How to obtain your own mapping/geocoding key
To get a Google Maps API key:
- Go to https://console.developers.google.com/apis/api/maps_backend/overview and sign in with a valid Google account (or create a new one).
- Click "Create project" and give it any name you want. Agree to Google's Terms & Conditions. You will come to a screen describing the Google Maps JavaScript API. Click the "Enable" button.
- You should get a message that you need to create credentials. Click the "Go to Credentials" button.
- On the "Add credentials to your project" screen, ensure that "Google Maps JavaScript API" is selected from the first menu, and in the "Where will you be calling the API from" menu, choose "Web browser", then click "What credentials do I need?"
- Give the key any name you like. (You can leave the "allowed referers" box blank, but don't give out your key to other people.) Click "Create API key" and your key will appear. It will be 39 characters long and will probably start with 'AI'.
- To retrieve your key again in the future (or create additional keys), just go back to the Google Developers Console and then use the "Credentials" link under "API Manager" in the left sidebar.
- If you needed a key to "fix" a GPS Visualizer map that no longer works without one, open your map in a text editor and look for var google_api_key = ''; and insert your key (with NO spaces) between the quotes. (Also, search for file:// and replace it with xxxx:// if you find it.)
To get a Bing Maps API key:
- Go to http://www.bingmapsportal.com/, and sign in with your Microsoft account (or create a new account).
- Click on "My Account," then "My Keys."
- Enter your name or company as the Application name, and select "Basic" as your key type and "Website" as the application type.
- Your new key will appear on the "My keys" page; it will be 64 characters long and will probably begin with "A".