Mercury User's Manual

Maps

Maps » Google Map

• Map link if GPS coordinates: If selected, and if GPS coordinates are available in the EXIF or XMP metadata of the image file, a globe icon is displayed which, if clicked, opens a new browser tab or window that displays a map, centered on the GPS coordinates. GPS coordinates of 0°0'0" latitude and longitude, inserted by some cameras when they can't obtain an actual location, are ignored.
• Map page title: The text in the title bar on the map page can be set to match the title bar on the slide page, or can be set to the album title/name, the folder title/name (at the top level, this is the same as the album title/name), the image title/name, or nothing.
• Map type: The type of map to display: hybrid, roadmap, satellite, or terrain. The hybrid map is a satellite view with an overlay of labels (street names, for example). The terrain map is a topographic view, with contour lines and shading to represent elevation.
• Zoom level: The initial zoom level for the map. Note that some map types, like terrain, may not be available at high zoom levels.

  It is possible to display a map link for an individual image, rather than for all the images in the album, or to specify a different map type and zoom level for the map for one image. See Image & Folder Settings.

• API key: Enter your Google Maps API key.

  Google does not allow use of its maps API unless you obtain a key. A key may be obtained without any cost. Visit the Google developer page and click the Get a Key button. You will have to create a Google account if you don't already have one (also free). Follow the prompts to create a project (you can just accept the default name) and to create a Browser API key. Each of these steps will take some time, so don't get impatient and start clicking things repeatedly.

  You may restrict use of the key to your domain by going to the Google API Manager / Credentials section and editing the entry for your API key. But if you do so, local preview of your album will fail, because the map request will be coming from your PC, rather than from your domain. Restricting use of the key is probably an excess of caution. In theory, someone else could get your key and use it on his or her own site. This would become a problem only if the key were used for more than 25,000 map views per day, a stunningly high number. And even if that happened, it's a simple matter to delete that key, get a new one from Google, and plug it into your album(s).

  If you do opt to restrict the use of your key, be very careful about how you enter the domain name. To cover all bases, enter your domain as, for example, *.example.com/* and as example.com/*, each on a separate line. Wait at least 15 minutes before testing your page - the setting may not take effect immediately. If you've restricted your key, you should build and preview your album without entering your API key. When you have everything the way you want it, enter the API key, click Make Album one more time, and upload the album.

• Allow street view: If selected, a site visitor will be able to use the Google map "pegman" icon to see a street view. These views are billed at twice the rate of other map types, so if you have a popular site and are in danger of using up your monthly quota of free map views, you might want to disallow this option.