You probably need a script automation that repeats the process and I’m not sure it can be done. I never use Google Maps or the maps extension because (a) Google is pricey, and (b) Mapbox is more programmable and able to work a little easier in event-driven processes.
I don’t know JavaScript.
If it were me, I would just do this without any coding by using Make.com to “get a static map image” from Google Maps.
This feature is built directly into Make:
MapBox isn’t supported by either Make or Zapier, but you could always create your own custom HTTP calls to MapBox by using the HTTP module:
I don’t know JavaScript.
If it were me, I would just do this without any coding by using Make.com to “get a static map image” from Google Maps.
This feature is built directly into Make:
MapBox isn’t supported by either Make or Zapier, but you could always create your own custom HTTP calls to MapBox by using the HTTP module:
I have spent 30 minutes on Make and it seems more complicated than setting stuff up in Airtable
What are you having difficulty with? It’s mostly drag-and-drop. Post a screenshot of what you’re trying to do.
What are you having difficulty with? It’s mostly drag-and-drop. Post a screenshot of what you’re trying to do.
just simply trying to get Make to use an address from a field in airtable, to use the google maps static map image feature and then return the static image to an attachment field in airtable for the same record
I know, that’s the same thing that you said in your original post.
If you know how to craft your own API calls with the HTTP module, MapBox might be easier, like @Bill.French said. You may even want to do this with DataFetcher.com.
Otherwise, I have this working just fine with Make & Google Maps – below is what it looks like.
You’re probably getting stuck because Google Maps returns an image, but Airtable requires a URL. That’s why you always need to upload your images to a cloud drive first to get a valid URL:
just simply trying to get Make to use an address from a field in airtable, to use the google maps static map image feature and then return the static image to an attachment field in airtable for the same record
If you don’t instinctively know exactly what to do to address this requirement using automation script and MapBox, you are unlikely to succeed at the approach I use. That leaves you with three outs -
- Hire someone to build the automation process for you.
- Learn Make and do it yourself.
- Hire Scott to set it up in Make so you’ll know how to do it using a no-code approach that will be beneficial for possibly other requirements.
As to #1, I’m slammed until mid 2024, but there are a lot of great consultants here in the community.
As a newcomer to that platform, to master Make to solve this challenge, you’ll need at least 16 times that effort. This is why Make consultants are so valuable - they charge a lot, but they get the project on its feet in minutes.
If you don’t instinctively know exactly what to do to address this requirement using automation script and MapBox, you are unlikely to succeed at the approach I use. That leaves you with three outs -
- Hire someone to build the automation process for you.
- Learn Make and do it yourself.
- Hire Scott to set it up in Make so you’ll know how to do it using a no-code approach that will be beneficial for possibly other requirements.
As to #1, I’m slammed until mid 2024, but there are a lot of great consultants here in the community.
As a newcomer to that platform, to master Make to solve this challenge, you’ll need at least 16 times that effort. This is why Make consultants are so valuable - they charge a lot, but they get the project on its feet in minutes.
got this set up today as a scripted automation in Airtable with about 30 minutes of support from https://www.vivid-squid.com
got this set up today as a scripted automation in Airtable with about 30 minutes of support from https://www.vivid-squid.com
Excellent. You should share your approach here so others can follow in your footsteps.
Excellent. You should share your approach here so others can follow in your footsteps.
That kinda depends on the nature of the help from Vivid Squid, and how both parties feel about sharing information that might have been part of a paid consultation.
I’m all for sharing solutions, but it can tricky to find the right balance when the solution involves intellectual property, as can be the case with a scripting solution.
That kinda depends on the nature of the help from Vivid Squid, and how both parties feel about sharing information that might have been part of a paid consultation.
I’m all for sharing solutions, but it can tricky to find the right balance when the solution involves intellectual property, as can be the case with a scripting solution.
This is why I suggested he share the “approach”, not the details.
I use this community to read how others have accomplished success or met failure. I don’t ask them for code. But when I spend 15 minutes reading a topic only to find the last post says something like “I solved it.”, it is extremely irritating and especially so when lots of people chimed in with assistance.
The success of a community like this is dependent upon answers, guideposts, and other clues so that less-informed users don’t have to start from scratch or spend endless days exploring all the slot canyons for a way out.
Magellan escorted no one to their destination, but his maps provided millions of people with information that kept them alive.
This is why I suggested he share the “approach”, not the details.
I use this community to read how others have accomplished success or met failure. I don’t ask them for code. But when I spend 15 minutes reading a topic only to find the last post says something like “I solved it.”, it is extremely irritating and especially so when lots of people chimed in with assistance.
The success of a community like this is dependent upon answers, guideposts, and other clues so that less-informed users don’t have to start from scratch or spend endless days exploring all the slot canyons for a way out.
Magellan escorted no one to their destination, but his maps provided millions of people with information that kept them alive.
I agree with @Bill.French’s assessment.
Another thing that irritates me is when people like the original author show absolutely no gratitude or appreciation for the people who are trying to help by volunteering their time. It is also irritating when authors provide no additional context to their problems.
Note that the original author tagged me in the original post — even though I have no JavaScript expertise & I have zero expertise in mapping — but for some reason, he decided to tag me.
And even though I provided the complete solution to him (in a no-code/low-code way) with a screenshot from Make, there was zero gratitude from the author.
Also, when I asked the author to provide screenshots or additional information on why he wasn’t able to get it working in Make, he provided no additional details.
This is why I have now blocked the original author, so I won’t mistakenly give him help in the future.
I agree with @Bill.French’s assessment.
Another thing that irritates me is when people like the original author show absolutely no gratitude or appreciation for the people who are trying to help by volunteering their time. It is also irritating when authors provide no additional context to their problems.
