Google Maps API geocoder, restricting by bounds

Question

I am trying to restrict the returned addresses from Google Maps geocoder API like so:

var geocoder = new google.maps.Geocoder();
var auVicSwLatLon = new google.maps.LatLng(-39.234713, 140.962526);
var auVicNeLatLon = new google.maps.LatLng(-33.981125, 149.975296);
var auVicLatLonBounds = new google.maps.LatLngBounds(auVicSwLatLon, auVicNeLatLon);
geocoder.geocode(
  {
    address: searchStr,
    region: 'AU',
    // bounds: auVicLatLonBounds,
  },
  function(results, status) {
    // ... do stuff here
  }
);

Restriction using region works. However restriction using bounds does no - when I uncomment the bounds attribute above, I get no results. Leave it commented, I get results from all over Australia.

Is there something I have done wrong here?

Thanks!

Additional info:

Relevant documentation here:

https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/javascript/geocoding

and here:

https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/javascript/reference#Geocoder

Note that the values I have used in LatLngBounds are for that of the state of Victoria (VIC). That is really what I am trying to achieve here. Thus if you know of an alternative way to accomplish this, please also answer this question!

What happens when you use the bounds without the region? Perhaps they cannot be used together. — Andrew Leach
Maybe this was an temporarily bug. I was trying it, and it didn't work, but now I get results. — Dr.Molle
@AndrewLeach : Yeah, I have tried that, dounds without region... unfortunately, to no avail.. — bguiz

Arthur G Arthur G · Accepted Answer · 2014-04-24T02:46:34

Why don't you manually look for the results that satisfy the bounding requirements?

I iterate through the results and check the first one of them that is within a restricted area using lat and lng values. You could also get all the results that fall inside.

function searchFromAddress() {
    var address = document.getElementById("txtBxAddress").value;
    // Check if input is not empty
    if (address.length < 1) {
        return;
    }
    var geocoder = new google.maps.Geocoder();
    geocoder.geocode({ 'address': address },
        function (results, status) {
            if (status == google.maps.GeocoderStatus.OK) {
                var point;

                // Find first location inside restricted area
                for (var i = 0 ; i < results.length ; i++) {
                    point = results[i].geometry.location;
                    // I compare my lng values this way because their are negative
                    if (point.lat() > latMin && point.lat() < latMax && point.lng() < lngMin && point.lng() > lngMax) {
                        map.setCenter(point);
                        var marker = new google.maps.Marker({
                            position: point,
                            map: map,
                            title: "You are here",
                            icon: home_pin
                        });
                        break;
                    }
                    // No results inside our area
                    if (i == (results.length - 1)) {
                        alert("Try again");
                    }
                }
            }
        });
}

Google Maps API geocoder, restricting by bounds

1 Answers