Saturday, April 15, 2006
Executing bat or exe from ASP
With Windows Script Host installed and enabled, it is possible to execute a DOS command / batch file / exe from ASP. Here is a FAQ on the topic. The problems usually arise with permission denied errors. See KB #311481 for details on IIS 6.0: CGI Code That Calls External Applications May Fail.
All of these referred to a security tab under a file's properties.
I finally figured out how to see this tab from JSI FAQ : If your computer is NOT joined to a domain, and the "Use simple file sharing (Recommended)" box is checked on the Tools / Folder Options / View tab (I found this at or near the bottom), you are presented with the Simple File Sharing UI instead of the classic Security and Sharing tabs, except when booting to Safe mode.
This epic wasn't the full sum of my difficulties. Locating and installing IIS was a bit of a struggle. I wanted to instaill IIS on my local machine for testing. I knew to select the "Add/Remove Programs from the Control Panel", then selecting Add/Remove Window Components from the left pane", and finally selecting the IIS check box from the Components list box. Of course this requires the XP Pro install disk, so I had to did that out. I probably should make an ISO and just install in on the hard disk and then use Virtual DEAMON Manager I checked out the Daemon-Tools for ISO images blog for additional info on the subject since the main web site was down when I wrote this. Anyway the next step was to install the FrontPage Server Extensions 2002, which was rather painless after locating the download.
All of these referred to a security tab under a file's properties.
I finally figured out how to see this tab from JSI FAQ : If your computer is NOT joined to a domain, and the "Use simple file sharing (Recommended)" box is checked on the Tools / Folder Options / View tab (I found this at or near the bottom), you are presented with the Simple File Sharing UI instead of the classic Security and Sharing tabs, except when booting to Safe mode.
This epic wasn't the full sum of my difficulties. Locating and installing IIS was a bit of a struggle. I wanted to instaill IIS on my local machine for testing. I knew to select the "Add/Remove Programs from the Control Panel", then selecting Add/Remove Window Components from the left pane", and finally selecting the IIS check box from the Components list box. Of course this requires the XP Pro install disk, so I had to did that out. I probably should make an ISO and just install in on the hard disk and then use Virtual DEAMON Manager I checked out the Daemon-Tools for ISO images blog for additional info on the subject since the main web site was down when I wrote this. Anyway the next step was to install the FrontPage Server Extensions 2002, which was rather painless after locating the download.
Friday, April 14, 2006
Favorite Google Maps Sites
I have complies a list of my favorite sites that provide an interesting implementation of the Google Maps API.
Gmaps Pedometer plots a course that helps record distances traveled during a running or walking workout.
Routeburner is an well laid out site that provides routes through uploaded GPX files for the following categories: mountain biking, walking/running, road cycling, climbing, skiing, kayaking. An excellent example of a clean interface that gets right to the point.
Google Map Maker is an extremely simple tool to use that creates markers with names and popup text. It generates code based add to your website.
MapBuilder is a site to build maps and share maps or grab the source code for your maps. It really just support adding markers of differnt colors and saving Center, Zoom, MapType info.
Workout Tracker loads the XML file and draws a polyline between each point on a small delay to give the animated effect and route taken. A tutorial includes the source code.
FOTOGOPO is a work in prgress. A MASHUP of Google Maps, geocoder.us, and over 800,000 street level photos arranged by latitude and longitude. Nice idea for synching up with a bike trainer for a virtual ride.
Run-o-Matic Running Routes provides a database of running routes. Nice design, but rahter slow. It also has the ability to create routes with elevation charts and pedometer courtesy US Geo Survey. Here is a example in edit mode.
RunningPaths is another running route creation site. The current home page is rather sparse. I typed in an 'a' to find some routes. The link here is in create route mode. The interface is a single click mode with markers at the start and end points. They did a nice redesign using the APIv2.
ZIP Code Boundaries Database allow a querystring addition to the url that will gnerate a GoogleMap boundary of the provided zipcode, This database does not have boundaries for 10,068 ZIP Codes. According to the site, these include 2,523 ZIP Codes that serve specific companies or organizations with high volumes of mail and 6,419 ZIP Codes dedicated to Post Office (PO) Box and/or general delivery addresses primarily located in areas otherwise served by rural route or city style mail delivery. The zip code database at CFDynamics identifies four zip classes.
By referencing the "drawBoundaries" function, the coordinates can be obtained.
