Blog
Getting to be Presentation Ready
May 6, 2020
I have currently figured out one sort of aging algorithm. I was originally planning on doing it based on time, but I was having some trouble figuring out how to compare the data based on what the formatting was in C# versus the formatting in Javascript. The way that it is implemented is thru having the five most recent visitors have a green marker, and the remaining visitors have a yellow marker.
I have also added information after the enter your hometown button to show what the green and yellow markers represent. Along with working on that, I managed to configure the main window so that it would stay relative and change with the sizing of the window. So, when it opens it is at a smaller size, and the screen is filled, and when you make it full screen it is still scaled the same way.
There are two things that I am currently worrying about. One, I need to work on my presentation. And two, I found out that I still have a caching problem. I'm not quite sure what is going on with the caching because it was working fine the other day, and now it is back to caching previous data. So, when I add another hometown, it isn't showing up currently.
May 6, 2020
I have currently figured out one sort of aging algorithm. I was originally planning on doing it based on time, but I was having some trouble figuring out how to compare the data based on what the formatting was in C# versus the formatting in Javascript. The way that it is implemented is thru having the five most recent visitors have a green marker, and the remaining visitors have a yellow marker.
I have also added information after the enter your hometown button to show what the green and yellow markers represent. Along with working on that, I managed to configure the main window so that it would stay relative and change with the sizing of the window. So, when it opens it is at a smaller size, and the screen is filled, and when you make it full screen it is still scaled the same way.
There are two things that I am currently worrying about. One, I need to work on my presentation. And two, I found out that I still have a caching problem. I'm not quite sure what is going on with the caching because it was working fine the other day, and now it is back to caching previous data. So, when I add another hometown, it isn't showing up currently.
Almost Back to the Aging Algorithm?
April 30, 2020
I have now changed some of my code and am no longer using the Places API. Since there was a quota being hit from Google, I talked to Mike Schirger to see if he had any ideas of how to change something. Mike came up with using the GeoCode API in the C# program to get the latitude and longitude to save to the file so that there wouldn't be a quota for everytime the map was rerun. Instead, now the GeoCode API is only being called when there is a new place being added and it is only called once for that singular place. With doing this, this is making a lot more sense.
I have run into a different problem though as currently the GoogleMaps.html file is finding an old version of the locations.txt file when the application is being run, as it is not able to populate the map because the formatting is now incorrect. I can tell that the GoogleMaps.html file in general is working through as when I run the html file in chrome it goes and has pins on the map. Also when the application adds a place to the file, it is saved into the correct file, and when refreshing the GoogleMaps.html file in chrome it adds the most recently added pin to the map. So, I am currently working to fix this new problem, which isn't as major of a problem as when I was hitting the quotas.
Once I have this figured out, the aging algorithm will be back to my main priority. When I was waiting for a suggestion from Mike, I did some researching and I'm pretty sure I have a way to implement it easily with adding another parameter to the place that is added.
April 30, 2020
I have now changed some of my code and am no longer using the Places API. Since there was a quota being hit from Google, I talked to Mike Schirger to see if he had any ideas of how to change something. Mike came up with using the GeoCode API in the C# program to get the latitude and longitude to save to the file so that there wouldn't be a quota for everytime the map was rerun. Instead, now the GeoCode API is only being called when there is a new place being added and it is only called once for that singular place. With doing this, this is making a lot more sense.
I have run into a different problem though as currently the GoogleMaps.html file is finding an old version of the locations.txt file when the application is being run, as it is not able to populate the map because the formatting is now incorrect. I can tell that the GoogleMaps.html file in general is working through as when I run the html file in chrome it goes and has pins on the map. Also when the application adds a place to the file, it is saved into the correct file, and when refreshing the GoogleMaps.html file in chrome it adds the most recently added pin to the map. So, I am currently working to fix this new problem, which isn't as major of a problem as when I was hitting the quotas.
Once I have this figured out, the aging algorithm will be back to my main priority. When I was waiting for a suggestion from Mike, I did some researching and I'm pretty sure I have a way to implement it easily with adding another parameter to the place that is added.
