Tools for Making Ward Directories and Maps

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zaneclark
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#11

Post by zaneclark »

OK, I was able to display the streets finally but now I have another problem. I want to share this with some of the ward leaders but when I tested this by using the email icon on the Google Earth page, it will not open in the receiving computer. I know they have to have GE downloaded so I used my daughter as a test run and made sure she had GE downloaded but the data on our ward locations will still not show. There are 3 choices for emailing, graphic, view, or image. I have tried all 3 so which is the one that should be working?
RossEvans
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#12

Post by RossEvans »

zaneclark wrote:OK, I was able to display the streets finally but now I have another problem. I want to share this with some of the ward leaders but when I tested this by using the email icon on the Google Earth page, it will not open in the receiving computer. I know they have to have GE downloaded so I used my daughter as a test run and made sure she had GE downloaded but the data on our ward locations will still not show. There are 3 choices for emailing, graphic, view, or image. I have tried all 3 so which is the one that should be working?

I have never used the email icon from inside Google Earth. If you want to share the KML or KMZ file, do it outside of Google Earth. Just attach the file to your email like any other attachment. That's what we do in our ward. (Our KML files are produced by a completely different and more reliable method than the one described above, but that should make no difference as far as this particular problem with Google Earth goes. If a file will open in your copy of Google Earth, it should also open in someone else's copy of Google Earth. Of course, everyone should make sure they have the current version installed.)
zaneclark
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Success with geo coding......

#13

Post by zaneclark »

Thank you David! Using your very clear instructions, I have created a geo map for our ward. I am still trying to figure all the uses for this, other than to amaze and astound some of the leaders. It is a constant fight to keep leaders interested in the possibilities of the ward website and although this isn't directly related to the site, at least they know the web administrator is doing something!
davebailey
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Use and you're welcome

#14

Post by davebailey »

The best way that I have found to share it is just as Boomerbubba says, attach the KML or KMZ file to an email or transmit the file via a USB drive.

As far as how to stoke the imagination for the ward, get a slice of a PEC meeting when you either have your local area cached on your laptop, or better yet do the meeting where you can get Internet access and open the ward map file in Google Earth.

Explain how the special information can be used to make home teaching or visiting teaching routes better, but more importantly, it's great for doing disaster planning and things like setting up block captains. Usually, I find the Elders Quorum President or ward emergency specialist, if not the bishop, picks up on the value of this information.
trhodes-p40
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#15

Post by trhodes-p40 »

http://www.mormongps.com

I created a program that takes the members from the users ward website and creates a CSV or TomTom specific file. You can then use that file on http://garmin.gps-data-team.com/poi_manager.php and convert it to a KML, etc file if needed.
JPark-p40
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Maps for FO Routes

#16

Post by JPark-p40 »

I need to put together a bunch of maps with members houses marked on them for our fast offering routes. I've looked into using Google Earth for this because I'd be able to automate that process and update it regularly. However, the images you get from Google Earth are terrible for printing maps. Is there anyway to get a Google Maps type view from Google Earth? Is there some better way of doing this I should consider?
RossEvans
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#17

Post by RossEvans »

JPark wrote:I need to put together a bunch of maps with members houses marked on them for our fast offering routes. I've looked into using Google Earth for this because I'd be able to automate that process and update it regularly. However, the images you get from Google Earth are terrible for printing maps. Is there anyway to get a Google Maps type view from Google Earth? Is there some better way of doing this I should consider?
The short answer about Google Earth is no. It is a great medium for on-screen browsing, but a lousy medium for printing.

After much effort and research, in our ward we ended up usings the My Maps feature of the Google Maps web site instead, along with a lot of custom scripting. The principal reason for this is to avoid violating church guidelines, which prohibit uploading names and addresses exported from MLS to such a third-part web site. (We store that data locally and print it via the scripts.) Also, we have our own local solution to the basic problem of geocoding all the addresses.

Our solution is described in this forum post. (A footnote: The linked post says we needed special permission from Google to do this, which was technically true at the time but not longer is.)
fraserredmond
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geo mapping tool

#18

Post by fraserredmond »

I had a go at making a mapping tool a year or two ago as well (html&javascript based, using google for geocoding, but output to kml, so still have to use google earth.)

But I'd now recommend this newer Adobe Air based app:

http://hpaulsen.com/hpaulsen.com/WardMap.html

The printing side of things still isn't great (though better than google earth), but its got a lot of features that make it the best for on-screen use at least.
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hpaulsen
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#19

Post by hpaulsen »

I've been working on a solution for this, also. It's still rough, but I think it shows promise. It will print out maps, though I'm looking at improving the output. It will also allow you to quickly change from viewing everybody to viewing only Elders, Young Men, Young Women, recent converts, etc. It also includes the ability to draw geographical regions (corresponding to GEO codes) and find out who lives in each region (once the GEO codes in MLS are updated to match).

http://hpaulsen.com/hpaulsen.com/WardMap.html

-Hyrum
techgy
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#20

Post by techgy »

HPaulsen wrote:I've been working on a solution for this, also. It's still rough, but I think it shows promise. It will print out maps, though I'm looking at improving the output. It will also allow you to quickly change from viewing everybody to viewing only Elders, Young Men, Young Women, recent converts, etc. It also includes the ability to draw geographical regions (corresponding to GEO codes) and find out who lives in each region (once the GEO codes in MLS are updated to match).

http://hpaulsen.com/hpaulsen.com/WardMap.html

-Hyrum
Although I haven't tried your program yet, I have browsed your web site and read through the description. In that outline you mention that "much of the sensitive" information is removed. Can you be more specific? I assume you mean Birth, and ordinance information. Since the software is creating a map you would still need to maintain name, address, city, etc. as well as a priesthood office or class to be able to sort by Elders, YM, YW, etc.
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