Integrating Google Maps with Salesforce.com
Feb 11, 2005
From:
For those of you who haven't seen google maps yet, it's really amazing.
Here's a WIL that works on contacts:
Here's one from Matt Browning
that gives directions from the user’s address to the contact’s address.
Doing a search on a custom homepage might also be useful.
How about using maps to do data cleansing? If you don't have the zip, it figures it out, then somehow we write it back? They have an XML interface where maybe we could consume that info with an scontrol?
I'm sure you could also build a web link that would take the user's home address, and immediately route the directions from the user's address to the contact address.
Other ideas for how this could be used? -B
Bookmark
That's a really great WIL addition. It's actually much better than the Yahoo WIL that comes out of the box in salesforce.com. Since I work in French Canada (Quebec), all the French street names with accents weren't working properly but they do in Google Map.
Thanks for sharing this tool.
Yvan
Posted by: Yvan Poulin | February 14, 2005 at 07:07 AM
I've found an issue with the "Directions" WIL. It seems that if my destination address contains a "suite", ex: 4444 Johnson street, Suite 200. Google won't be able to map directions to that location, where a simple map of that same address will pinpoint the exact location of the building. Anyone has been across this issue yet?
Posted by: Yvan Poulin | February 15, 2005 at 10:20 AM
Integrating Google Maps is a great idea, but for data cleansing Salesforce should integrate with AutoAddress from Avalara. AutoAddress is a product designed to insure accuarate addresses and validates them using the latest technologies.
Posted by: Jason Warren | February 18, 2005 at 11:12 AM
Here is our Blog
Posted by: Jason Warren | February 18, 2005 at 11:12 AM
This is a terrific new Google feature, and a nice WIL. Is there a list or directory of WILs that other users have created which could be shared? If not, can someone create a topic on this blog dedicated to sharing clever WILs that users have created?
Posted by: Clam Lorenz | February 18, 2005 at 12:18 PM
I've also discover that you can utilize the other Google features.
For example:
I have created a Restaurants near by WIL, which is: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=restaurant near%20{!Contact_MailingAddress}%20{!Contact_MailingCity}%20{!Contact_MailingState}%20{!Contact_MailingPostalCode}
and also a Hotels near by WIL, which is: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=hotel near%20{!Contact_MailingAddress}%20{!Contact_MailingCity}%20{!Contact_MailingState}%20{!Contact_MailingPostalCode}
Now you can quickly find a restaurant or hotel near by a lead, account, contact.
Enjoy,
Posted by: Yvan Poulin | March 09, 2005 at 01:17 PM
How do I set up these WIL's?
Posted by: Michelle | June 20, 2005 at 07:56 AM
Here is where you set up a custom link for the Accounts Page.
https://na1.salesforce.com/setup/ui/link/custlinklist.jsp?retURL=%2Fui%2Fsetup%2FSetup%3Fsetupid%3DAccount&type=Account&pageName=Account&setupid=AccountLinks
Posted by: Gforce | June 20, 2005 at 07:59 AM
I keep getting an error message that says
"Bad Link Definition"
Posted by: Michelle | June 20, 2005 at 09:39 AM
It should work fine. I've tried it on two accounts.
To manually navigate there you can go to Setup, Customize, Accounts, Custom Links
Posted by: Gforce | June 20, 2005 at 09:43 AM
Can someone share explicit instructions on how to load these? I got to the point where you put in a custom link, but could not determine where to paste the code. Any help would be much appreciated.
-Tim
Posted by: Tim | June 30, 2005 at 08:57 AM
I found the error in the "bad link definition." If you use the "custom links" wizard, you'll see above where it says "available merge fields." If you paste what is suggested in the "directions" code above, there's an error - it's not {!User_Address}, it's {!User_Street}. Same on the contact address.
Posted by: Anne-Marie | July 12, 2005 at 01:36 PM
I'm not a technical resource but my company would like to get this link installed. Is there a way that someone could list out the steps to do this - like for a 3rd-grader? "1. open "custom links" 2. Paste the following code. 3. Etc.
Thanks!
Posted by: Tim | July 13, 2005 at 11:24 PM
I'd like to see this done as an sforce control. Are there any ideas on how this can be done user javascript inside an sforce control?
Posted by: dcarroll | July 22, 2005 at 06:48 PM
Here is the code for a custom link to a Google Map to an Account Billing Address:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q={!Account_BillingStreet}%20{!Account_BillingCity}%20{!Account_BillingState}%20{!Account_BillingPostalCode}
Here are some Hotel and Restaurant custom links for Accounts as well:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=hotel near%20{!Account_BillingStreet}%20{!Account_BillingCity}%20{!Account_BillingState}%20{!Account_BillingPostalCode}
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=restaurant near%20{!Account_BillingStreet}%20{!Account_BillingCity}%20{!Account_BillingState}%20{!Account_BillingPostalCode}
And Map, Hotels, and Restaurants for Leads:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=from%20{!Lead_Street}%20{!Lead_State}%20{!Lead_PostalCode}
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=hotel near%20{!Lead_Street}%20{!Lead_City}%20{!Lead_State}%20{!Lead_PostalCode}
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=restaurant near%20{!Lead_Street}%20{!Lead_City}%20{!Lead_State}%20{!Lead_PostalCode}
Posted by: Alex Sutherland | October 20, 2005 at 03:28 PM
I also found an issue when adding a suite or unit number within the "Billing Street" field under Accounts, the maps.google link does not work.
Any work arounds for this?
Posted by: David Corcoran | November 03, 2005 at 01:59 PM
Yahoo has a new dynamic map web app called Yahoo Local. Its got some great features and a good API. It seems that the standard Salesforce.com custom link to Yahoo Maps is now redirected to the new Yahoo Local mapping service.
Does anyone know how to write a Custom Link URL for Yahoo Local to display search categories like 'Hotels' or 'Restaurants', like you can do with Google Maps/Local as demonstrated below?
Posted by: Alexander Sutherland | November 26, 2005 at 12:12 AM
Does anyone know how to set up a correlation between googlemaps and salesforce, that when you click on google maps in the account section, not only will that account come up, but also any other account/lead within a radius of 20 or so miles?
Posted by: Shawn Litchfield | December 07, 2005 at 12:01 PM
Is there a way for our users to plot their course throughout the day using Google map? For example, is it possible for someone to set one account as their start point and then link four or five other accounts using Google? (Ex: Start at ABC shop to DEF Shop to GHI Shop)
Has anyone had any feedback from their teams using Google maps? Thanks.
Posted by: Meghan Sloan | January 31, 2006 at 11:35 AM
Hi Benji Jasik,
This is Bennett Fonacier from Bay.Net. Thanks for the great presentation you all provided for the Bay.Net usergroup. The Google mashup was the highlight.
Best Regards,
Bennett
Posted by: Bennett Fonacier | May 19, 2006 at 08:12 PM
Has anyone found a way to draw sales territories with Google Maps yet?
Posted by: Stuart Smith | May 23, 2006 at 10:52 AM
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Posted by: Call Center India | June 14, 2006 at 01:48 AM
Wow! I could actually see the aerial view of my house, not very clear though. I shudder to think how this could be misused.
Posted by: Mandy | July 14, 2006 at 10:37 AM
When searching, has anyone received the "access denied" message? If so, is there a fix?
Posted by: Caroline Shirey | July 24, 2006 at 11:07 AM
Caroline, can you give me the URL where you received that error? I will get it fixed.
Posted by: Kingsley Joseph | July 24, 2006 at 11:11 AM