Maps and Timelines

After a bit of a struggle, I successfully created my first Google Map! ย The tutorial page was extremely helpful, and the bit that Ryan told us about south and west coordinates definitely saved me a lot of frustration. My struggles didn’t originate from using the spreadsheet and filling out each pertinent cell–they actually came from the apparent speed at which I was editing the sheet. I personally don’t think I was moving too quickly, but apparently the spreadsheet did. I kept receiving error messages about the script, and I had no idea what it was talking about until I read Jessica’s post and saw that she had encountered the same problem. I ended up removing almost all of the rows that I wasn’t using (the spreadsheet gives you 1,000 to begin with…why someone would need that many, I do not know). That way there was less for myself and for the spreadsheet to deal with. I tried entering information less rapidly and giving the sheet more time to update. Finally, when the KML was ready, I again encountered a problem. Even though the KML was ready, the first tab (“start here”) would not give me a link to go view my map. I got pretty frustrated, and ended up just closing the tabs and my laptop and taking a shower. When I came back and opened up my Google Drive, the spreadsheet was ready for me, this time with a link. Finally, my map was done!

Lessons learned: Do not rapidly edit the spreadsheet. (And if you do, give the sheet a few minutes to update itself and catch up with you). Once the KML is ready and you’ve published the sheet, be patient. It may not give you the link to view the map. Try waiting a few minutes, and if it still won’t reveal its secrets, then just close the tabs and come back a little while later.

I just finished my timeline, which I had immense amounts of fun making. The timeline was so much simpler to create than a Google map, and I think it would be a great resource for our project. We have already discussed using it in a number of different ways, such as for general WWI events or for specific events in Fredericksburg or at UMW. It will be a great way to aid our viewers in keeping track of everything! Enjoy my love story of Brick Tamland and Lamp (from Anchorman).

Also, I am in the process of subscribing to all of my classmates’ blogs on feedly.

5 thoughts on “Maps and Timelines”

  1. I’m glad the map finally worked!! I didn’t even think to delete the rows I wasn’t using, but I’m sure that definitely helped since it is such a sensitive tool. You have some really cool places on your map! I can say that the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is really cool ๐Ÿ™‚ Lastly, I also really like this theme that you are using for this blog! The fade effects are pretty and I like the simplicity of it.

    1. It was such a relief to have it finally work! I think deleting the rows just helps the sheet process more quickly, especially since 1,000 rows are a lot to start out with. Agh I’m so jealous!!! I’ve been dying to go to WWoHP but just haven’t had the time/money, and then after renovation rumors came out a couple years ago, I decided I was going to wait until they finished everything.

      Thank you! ๐Ÿ™‚ Apparently I am drawn to minimalist themes, haha. I would like to change a bit of the fade effects and whatnot, which I know is under opacity, but I haven’t felt like messing with my CSS sheet lately.

  2. I like that you mentioned closing the tabs and leaving it for a while. My map got a little stuck, so I just left it and went to dinner. When I got back it worked! Might not have done that if you didn’t mention it worked for you. Also, I really like your subject choice for your timeline!

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