How to start with Google Maps in Android?

Hello everyone, in this tutorial I will show you how to start with Google Maps in android.

Follow these steps while connecting to Google Maps in android.
Create a project with “Google APIs” as the Base SDK.

First, if you are testing the application on the Android emulator, locate the SDK debug certificate located in the default folder of “C:Documents and SettingsLocal SettingsApplication DataAndroid”. The filename of the debug keystore is debug.keystore. For deploying to a real Android device, substitute the debug.keystore file with your own keystore file. In a future article I will discuss how you can generate your own keystore file.

For simplicity, copy this file (debug.keystore) to a folder in C: (for example, create a folder called “C:Android”).

Using the debug keystore, you need to extract its MD5 fingerprint using the Keytool.exe application included with your JDK installation. This fingerprint is needed to apply for the free Google Maps key. You can usually find the Keytool.exe from the “C:Program FilesJavabin” folder.

Issue the following command.

keytool.exe -list -alias androiddebugkey -keystore “C:androiddebug.keystore” -storepass android -keypass android

If you have added the path in the environment variables then you can execute this command from anywhere on the command line.

After that you will get a key, copy that key and go to http://code.google.com/android/maps-api-signup.html

Paste your code there and get the “Google Maps API key”

Now go to the main.xml file in your project and do as follows.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout
  xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
  android:layout_width="fill_parent"
  android:layout_height="fill_parent">
<view android:id="@+id/mv"
    class="com.google.android.maps.MapView"
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="fill_parent"
    android:layout_weight="1"
    android:clickable="true"
    android:apiKey="your_api_key goes here"
 />
</LinearLayout>

Now you are done save this file and load this xml file as layout in the java file.
Make sure you have internet connection in the emulator otherwise the map will not load.

This is the java file

package pack.coderzheaven;

import android.os.Bundle;
import com.google.android.maps.MapActivity;

public class MapDemo extends MapActivity {
    @Override
    public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    	super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.main);
    }
	@Override
	protected boolean isRouteDisplayed() {
		return false;
	}
}

At last the Most important things to do in the AndroidManifest file
Add necessary permissions like INTERNET etc and include this library

inside the application tag.

My Manifest will look like this

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
      package="pack.coderzheaven"
      android:versionCode="1"
      android:versionName="1.0">

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

    <application android:icon="@drawable/icon" android:label="@string/app_name">

        <activity android:name=".MapDemo" android:label="@string/app_name">
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
                <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
            </intent-filter>
        </activity>

        <uses-library android:name="com.google.android.maps" />

    </application>

     <uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="6" />
</manifest>

Now you are done go on and run the application

You can download the complete source code of the project here