Here are two more "free" options:

1. Load PostgreSQL with the add-on PostGIS and use the shp2pgsql
program to import the data. It can be easily dumped into just about
any (KML, Tab deliminted, imagination limited) format from there.

2. Use Perl and the shapefile module to open and read the contents.
There may be a PHP equivalent as well.

I might add that if you plan on using GPolygon objects to display
states, you may run into some difficulty displaying more than a few of
them. Some state boundaries are quite complex and consume a lot of
browser resources. You might consider creating tiles or image overlays
instead. Check out this workshop for a good demonstration on how to
build both using data from the Census:

http://www.usnaviguide.com/ws-2008-02/presentation.pdf

Also, available on YouTube. Search Google for "coryat google youtube
custom maps" for the exact URL.

-John Coryat

http://maps.huge.info

http://www.usnaviguide.com
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups 
"Google Maps API" group.
To post to this group, send email to [email protected]
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
For more options, visit this group at 
http://groups.google.com/group/Google-Maps-API?hl=en
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

Reply via email to