LIMBs are Labels In the Map Border.

For years they have been used on paper maps to label roads as they leave the map. They often indicate which town or city the road leads to.

Maps are no longer static. Electronic maps don't need to show the same information that was provided on the edge of a paper map.

Instead LIMBs can allow you to see and interact with features that are off the map.

This JavaScript library creates LIMBs for Google Maps that do just that.

If you already have a Google Map that contains a Marker then you are one line of code away from tracking the marker in the map border.

First import the script:

<script type="text/javascript" src="gmaplimbs-1.0-min.js"></script>

Then add this line of JavaScript to create the LIMB:

var myLimb = new lucid.maps.limbs.Limb( myMarker );

A single LIMB tracks the home location in the map border. After panning away from the home location you can quickly return home by clicking the LIMB. View Example

Several clusters of markers are displayed on the map. You can navigate to each location by clicking on the marker. When the markers fall off the map you can click the LIMB to move directly to the distant locations. View Example

The Google Places service is used to find places near to the centre of the map. The places are marked with icons and LIMBs are created to allow you to navigate between places that are off the map. View Example

MapNav is a mobile webapp.

The near-to-here feature (triggered by the buttons on the top-right of the toolbar) uses LIMBs to track places when they fall off the edge of the map.

View the Site

miso is a company that specialises in online GIS products and services.

The "contact us" section includes a Google Map that shows the most convenient transport links. LIMBs are used to indicate the direction of the nearest train stations and motorway junctions.

View the Site

Further details about the library's API can be found in the jsdoc documentation.