Today, we proudly present TeamDesk integration with Google Maps. With new Location column type and map views you’ll be able to add GPS position visualization to your databases.
Location Column
Location column is designed to hold the latitude and the longitude as a single entity and optionally visualize it on a map. Here is a screenshot of Location column options:
First of all, Format option allows you to set whether the value is displayed in a form of a pair of two decimal numbers – latitude and longitude expressed as whole number and fractions of a degree, such as 41.836944, -87.684722, or in a classic form such as 41° 50′ 13″ N, 87° 41′ 5″ W. Signed degrees format is commonly used in GPS systems so it is the default to simplify copy-pasting. Second format is human readable but is a subject of rounding errors. TeamDesk holds up to six decimal points for coordinates, that’s the location precision is about 11cm.
List style and form style properties define how to display location in views and forms respectively. You can choose to display location either as a text, button, or map thumbnail with or without coordinates. Either way is clickable and leads to Google Maps. On mobile platforms click will launch corresponding application.
Input field accepts both formats for user’s input regardless of column settings. Also, it provides two buttons for advanced location editing.
Compass arrow button fills input field with current location (if the browser supports geolocation at all). In addition, pin button allows the user to select location either by searching an address or place or by dragging the pin around the map.
Column has an ability to automatically fill the field with current location if has no value. However, we need browser’s support to get the coordinates and it may take some time before we get the result. Thus we have not put it as Default/Calculate option, rather created separate setting limited to forms and inline view editing.
Location formula
Of course, there is a Formula – Location counterpart. Formula column options match Location column. Also, there are couple of functions you use with locations:
- IsNull(location) checks whether location field is blank.
- Nz(location, location, …) – to choose first non-blank location from the list
- ToLocation(latitude, longitude) – constructs the location from a pair of coordinates
- ToLocation(text) – constructs the location from text (comma separated pair of decimal numbers)
- Latitude(location) – extracts latitude
- Longitude(location) – extracts longitude
- Distance(location, location[, unit]) – calculates distance between two locations on elliptic Earth. Result is returned in meters, by default or according to the unit provided: “m” for meters, “km” for kilometers or “mi” for miles.
Finally, there is a DeviceLocation() function for use in place of pair DeviceLatutude() and DeviceLongitude() in actions designed for mobile apps.
Map Views
New Map view type’s settings are similar to Tile view with one exception. Map view requires location column to display pins on the map at specified position. Upon clicking the pin we display the data as the popup card structured the same way as the tile in the tile view.
Also, there is an option to specify map type – roads, terrain, satellite or hybrid.
You can send the view via email or create a subscription. However we can not provide interactivity in email messages. We rather send the view as a map image with labelled pins – maximum 36 – and a table with related data below the map.
PS: Coming up next… address auto-completion.