Aging Algorithm
April 14, 2020
I am currently working on the aging algorithm currently. I have figured out how to change the color of the markers, but I need to figure out how to get the application to communicate with the map to continually check the time to then switch the color after a certain amount of time. I am trying to figure out how I can do that. One idea that I think I'm going to try and implement is through the text file where I am storing the information. If I had a field that held the data of when the pin was added and then have a field that says whether it is new or old. And if it hasn't been changed then there would be an update to the map to change the color.
A problem that I realized I have but am trying to figure out, is that there are times when the pin doesn't show up on the map after the information is entered. I found this problem when I was trying to add a few more data points, but then it didn't show up and I couldn't figure out why it didn't. I found that a different time I ran the application, it popped up though, so I'm not quite sure what I need to figure out right now, but that is also a priority to figure out right now. One thing I am trying right now is seeing if the map isn't updating itself because it doesn't think it has a reason to, but I'm not quite sure at this moment.
Also below is a diagram showing the communication between the application and the files that I have on the compsci02 server.
April 14, 2020
I am currently working on the aging algorithm currently. I have figured out how to change the color of the markers, but I need to figure out how to get the application to communicate with the map to continually check the time to then switch the color after a certain amount of time. I am trying to figure out how I can do that. One idea that I think I'm going to try and implement is through the text file where I am storing the information. If I had a field that held the data of when the pin was added and then have a field that says whether it is new or old. And if it hasn't been changed then there would be an update to the map to change the color.
A problem that I realized I have but am trying to figure out, is that there are times when the pin doesn't show up on the map after the information is entered. I found this problem when I was trying to add a few more data points, but then it didn't show up and I couldn't figure out why it didn't. I found that a different time I ran the application, it popped up though, so I'm not quite sure what I need to figure out right now, but that is also a priority to figure out right now. One thing I am trying right now is seeing if the map isn't updating itself because it doesn't think it has a reason to, but I'm not quite sure at this moment.
Also below is a diagram showing the communication between the application and the files that I have on the compsci02 server.
Entering with Places Now
April 8, 2020
With the help I have gotten from Mike Schirger, I now am hosting GoogleMaps.html on the compsci02 server. With this I also now am able to add data to a file that the GoogleMaps.html file runs through to add to the screen. He helped me in being able to transfer data between the GoogleMap and the WPF form.
I have figured out how to add places by their name now instead of using latitude and longitude. This also works when you add your information now. Looking at my requirements, the next thing that I plan on working out is the aging algorithm to have custom markers for newer hometowns entered. I plan on doing this by using the time that they were entered and saving that into the file that stores the data, and based on how long its been since the hometown was entered determine if the marker needs to be updated.
April 8, 2020
With the help I have gotten from Mike Schirger, I now am hosting GoogleMaps.html on the compsci02 server. With this I also now am able to add data to a file that the GoogleMaps.html file runs through to add to the screen. He helped me in being able to transfer data between the GoogleMap and the WPF form.
I have figured out how to add places by their name now instead of using latitude and longitude. This also works when you add your information now. Looking at my requirements, the next thing that I plan on working out is the aging algorithm to have custom markers for newer hometowns entered. I plan on doing this by using the time that they were entered and saving that into the file that stores the data, and based on how long its been since the hometown was entered determine if the marker needs to be updated.
Things are Starting to get up and Running
March 31, 2020
I am currently getting things to start getting up and running. I have currently figured out how to add a pop up dialog box to get input from the user about the their name, and hometown information. I am still trying to figure out a lot about how to use C# and the WPF but it is continuing to make more sense as I do more for this project. I have found that programming this on the application side is a lot easier than I expected it to be, but this makes a lot more sense in how to use this because of taking Mobile App Development last semester. Working with Android Studio and focusing on event programming really has helped me in understanding what I am doing right now.
I am also working with Mike Schirger to get more information on some of the Google Maps side of things. I am currently waiting for him to get a look at it and get back to me. For now my plan is to keep working on the input of the user and to start working on adding a file to store the data of user's hometowns and information about them. From there I will need to figure out how to go about connecting the HTML file I have that creates the map and the file that stores the information to see how to get the right pins to show up on the screen.
