Software for Creating Location Maps

[therk]

Hi All!

First of all... I apologize if you are a member of several different web forums as I am desperately trying to find a solution to this situation...

I have a retail client who wants to do Direct Marketing with postcards to various mailing lists. Depending on the zip code, each postcard will contain a Google type map showing the streets and roads with the specific location.

Well, this client has 2000+ different locations and won't be willing to pay the money for someone to illustrate each location.

Does anyone know of a plug-in or software, or something that works with Google or creates Google-like maps to help quickly create these "location maps". I know of one option with Google Earth, but that will still take forever to do, and I don't know if they will be print worthy.

Any ideas would be helpful.

Thanks,
therk

[ianm]

personally i'd just screen grab the google map screen, pull it into freehand, illustrator, corel, etc and draw it - much easier than panicking

[therk]

ianm... thanks for the response. That would be the last resort... however when you have to create 2000+ different maps... I could do it, but it would take forever, plus my client would not be willing to pay the price to accomplish such a major task.

I am looking for an easier solution first :)

[tommylogic]

something like this might work... I assume they have a CD with a database of multiple adresses.
it's called geocoding... Google has the ability to do this now through their API, search around for tutorials. Previously you had to rely on third-party services to perform the task.. here is one of them.
Map Multiple Locations by Address

Otherwise search around for the appropriate geocoding google map tutorial such as this one...
Introducing Google's Geocoding Service

Maybe that'll work, let me know if you think its appropriate.

[therk]

tommylogic... That is actually the same thing I was referring to with Google Earth. It is a faster solution, but still could be a pain to eventually accomplish.

Someone in another forum just recommended FileMaker, and that the latest versions have an option that might work.

[tommylogic]

yeah I saw that... FileMaker Pro