14 Part I — Basics
If you are having problems, ensure that you have enabled JavaScript in your browser (some users
disable it for security reasons). If that doesn’t work, check the help section of the Google Maps
web site (http://local.google.com/support).Examining the Main Interface.
The main, basic interface of Google Local (and the Google Maps API) is incredibly intuitive
and straightforward. You can select a map, move it around, and zoom in and out to find the
area you want to see. Figure 2-1 shows a typical Google Maps screen.When developing your own mapping application, you have the ability to alter the look and feel
of the page, including any surrounding text and graphics.At the top of the page is a search field that you can use to search the Google Local database for
locations, businesses, and points of interest that you want to be shown on a map.FIGURE2-1: The standard Google Local interface.