Automatic Geocoding With Google Maps

When we rewrote the Property Screen for ZP SQL we added a couple of new fields for Latitude and Longitude. Last month we started putting these fields to use. The web-based interface for ZP SQL now has the ability to automatically geocode a property record using Google Maps server. Geocoding is the process of determining the latitude and longitude of a given point or, in our case, address. We've added logic to the web pages that passes the street address of a property to Google Maps and gets the latitude and longitude in return. We then store these values in the database. This happens each time you request a map of a given property. (Did I mention that you can now display maps as part of the Property Screen in the ZP SQL web interface? It's very cool.) This geocoding process happens behind the scenes, automatically. Of course, it only needs to do this for properties that don't yet have geocode values. It is self-populating the database and eventually, your latitude and longitude fields will be completed filled. How cool is that?