Note that the original author tagged me in the original post — even though I have no JavaScript expertise & I have zero expertise in mapping — but for some reason, he decided to tag me.
And even though I provided the complete solution to him (in a no-code/low-code way) with a screenshot from Make, there was zero gratitude from the author.
Also, when I asked the author to provide screenshots or additional information on why he wasn’t able to get it working in Make, he provided no additional details.
This is why I have now blocked the original author, so I won’t mistakenly give him help in the future.
You’re right, I’m sorry - you guys are all great for helping people and I did a horrible job here.
I won’t bother anyone on this forum in the future.
I agree with @Bill.French’s assessment.
Another thing that irritates me is when people like the original author show absolutely no gratitude or appreciation for the people who are trying to help by volunteering their time. It is also irritating when authors provide no additional context to their problems.
Note that the original author tagged me in the original post — even though I have no JavaScript expertise & I have zero expertise in mapping — but for some reason, he decided to tag me.
And even though I provided the complete solution to him (in a no-code/low-code way) with a screenshot from Make, there was zero gratitude from the author.
Also, when I asked the author to provide screenshots or additional information on why he wasn’t able to get it working in Make, he provided no additional details.
This is why I have now blocked the original author, so I won’t mistakenly give him help in the future.
I don’t have time to block anyone, but I also don’t have endless resources to give either. But I see your point.
I think it’s about the spirit of paying-it-forward; I don’t expect anything in return for my comments (which tend to be worthless in many cases), but I do expect a certain degree of sharing to expand the knowledge base and the conversation of specific challenges that users face.
You’re right, I’m sorry - you guys are all great for helping people and I did a horrible job here.
I won’t bother anyone on this forum in the future.
That’s not the reaction anyone wants to see. This community is a wonderful resource BECAUSE you and everyone (for that matter) “bothered” us. :winking_face: Without expressing your challenges, there would be no knowledge. As such, I encourage the opposite - continue to bother the community with questions and help us document the pathways to better apps.
That’s not the reaction anyone wants to see. This community is a wonderful resource BECAUSE you and everyone (for that matter) “bothered” us. :winking_face: Without expressing your challenges, there would be no knowledge. As such, I encourage the opposite - continue to bother the community with questions and help us document the pathways to better apps.
well Bill - I’m working 60-70 hours a week right now wearing multiple hats for multiple companies (none of which is being a developer) - I was in a hurry last night - and just wanted to let people (who offered to help) that the problem was solved so they (or no one else) would bother/waste time chiming in since the issue was resolved. I didn’t have time last night to type out a detailed response on why I did it this way and not using a no-code solution or how it was solved. Instead of taking the high road - some people choose to slam me for what I did or didn’t do. Like you, I don’t have time for that. So fine - I’m done.
I don’t have time to block anyone, but I also don’t have endless resources to give either. But I see your point.
I think it’s about the spirit of paying-it-forward; I don’t expect anything in return for my comments (which tend to be worthless in many cases), but I do expect a certain degree of sharing to expand the knowledge base and the conversation of specific challenges that users face.
Yep! I’m all about “paying it forward”! :cowboy_hat_face: Some people only care about themselves, though. :man_shrugging:
well Bill - I’m working 60-70 hours a week right now wearing multiple hats for multiple companies (none of which is being a developer) - I was in a hurry last night - and just wanted to let people (who offered to help) that the problem was solved so they (or no one else) would bother/waste time chiming in since the issue was resolved. I didn’t have time last night to type out a detailed response on why I did it this way and not using a no-code solution or how it was solved. Instead of taking the high road - some people choose to slam me for what I did or didn’t do. Like you, I don’t have time for that. So fine - I’m done.
Fair enough. Times are tough for the working few who are doing deep work. Best wishes on future challenges.
This is why I suggested he share the “approach”, not the details.
I use this community to read how others have accomplished success or met failure. I don’t ask them for code. But when I spend 15 minutes reading a topic only to find the last post says something like “I solved it.”, it is extremely irritating and especially so when lots of people chimed in with assistance.
The success of a community like this is dependent upon answers, guideposts, and other clues so that less-informed users don’t have to start from scratch or spend endless days exploring all the slot canyons for a way out.
Magellan escorted no one to their destination, but his maps provided millions of people with information that kept them alive.
It sounds like the approach is to use a scripting automation provided by Vivid Squid. Since the original poster wasn’t able to write the script himself, he may not be able to share more details.
I agree that when someone gets help, etiquette calls for a follow up with appropriate details. It can be tricky to determine what level of detail is appropriate.
In this case, the original poster judged that posting who he used (presumably paid) to get the answer was the level of detail that he was comfortable with. I think this is better than not returning at all. I also wondered if he felt pressured to share info that he had paid for.
well Bill - I’m working 60-70 hours a week right now wearing multiple hats for multiple companies (none of which is being a developer) - I was in a hurry last night - and just wanted to let people (who offered to help) that the problem was solved so they (or no one else) would bother/waste time chiming in since the issue was resolved. I didn’t have time last night to type out a detailed response on why I did it this way and not using a no-code solution or how it was solved. Instead of taking the high road - some people choose to slam me for what I did or didn’t do. Like you, I don’t have time for that. So fine - I’m done.
Thank you for coming back and posting that the issue was solved and directing people to the resource that ultimately worked for you.
I’m sorry that Scott’s solution did not work for you. Different people sometimes need different approaches that work for them.
Was glancing through this post's old messages and figured I just leave an update about the Automation Script that Airtable provides that now accomplishes this. 
Add image from Google Maps
This script populates an attachment field with an image from Google Maps using a field with an address. In order to use this script, you'll need a Google Maps API key with the Maps Static API enabled.
