How to change dataProvider link

[ghost]

If I want to use the MakerMap code (with its simple GUI and tag functions), how do I change the already set database of hack spaces to a new database of for example Houston resources for the homeless? I'm new to databases and servers so any help would be appreciated.

[joscha]

I believe you have to hook up a Google Form to Google Fusion Tables (and some sync between those two) to make it work. These resources are not part of this repo, maybe @bobthecow knows more and/or could add this information to the README?

[bobthecow]

The Google Form/Fusion Tables/sync bit is actually an ugly mess and I wouldn't wish it on anyone :)

You'll need to set up your own Fusion Table (that's the data provider). Here's the gist of how that works: https://support.google.com/fusiontables/answer/2527132?hl=en

We use a Google Form that populates a spreadsheet in Google Docs, and we run a script to geocode the addresses in that spreadsheet then sync them to Fusion Tables. This is the part that's awful. It takes forever to run, it's not robust at all, it breaks all the time. The code we based it on (provided by Google themselves) is absolutely horrid. So don't do what we do :)

Probably your easiest bet would be to populate the Fusion Table yourself from the web interface, especially if there aren't a ton of resources or they don't change very often. This way you could cut out the inevitable headache.

[joscha]

@bobthecow thanks for the explanation! We will look into it - I was maybe thinking https://fusion-tables-api-samples.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/FusionTablesFormSync/docs/reference.html but it also sounds very makeshift. I will look for something more robust then I guess and send any updates here.

CC @Amakaruk @trizcs

[bobthecow]

Yes. That's the one. Don't do it. It's really bad.