> Apparently I can use Google to get these distances and am > thrilled that this service is freely available.
Slow down a minute, it's not all freely available, it comes with terms and conditions. You need to check your plans against those. http://code.google.com/apis/maps/terms.html Specifically, Google geo-services require you to display content they supply on a Google map (ultimately). You haven't mentioned a map in your plans, so that may rule out using Google data. > 1. Get the exact address/location that Google can use to calcuclate > the distances (I believe this is referred to as geocoding) Yes. If you want to do this at the server, you can http://code.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/services.html#Geocoding_Direct If you fall foul of Google's terms, you may look at other services, there are many - http://groups.google.com/group/google-maps-api/web/resources-non-google-geocoders > 2. I then need to go to Google with this info to calculate the > distances between lots of (all of?) the different addresses on a > repeating basis. There's a choice to made here. Do you mean straight-line distance? That can simply be calculated by well known algorithms. If you mean by-road, services like Directions can supply that - http://code.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/services.html#Directions However Google Directions are NOT available server-side, can only be called client-side from one of the APIs. Without knowing what you need the info for, a combination is possible. e.g. for "find the nearest" you might use straight-line to eliminate all but a few and only fetch by-road distance for the few candidates. -- 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.
