stop idle event in Google Maps API v3

Question

I'm using a Google map with markers setup to show locations on a map. I'm using the idle event to determine when to submit the request for new data, so that when a user pans or zooms the map, an ajax service will be called and the markers will be updated to find locations in the new viewport.

The problem is that when a user clicks on a marker to pop up the infowindow, the map often moves slightly to center the infowindow-- which triggers another idle event and resets the map, closing the infowindow.

Is there a best practice for this? Is there a way to disable the idle listener when an infowindow is opened, or is there a standard workaround?

Try with infowindow option disableAutoPan: true: Disable auto-pan on open. By default, the info window will pan the map so that it is fully visible when it opens. — Anto Jurković
@AntoJurković-- thanks-- that's a good thought, but then the user will most likely pan it himself to see the whole infowindow, so the problem repeats itself. I think I would need some way to disable the idle event if an infowindow is open, or some workaround like that. — user101289

johnventions johnventions · Accepted Answer · 2014-06-05T20:49:54

I had similar issue with my googleMaps and here was my workaround....

During my call for Markers, I downloaded points beyond the viewport. For example.... If my N bound lat was 85 and my S bound was 88, I would pull points between 83 and 90 latitude.

viewportN = 85;
viewportS = 88;
searchBoundN = 83;
searchBoundS = 90;

When you click on the marker, it auto-pans you so that your Northbound is now 84. You put an if statement in your idle function that says:

 map.addListener("idle", function () {
      //get map viewport bounds
       .....
      // check if you're in territory that doesn't have markers
      if (viewPortN < searchBoundN || viewportS > searchBoundS || <<repeat for E, W>>) {
           refreshMarkers();
      }
});

This should solve your problem. It tells your script to only refresh the markers after a large move. I have my map pulling markers from twice the area of the viewport, just to be safe. It also keeps your data from refreshing from minor pans, which will lower the number of requests to your server.

stop idle event in Google Maps API v3

2 Answers