maps

[jeg]

I have not been able to get a correct map display on google maps for quite some time. I get the text "For development purpose only". I am sure that I am using the correct API key. But also the name search in the map does not work. Neither GeoNames.org nor Google. What am I doing wrong?

[Mario]

When Google displays this message your account has expired, you have not enabled the correct APIs (see https://www.photools.com/imatch/api-keys-explained/) or your account is not linked with a payment method. Since about June 2019 Google requires all accounts to be linked to a payment method (credit card), even if you never exceed your free quota.

You can check all that after logging into your account:

https://console.developers.google.com/apis/dashboard

[pmbvw]

I had the same problem in the last two months and today I had the time to search the reason.

Over a year I had no problem  with the google API, but the problem started one month ago.

My problem was, that my Visa-Credit-Card expired and I got no advice from google.
They only  canceled my Google-Cloud Service.

After correcting my Visa-Card in Google and creating a new Google cloud service with a new API all works like before 

[Mario]

Thanks for the info.
Usually Google will send you an email shortly before the card expires. Maybe it was SPAM-filtered or something.


I know that dealing with this is overly complex for 'normal' users who just want to use the Map Panel.
I would prefer to do it all on my servers so users can just use the Map Panel, reverse-geocoding, the AutoTagger etc. without dealing with accounts and credit cards.

Unfortunately, I don't have the money to pay for all that.
I would have to pay for all cost generated from all IMatch users
That' may be feasible with a subscription based model, but IMatch uses perpetual licenses.

The big companies like Adobe have special deals with Google, big law departments and millions of subscribers to balance the cost for the Google services they include in their products (e.g. Lightroom).
But only as long as your subscription runs, else these services are cut-off immediately.
And you have no choice, you have to take what Adobe offers. Which means that your data ends up at Google, which is disliked by many, and may even be illegal in your country.

Hence I support multiple services to chose from, but also require users to get their own credentials with these services.

[pmbvw]

Thank you Mario for your explanation.
I first saw your reply today 

Normally all is fine and I never had to pay for my relatively few google-calls

It only was hard to find the reason "VISA expired"