GMapToGPX converts Google Maps Data to GPX. Well, this isn't realy a Google Maps site, but it is handy. This comes in the form of a bookmarklet which creates a GPX file based on driving directions, an address search or a local search. The GPX file will contain a route, a single waypoint, or up to ten waypoints, respectively. Pre API and rather primitive, but it works for the main Google site and some others, particularly the Gmaps Pedometer mentioned above, so that you can plot a route and then extract it as a GPX file with this tool.
Tim's GMapper is another work in progress that also does photo mapping. There are some links to examples and source code.
Google Maps Mania is "an unofficial Google Maps blog tracking the websites, mashups and tools being influenced by Google Maps."
GMdir is another unofficial Google Maps Directory. Their Sports category led me to some nice sites.
Phoogle Maps is a PHP class that integrates with the Google Maps API and with the geocoder.us database that provides an interface via 5 lines of PHP code to display a customized Google Map on websites. Examples and source code provided.
Wayfaring promotes itself as a community of travelers who use the site to create, and share information about travels using Flickr pictures and YouTube videos. There is a Greasemonkey Script to create waypoints and an API for advanced users. They have a slick interface, a bit too slick for my liking.
Gmaps Pedometer plots a course that helps record distances traveled during a running or walking workout.
Routeburner is an well laid out site that provides routes through uploaded GPX files for the following categories: mountain biking, walking/running, road cycling, climbing, skiing, kayaking. An excellent example of a clean interface that gets right to the point.
Google Map Maker is an extremely simple tool to use that creates markers with names and popup text. It generates code based add to your website.
MapBuilder is a site to build maps and share maps or grab the source code for your maps. It really just support adding markers of differnt colors and saving Center, Zoom, MapType info.
Workout Tracker loads the XML file and draws a polyline between each point on a small delay to give the animated effect and route taken. A tutorial includes the source code.
FOTOGOPO is a work in prgress. A MASHUP of Google Maps, geocoder.us, and over 800,000 street level photos arranged by latitude and longitude. Nice idea for synching up with a bike trainer for a virtual ride.
Run-o-Matic Running Routes provides a database of running routes. Nice design, but rahter slow. It also has the ability to create routes with elevation charts and pedometer courtesy US Geo Survey. Here is a example in edit mode.
RunningPaths is another running route creation site. The current home page is rather sparse. I typed in an 'a' to find some routes. The link here is in create route mode. The interface is a single click mode with markers at the start and end points. They did a nice redesign using the APIv2.
ZIP Code Boundaries Database allow a querystring addition to the url that will gnerate a GoogleMap boundary of the provided zipcode, This database does not have boundaries for 10,068 ZIP Codes. According to the site, these include 2,523 ZIP Codes that serve specific companies or organizations with high volumes of mail and 6,419 ZIP Codes dedicated to Post Office (PO) Box and/or general delivery addresses primarily located in areas otherwise served by rural route or city style mail delivery. The zip code database at CFDynamics identifies four zip classes.
- MILITARY 539
- PO BOX ONLY 5089
- STANDARD 34603
- UNIQUE 2510
By referencing the "drawBoundaries" function, the coordinates can be obtained.
GMapToGPX converts Google Maps Data to GPX. Well, this isn't realy a Google Maps site, but it is handy. This comes in the form of a bookmarklet which creates a GPX file based on driving directions, an address search or a local search. The GPX file will contain a route, a single waypoint, or up to ten waypoints, respectively. Pre API and rather primitive, but it works for the main Google site and some others, particularly the Gmaps Pedometer mentioned above, so that you can plot a route and then extract it as a GPX file with this tool.
Tim's GMapper is another work in progress that also does photo mapping. There are some links to examples and source code.
Google Maps Mania is "an unofficial Google Maps blog tracking the websites, mashups and tools being influenced by Google Maps."
GMdir is another unofficial Google Maps Directory. Their Sports category led me to some nice sites.
Phoogle Maps is a PHP class that integrates with the Google Maps API and with the geocoder.us database that provides an interface via 5 lines of PHP code to display a customized Google Map on websites. Examples and source code provided.
Wayfaring promotes itself as a community of travelers who use the site to create, and share information about travels using Flickr pictures and YouTube videos. There is a Greasemonkey Script to create waypoints and an API for advanced users. They have a slick interface, a bit too slick for my liking.