March 31, 2020
I am currently getting things to start getting up and running. I have currently figured out how to add a pop up dialog box to get input from the user about the their name, and hometown information. I am still trying to figure out a lot about how to use C# and the WPF but it is continuing to make more sense as I do more for this project. I have found that programming this on the application side is a lot easier than I expected it to be, but this makes a lot more sense in how to use this because of taking Mobile App Development last semester. Working with Android Studio and focusing on event programming really has helped me in understanding what I am doing right now.
I am also working with Mike Schirger to get more information on some of the Google Maps side of things. I am currently waiting for him to get a look at it and get back to me. For now my plan is to keep working on the input of the user and to start working on adding a file to store the data of user's hometowns and information about them. From there I will need to figure out how to go about connecting the HTML file I have that creates the map and the file that stores the information to see how to get the right pins to show up on the screen.
And there is the Map
March 23, 2020
I am definitely in a better place now. I officially have a map on the screen with some hard-coded markers there too. I still have a lot to do, but it is starting to look a lot better than it did a few weeks ago. I found that from last time, there was something super simple that had to be added to the HTML file that I edited and found on one of Google's web pages. One thing that I need to figure out in regards to the map, is that when I start the program there are some errors and pop ups that make it look like it isn't going to run at first. So there is something I need to do there.
I have also added a few buttons to start off with to start getting the input from the user. I am currently working on those to get a pop up window to have the user add data there. I am planning on using that for the user entering their hometown and for letting them search a specific hometown or specific person potentially. My main focus with that though is especially adding the hometowns. With this portion, I am also going to need to figure out how to communicate with the HTML file so that I am able to add markers with a file to the map.
Overall, I feel that I am in a better place, and I am in a place where I know what to do currently and am working out how exactly to complete it.
March 23, 2020
I am definitely in a better place now. I officially have a map on the screen with some hard-coded markers there too. I still have a lot to do, but it is starting to look a lot better than it did a few weeks ago. I found that from last time, there was something super simple that had to be added to the HTML file that I edited and found on one of Google's web pages. One thing that I need to figure out in regards to the map, is that when I start the program there are some errors and pop ups that make it look like it isn't going to run at first. So there is something I need to do there.
I have also added a few buttons to start off with to start getting the input from the user. I am currently working on those to get a pop up window to have the user add data there. I am planning on using that for the user entering their hometown and for letting them search a specific hometown or specific person potentially. My main focus with that though is especially adding the hometowns. With this portion, I am also going to need to figure out how to communicate with the HTML file so that I am able to add markers with a file to the map.
Overall, I feel that I am in a better place, and I am in a place where I know what to do currently and am working out how exactly to complete it.
A Place to Start
March 8, 2020
I am starting to feel like I am in a better place. I have changed my project completely resulting in restarting which was difficult for me to have to do, but it was necessary for me to make any progress. I am now working through this by using Visual Studio and C#. I currently have an application using a Windows Presentation Form (WPF). In working through this, I still have a few problems with trying to connect my Google Maps API key, but I have found a way to add a map to my project. I just have to find a way to tweak what I am doing to figure out that part of the problem. In the meantime I am going to try and get some of the other portions of this started with getting the textboxes and buttons for the input portion that the user will use. There is a large amount of things I need to get done, but I am feeling like I am in a much better place than I was last week at this time.
March 8, 2020
I am starting to feel like I am in a better place. I have changed my project completely resulting in restarting which was difficult for me to have to do, but it was necessary for me to make any progress. I am now working through this by using Visual Studio and C#. I currently have an application using a Windows Presentation Form (WPF). In working through this, I still have a few problems with trying to connect my Google Maps API key, but I have found a way to add a map to my project. I just have to find a way to tweak what I am doing to figure out that part of the problem. In the meantime I am going to try and get some of the other portions of this started with getting the textboxes and buttons for the input portion that the user will use. There is a large amount of things I need to get done, but I am feeling like I am in a much better place than I was last week at this time.
Mind Boggled
March 2, 2020
Over the last week, I have been looking into things that I believe could help me figure out my problem of getting the map to work, but it has been a struggle. I have plans to figure it out in the next coming days, but until then I will continue to look for ways to figure out the problem I have encountered that currently can't seem to find a way out of.
