Everything but a GPS for your packer
Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2005 6:07 pm
One thing we're always looking to improve on our site is the accessibility of the data. As our database of Ryzom information grows, this becomes increasingly important.
Inspired by maps.google.com, we bring our our new and improved search based maps.
-Pan and zoom with your mouse!
-Find locations with the built in search feature!
-Pan and zoom again because it's so darned cool!
With the new search functionality, you can perform queries using standard boolean logic to find your location. Here are some samples:
spawn not kami
amber lake 100
(excellent or supreme) forest (seed or amber)
hawker void
2 star red kincher
boss desert
supplier avendale
be'riplan jichy
Now for a little background on the project. Obviously, google maps have become the standard for online mapping. At first, I thought perhaps I could leverage their mapping system as they do have an API to create custom maps. However, they only really allow you to add custom overlays to the map of the earth. I considered seeing if it would let me put atys as an overlay to the entire earth but that was just too much of a hack for my tastes. Then I started looking at snippets of the Javascript code behind it. However, they've intentionally obfuscated the code and made it hard to access to make it harder for people to copy their code. Finally, I just decided that I've probably learned enough about Javascript through doing our dressing room and skill tree that I could do it from scratch. Turns out, it was far easier than the old system. I'm thinking google was just looking for a simple solution, not a revolutionary one
Hope you enjoy!
Inspired by maps.google.com, we bring our our new and improved search based maps.
-Pan and zoom with your mouse!
-Find locations with the built in search feature!
-Pan and zoom again because it's so darned cool!
With the new search functionality, you can perform queries using standard boolean logic to find your location. Here are some samples:
spawn not kami
amber lake 100
(excellent or supreme) forest (seed or amber)
hawker void
2 star red kincher
boss desert
supplier avendale
be'riplan jichy
Now for a little background on the project. Obviously, google maps have become the standard for online mapping. At first, I thought perhaps I could leverage their mapping system as they do have an API to create custom maps. However, they only really allow you to add custom overlays to the map of the earth. I considered seeing if it would let me put atys as an overlay to the entire earth but that was just too much of a hack for my tastes. Then I started looking at snippets of the Javascript code behind it. However, they've intentionally obfuscated the code and made it hard to access to make it harder for people to copy their code. Finally, I just decided that I've probably learned enough about Javascript through doing our dressing room and skill tree that I could do it from scratch. Turns out, it was far easier than the old system. I'm thinking google was just looking for a simple solution, not a revolutionary one
Hope you enjoy!
. Oh... and I think you deserve a break for a teensy weensy while 
