Mac OS

keytool -list -v -keystore ~/.android/debug.keystore -alias androiddebugkey -storepass android -keypass android

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.

And 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 as com.kais.maptest

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.

Linking Google Play Services to Project

Linking Google Play Services to Project

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="AIzaSyBZMlkOv4sj-M5JO9p6wksdax4TEjDVLgo" />







4. Google maps needs some permissions and features.

<permission

        android:name="com.kais.maptest.permission.MAPS_RECEIVE"

        android:protectionLevel="signature" />

 <uses-permission android:name="com.kais.maptest.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" />

5. New google maps are implemented using MapFragments which is a sub class ofFragments class. Open your main activity layout file activity_main.xml file and add following code. I used RelativeLayout 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();

        }

 

    }

 

    /**

     * function to load map. If map is not created it will create it for you

     * */

    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();

    }

 

}




Run your project and congratulations if you see a map displaying on your device.