How to open a Bing Maps from vb.net ?

Question

I would like to pass and address to and open Bing Maps from a vb.net app. Anywhere I can find an example of how to do this?

Answer 1

Try the nerd dinner asp.net mvc tutorial. It's near the end and you can download a working example

http://tinyurl.com/aspnetmvc

Answer 2

You're going to want to check out the Bing Maps Web Services SDK. It allows you to use Bing to Geocode (retrieve a location from an address) as well as Download Imagery Data. Another place for Bing developers information can be found here.

Edit: I just reread your question and I think you can do what you need using a simple string concatenation to create a url. This might work:

Dim MyURL As String
Dim Location As String
Location = "Pittsburgh, PA"
MyURL = "http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&where1=" + HttpUtility.UrlEncode(Location) + "&encType=1"
System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(MyURL)

My VB is a little rusty, but this should get you started. You will also need to import the System.Web Namespace for the HttpUtility Class.

Refrences:

• Launch Browser from VB.NET
• HttpUtility.UrlEncode Method - MSDN
• Bing URL Parameters

Answer 3

'In addition to kersney's example this uses the webbrowser control in a vb form

Imports System.Web

Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
    Dim Location As String = "Pittsburgh, PA"
    Dim MyURL As String = "http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&where1=" + HttpUtility.UrlEncode(Location)
    Dim WebBrowser1 As New WebBrowser
    Me.WindowState = FormWindowState.Maximized 'maximize window
    Me.Controls.Add(WebBrowser1) 'add browser control
    WebBrowser1.Dock = DockStyle.Fill   'fill to form
    WebBrowser1.Navigate(MyURL) 'display page in form
End Sub