March 2, 2020
Over the last week, I have been looking into things that I believe could help me figure out my problem of getting the map to work, but it has been a struggle. I have plans to figure it out in the next coming days, but until then I will continue to look for ways to figure out the problem I have encountered that currently can't seem to find a way out of.
Work in Progress
February 24, 2020
I officially have a project underway. I have decided to do my project in java by using NetBeans. This is currently a slight struggle as I am trying to learn how to use NetBeans as I have never used it before. I also have encountered a slight problem potentially, as I have been working to get the map on the screen. I have been messing with the Google Maps API library and trying to put it into my project, but I don't think that has been going very well as of this far. I think if I can get a handle on NetBeans, it should make it easier to figure out the problem that I am currently encountering.
February 24, 2020
I officially have a project underway. I have decided to do my project in java by using NetBeans. This is currently a slight struggle as I am trying to learn how to use NetBeans as I have never used it before. I also have encountered a slight problem potentially, as I have been working to get the map on the screen. I have been messing with the Google Maps API library and trying to put it into my project, but I don't think that has been going very well as of this far. I think if I can get a handle on NetBeans, it should make it easier to figure out the problem that I am currently encountering.
Poster Board Sessions
February 15, 2020
We had poster board sessions to go over our topics the other day and I got a lot of good feedback from my peers. I have a lot of idea that I am starting to think about. One of the biggest things that I was concerned about I think is starting to make sense. I got feedback on how to find ways to implement the maps, I think I found a repository that might work. The main thing I am going to be working on right now is getting that to work as I currently don't know if that will work for sure.
I did get some good feedback on things to add to this once I am able to get things working. I plan on making it so that the user is able to add their hometown information by using the map to find their hometown or being able to enter it themselves. I also plan on making another section where the user is able to find another user or find who is from a certain hometown.
February 15, 2020
We had poster board sessions to go over our topics the other day and I got a lot of good feedback from my peers. I have a lot of idea that I am starting to think about. One of the biggest things that I was concerned about I think is starting to make sense. I got feedback on how to find ways to implement the maps, I think I found a repository that might work. The main thing I am going to be working on right now is getting that to work as I currently don't know if that will work for sure.
I did get some good feedback on things to add to this once I am able to get things working. I plan on making it so that the user is able to add their hometown information by using the map to find their hometown or being able to enter it themselves. I also plan on making another section where the user is able to find another user or find who is from a certain hometown.
The Main Obstacle
February 12, 2020
I have found that my main struggle right now is trying to figure out a way to implement the map. I have been looking into it for the last week and been coming across problems when I find something that could work. I have also been looking into Mike Schirger's project from last year's capstone projects as he used google maps in his project. I plan on meeting with Dr. Pankratz or Dr. McVey to see what their ideas are as I feel like I am stuck currently. On a positive side, I think I have mainly figured out the layout that I want to use. I plan on seeing if there are things that could be better for the layout during our poster board sessions, because I think that is something that I could get useful feedback from by my peers.
February 12, 2020
I have found that my main struggle right now is trying to figure out a way to implement the map. I have been looking into it for the last week and been coming across problems when I find something that could work. I have also been looking into Mike Schirger's project from last year's capstone projects as he used google maps in his project. I plan on meeting with Dr. Pankratz or Dr. McVey to see what their ideas are as I feel like I am stuck currently. On a positive side, I think I have mainly figured out the layout that I want to use. I plan on seeing if there are things that could be better for the layout during our poster board sessions, because I think that is something that I could get useful feedback from by my peers.
Starting Out
February 5, 2020
I am currently looking into how exactly I can implement maps into my program. I am also working on how I am going to design the sections of pages and pop up options. I am also trying to figure out what language I am going to program this in. I am currently leaning towards Java or C#, but I haven't decided if that is the best option yet.
February 5, 2020
I am currently looking into how exactly I can implement maps into my program. I am also working on how I am going to design the sections of pages and pop up options. I am also trying to figure out what language I am going to program this in. I am currently leaning towards Java or C#, but I haven't decided if that is the best option yet.