PRS-500 google maps to pdf converter

[leha]

Hi

I wrote a small program that grabs google map and puts it into a pdf (pdf is optimized for a sony reader). Basically the program downloads a map from from google cuts it into pieces and creates a new page for each piece. To ease navigation each page has links to all neighbors. In addition, there is a TOC like page that shows the whole map and has links to all pieces.

Usage:
ruby map2pdf.rb "http://mt1.google.com/mt?n=404&v=w2.29&x=11237&y=26208&zoom=1" 2 2

the scary looking link should be replaced by another link to google map image (linux: right-click on a google map->view image->copy link from address bar; windows-firefox: right-click to the left of the map->view page info-> media tab-> find google map images -> copy link; windows-ie6,7: install firefox)
the resulting map will be centered around the image you provided in other words the link is a starting point, zoom level will be preserved and one pixel on the image will be one pixel on reader screen.

two numbers determine how big the resulting map will be , in this case it will be 2x2 sony reader screens.

The main problem is that the program is written in ruby not the most popular language for this kind of things. To make it work you also need RMagick and PDF::Writer gems. Some links for ruby stuff
RMagick: http://rmagick.rubyforge.org/install-faq.html#win
PDF::Writer: http://ruby-pdf.rubyforge.org/pdf-writer/
(rmagick is in ubuntu repository so I guess most other distribs should have a native way to install it)
To install gems in win go to where you have downloaded a gem and type:
gem install --local gem-name-without-version-number

There are 2 attachments: an example of pdf and the program itself (remove .txt from the end)

I bet that this program violates "terms of use" for google maps so dont use it if you are afraid of an FBI raid. There are a few ways to improve interface that I am going implement in the near future and post new version here if there will be interest in this hack.

[tcv]

It's pretty nice. Thanks for sharing. Of course, I have a thought.. feel free to ignore them since I'm not a programmer and can't help you in the slightest.

The resulting image is bitmapped a bit. Is there anyway to control that? Is the image scaled when it goes to PDF?

[Nightwing]

Tried another trick the other day and was to print it as a PDF file.. Uses it to "save" the direction to a place.

Need toy try your trick.

[leha]

Originally Posted by tcv

It's pretty nice. Thanks for sharing. Of course, I have a thought.. feel free to ignore them since I'm not a programmer and can't help you in the slightest.

The resulting image is bitmapped a bit. Is there anyway to control that? Is the image scaled when it goes to PDF?

The images are compressed to make pdf smaller (I am going to change this, need to figure out how to change pallet in imagemagick). It is fairly easy to add compression as an option.

Printing out maps is an option but the main problem is that reader's screen is small and you need some kind of navigation system to use big maps. Even the system that is used in my program is not convenient if map get bigger then 5x5 screens. The solution could be a tree like structure with different zoom on each level.

[Lisana]

Neat idea! I just had to comment though, because I used to live on Alondra, over in Bellflower.