I forgot to mention, this is from the http version of the geocoder, I don't know if the JavaScript one returns different results. I'm not sure if there is a specific mailing list for the http version, so I am writing here.
On Sep 21, 2:55 pm, Rossko <[email protected]> wrote: > > Btw: I noticed that google maps search results also changes > > mcdonalds houston > > to > > mcdonalds near Houston, TX > > > The geocoding api still returns the result for Houston, TX, USA, even > > without the in or near preposition. > > The geocoder used with the API is just that ; a geocoder, that does > its best to translate addresses (or fragments of things it thinks > might be addresses) into geographic locastions. > > Google maps uses business search, which will be where the mcdonalds > result comes from (mcdonalds is after all, not an address) I understand, but "afksljasdflk raleigh" returns Raleigh, NC, USA. afksljasdflk is not a business. > You might be interested in ways to use the business search tools with > the API > -http://code.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/services.html#LocalSearchhttp://code.google.com/apis/ajaxsearch/local.html What I am trying to accomplish is that I have entries in a database that I would like to allow users to search. The user may: 1) search using just a location and get results from nearby that location. 2) Search using just text. My database's full text search would do all of the work and 3) Search using search text and location. College near Boston, MA for example. Similar to what google does, but with my own search results. Considering that I have no control over what the user will enter, I am having two problems: #1. When any string is entered with a location or something like a location is entered, it geocodes, however, this leaves me with no way to know what the text that is left to search using my database's full text search is. Basically it is difficult or impossible to disambiguate cases 1, 2, and 3 above. For searches like college -near- chicago, IL," I can guess, but some I can not. I think "afksljasdflk raleigh" should return no results, because that text matches nothing. #2. The geocoder making wild guesses instead of just saying it can't find anything or giving some type of low confidence level in the results returned. For example, when geocoding "College of the Albemarle," this is returned: University of Virginia Hospital, Virginia 22903, USA It would be better if it either a) returned the real location of the college or at least any college with that name b) said it couldn't find it, or c) said the result has a low confidence level I will more than likely use another geocoding service, but I wanted to share these issues with google's service. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Google Maps API" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/google-maps-api?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
