Google Maps API

[Simmy]

...is awesome

I've been trying to find a (free) way to work out the distance between two postcodes and calculate the call out fee. However alot of postcode databases require some kind of payment.

Google Maps API has a built in directions function which I've just added to my site and it's perfect for what I need - link. It's not complete yet, but it's now just a matter of returning the distance and then calculating the callout based on £/mile. I'll hopefully get it done tomorrow.

Just thought some of you might be interested in adding this to your own site

Google Maps

 

[Graystar]

Streets and trips offers a neat feature

MS Streets and Trips has a neat feature called "Create Drive Time Zones".
First you find your start point on the map and click it. Then select Create Drivetime Zone from the Tools pull down.
It will ask you to Specify how many drive time minutes for the zone and then you can select Draw Drive Time Zone behind the roads.

I posted on my website that anything out side of the colored zone would add a trip charge to the call.

Just an alternative.

Jim

 

[MrMille]

...is awesome

I've been trying to find a (free) way to work out the distance between two postcodes and calculate the callout out fee. However alot of postcode databases require some kind of payment.

Google Maps API has a built in directions function which I've just added to my site and it's perfect for what I need - link. It's not complete yet, but it's now just a matter of returning the distance and then calculating the callout based on £/mile. I'll hopefully get it done tomorrow.

Just thought some of you might be interested in adding this to your own site

Google Maps

That is excellent Simmy!

 

[seedubya]

What's your callout for 427 Km

 

[MrMille]

How did you do it Simmy?

 

[MrMille]

Simmy, is this the sample you used? (to great effect!)
http://code.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/examples/directions-advanced.html

are you getting much traffic to the page?

 

[Simmy]

Sorry, didn't realise there were replies to this

Yes, that's the code I used. Annoyingly, Google don't allow you to search by postcode but I've found a few alternatives on the net.

I've not had many people view that page yet and by the looks of it. Infact most views have come from this site

 

[MrMille]

Don't worry about it mate, it's a feather in your cap!

 

[geekhelp4u]

Don't forget you can also use google maps to let clients know how much it will cost for you to pick up and drop off their computers...

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=e...30.00222,-95.608177&spn=0.134983,0.21286&z=12

 

[Simmy]

Didn't realise you could do that geekhelp4u - good to know. Bit of an odd shaped callout area I must say

I've got my calloutfee calculator working now - link. Still trying to figure out how to get it working with a post code. If anyone wants my code so far, just let me know It's only a few lines but it might save other people doing the same thing a bit of time.

What's your callout for 427 Km

According to my websites calculations, that'll be £341.60 please

 

[MrMille]

you'd drive to coventry for 100 pounds?
that's a two hundred mile round trip! eeek!
A taxi would cost five times that.

Are you not doing it too cheapily Simmy dude?

 

[Simmy]

If someone from Coventry asked me to drive out to them, I'd simply say no

It's only really for people in Bristol outside of my 10mile radius. But yeah, I was thinking about upping my callout fee rate. I charge 40 pence per mile which I thought was the norm?

 

[MrMille]

In Ireland the civil service rate for a 2000cc car is about 1.3 euro per mile