How to setCenter mapview with location in google maps sdk for iOS

Question

How to setCenter mapview with location in google maps sdk for iOS? With mapkit we can do setCenter:Location. How do this with google maps sdk for iOS.

Answer 1

Create a new camera with the GMSCameraPosition constructor

+ (GMSCameraPosition *)cameraWithTarget:(CLLocationCoordinate2D)target zoom:(CGFloat)zoom

then use the method

- (void)animateToCameraPosition:(GMSCameraPosition *)cameraPosition;

---

You can also just use

- (void)animateToLocation:(CLLocationCoordinate2D)location;

but the previous allows you to change the zoom, bearing, and viewing angle within the camera constructor if you want more control over the final appearance of the camera.

Answer 2

I use this helper method:

- (void)focusOnCoordinate:(CLLocationCoordinate2D) coordinate {
  [self.mapView animateToLocation:coordinate];
  [self.mapView animateToBearing:0];
  [self.mapView animateToViewingAngle:0];
  [self.mapView animateToZoom:ZOOM_LEVEL];
}

Answer 3

as stated in my comments above, the 'animate...' solutions do not provide true center (provides top center instead), and 'moveCamera:' does indeed provide true center (but doesn't animate).

my only work around was to add call to 'animateToZoom:' after call to 'moveCamera:'. this provides true center and adds some 'illusive' animation to center.

[mapView moveCamera:[GMSCameraUpdate setTarget:marker.position]];
[mapView animateToZoom:zoom_marker_select];

update: more elegant animation solution with zoom out, then zoom back in and true center (on marker tap).

#define zoom_marker_select 17.0f

// GMSMapViewDelegate callback
- (BOOL)mapView:(GMSMapView *)mview didTapMarker:(GMSMarker *)marker
{    
   [self animateToCenterMarker:marker zoom:zoom_marker_select];

   // NO = should continue with its default selection behavior (ie. display info window)
   return NO;
}

// custom true center with animation function
- (void)animateToCenterMarker:(GMSMarker*)marker zoom:(float)zoom
{
    /*
     NOTE: '[mapView animateToLocation:marker.position]' (or others like it below)
        does NOT provide true center, they provide top center instead
        only found 'moveCamera:' to provide true center (but animation doesn't occur)
        - workaround: add call to 'animateToZoom:' right after 'moveCamera:' call
        - elegant workaround: zoom out, center, then zoom in (animation sequnce below)
     */
    //[mapView animateToLocation:marker.position];
    //[mapView animateToCameraPosition:marker.position];
    //[mapView animateWithCameraUpdate:[GMSCameraUpdate setTarget:marker.position]];

   [CATransaction begin];
      [CATransaction setAnimationDuration:0.5f];
      [CATransaction setCompletionBlock:^{

          // 2) move camera to true center:
          //     - without animation
          //     - while zoomed out
          [mapView moveCamera:[GMSCameraUpdate setTarget:marker.position]];

          [CATransaction begin];
              [CATransaction setAnimationDuration:0.5f];

              // 3) animate dur 0.5f:
              //     - zoom back in to desired level
              [mapView animateToZoom:zoom];
          [CATransaction commit];
      }];

      // 1) animate dur 0.5f:
      //     - zoom out to current zoom - 1
      //     - set location to top center of selected marker
      //     - set bearing to true north (if desired)
      float zoomout = mapView.camera.zoom -1;
      [mapView animateToZoom:zoomout];
      [mapView animateToLocation:marker.position];
      [mapView animateToBearing:0];
   [CATransaction commit];
}

note: if you want to set your own coords just replace marker.position with your own CLLocationCoordinate2D