Service Monster and Google Maps

[QDCC-Barry]

Anyone having problems printing Google maps starting the last 2 weeks or so? Although we print the maps within Service Monster I do not think it's a SM problem. All of a sudden the maps do not print out like they are viewed on screen. It's an enlarged section of what is on the screen on one page and then a second page prints out with just the "google 20015" line that usually prints on the bottom of the first page.

I've posted on a Google maps forum and there are others having the same problem but of course Google is ignoring the thread.

 

[Russ T.]

When I touch the address in Safari on my phone it's goofy. It doesn't work slick like it used to, it would open it in "Google Maps" app...real slick like. But not anymore.

Not sure if the issue is related. I guess it could be a bug in the app or Safari or something.

 

[Mikey P]

Can I ask why are you printing maps?

 

[Papa John]

Yeah.. it seems the SM to maps feature has changed for the worst.
Hope they fix it.

 

[Barry-QDCC]

Can I ask why are you printing maps?

Easier to print a map and use it than any other means...Yes I am fully aware of GPS and all that!

It's a feature of the program and in any case, it should work correctly, don't ya think?

Also interesting that the SM head cheese guy didn't have anything to say here.

 

[FB19087]

@jkowalski

but you did say it seemed to be a google issue and that other gmaps users are having the same issue.........

 

[FB19087]

can you screenshot what you are seeing right before printing?

and do you have the same issue when printing the same thing from a browser?

 

[Mikey P]

Cant you buy a map book for your area?

I prefer paper maps too but to print one out each day is sorta wasteful.

 

[hogjowl]

Cant you buy a map book for your area?

I prefer paper maps too but to print one out each day is sorta wasteful.

Waste water
Save paper
I love California

 

[Shane Deubell]

Easier to print a map and use it than any other means...Yes I am fully aware of GPS and all that!

It's a feature of the program and in any case, it should work correctly, don't ya think?

Also interesting that the SM head cheese guy didn't have anything to say here.

Barry, are you using firefox? Try it in Explorer
I had the same problem.

Actually google had to bring this feature back because there was an uproar on their forums.
Its really popular....

 

[jkowalski]

I have no idea what you guys are talking about. Alex and I will look into it this morning.

And I don't monitor boards/groups daily or often on the weekend. You want a quick response from me, join SMUG.

 

[jkowalski]

Thanks for trying to help guys!! That's awesome!

 

[jkowalski]

OK. We researched this for a client last week. It's a known issue but this is not a ServiceMonster issue nor something I can control.

Google changed their mapping tech a year ago, offered a "Classic" option and has now taken that feature away. It looks to me like they are activity discouraging printing at this point.

http://techforluddites.com/google-is-getting-rid-of-classic-maps-for-good/

 

[FB19087]

yes....but can he no longer access and print the directions in lite mode like he has been able to do for the last year?

https://support.google.com/maps/answer/144343?hl=en

has the option moved, changed methods, or disappeared entirely?

 

[jkowalski]

Moved. It's still there but you have to dig. Additional, way point numbers are now missing from print.

 

[FB19087]

So how does @QDCC-Barry go about printing them now so he gets the results he is used to?

 

[jkowalski]

That is, unfortunately, a google question. We do not control integration solutions of third parties. We simply integrate with them.

 

[FB19087]

Am I missing something? Do you know how and won't say as your post seems to indicate or do you not know ?

You say the option is still there but has moved/requires digging.

 

[jkowalski]

Sorry if I was not clear. Let me try again;

This is how you print with Google maps.
https://support.google.com/maps/answer/144343?hl=en

This may be different that you are used to. Google changed how this works so not all of the information you might expect will be there.

We have no control over any of this.

 

[mirf]

Don't you just hate when you have no control.

 

[jkowalski]

We could control it if we did the mapping data and rendering ourselves. But then we would need to add a zero to our pricing.

 

[QDCC-Barry]

BOOM! this morning it's back to printing normally as it was a couple of weeks ago. It was NOT printing normally yesterday afternoon as I was trying to figure out what to do to handle this problem. It didn't matter if I was using IE or Chrome. It was not that I couldn't print at all - it was that what was printed was in a different magnification (I guess that's how you would describe it) from what was on the screen. It was definitely a Google problem and not SM. They evidently did something to fix it overnight.

I really appreciate all the help and comments here.

 

[jkowalski]

Yay!