TNG Remove Google Earth Links

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steven
Posts: 133
Joined: Sun Oct 01, 2017 3:08 pm

TNG Remove Google Earth Links

Post by steven »

The first version of this mod was named Hide Google Earth Links and written in July 2020. I should have placed it on the TNG WIKI because the WIKI now has a mod with the exact same name.
This mod was renamed to avoid confusion.
 
This mod removes the Google Earth Link icons and links but does not remove the Google Maps links. Those links load on a new tab in a new browser window so does not affect your website's count on the Google Map API. If you want to disable all Google Map links, download Hide Google Earth Links from the TNG WIKI.


When Google decided to charge non-commercial websites for using Google Maps, I switched to Open Street Maps. The primary reason is the way Google charges for hits to the map API. While Google claims they do not count Googlebot hits, they do not mention msnbot, bingbot, applebot or any of the other bots that access my website. TNG has an option to turn maps off until a user clicks on it but I did not want to use it.

While OSM lacks some of the finer detail, it does have a satellite view. Additionally OSM shows many township and county lines that Google removed, unless you do a specific search for them. Even after a search when you zoom in the lines disappear. OSM does not change map links, so place pin links to Google Maps and Google Earth KLM (Keyhole Markup Language) links remain. I like the Google Maps place pin links but was not a fan of Google Earth links. Those links require users either download KLM files or install Google Earth software to externally display the file apart from TNG. Google's next step may be to start charging for Google Earth as well. I have to admit if you install Google Earth Pro it has great graphics and zooms to the location you select from TNG.

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If you are a Google Earth fan, this mod is not for you. The mod removes the Google Earth links but leaves TNG map pin links for Google Maps. So clicking a map pin will not affect loading Google Maps in a new browser window. The mod works with either Google Maps or OSM Maps.

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For TNG v14.0.3
remove_google_earth_links_v14.0.3.1.zip
(828 Bytes) Downloaded 165 times

Revisions:
Renamed mod to avoid conflict with TNG WIKI mod with the same name create in 2022.
Rewrote to use less code with the same result.

For TNG v12.3 to v13.1.1.
hidegooglelinks_v12.3.0.0.zip
(932 Bytes) Downloaded 785 times


INACTIVE:
hidegooglelinks_v14.0.3.1.zip
(884 Bytes) Downloaded 4 times
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