Re: Unable to print the blue line on maps.google.com for directions?

Ant wrote:

>Hello,
>
>Is anyone else having problems printing out the directions from 
>maps.google.com in Mozilla v1.7.8? The blue overlay line does not show 
>up in both maps and aerial maps.
>
>Internet Explorer v6.0 SP2 had no problems.
>
>Thank you in advance.
>  
>
Last year I discovered a Firefox printing bug that is most likely related.

I created a biorhythm chart program (free - it's a fun programming 
puzzle). The way I display the three biorhythm curves on the chart is by 
using three transparent gif images of the right wave length, each set as 
table background (HTML <table>) on its own overlapping, transparent 
layer. Those three layers are stacked over a fourth bottom layer that 
serves as the grid.

Put in a nutshell, it uses the table background attribute on four 
overlapping, layers, the top three being transparent so the the bottom 
layer grid shows through.

A picture, in this case, will make this much simpler than my description.
http://cycletourist.com/biochart - enter a complete birth date and chart 
date, click on Submit and you'll see what I mean.

Firefox is unable to print this properly. It only prints the topmost 
layer (and it messes that up a little, too). The three underlying layers 
(including the grid layer) are invisible when printed. All that's 
visible is the topmost curve. Print Preview looks okay, but when 
printed, only the topmost layer is printed. (Try adjusting the size in 
Print Preview above and below 100% and you can see that FF is having 
problems displaying the layers properly. Note: you have to and check 
Print Background in Page Setup.)

The problem seems to be that FF cannot print transparent layers 
properly, which is probably how the blue line is put on the Google map.

When I discovered this (a year ago), I joined a mozilla.org developers 
forum and posted this bug, but no one responded. Someone else mentioned 
that the developers have little interest in pursuing printing bugs. That 
seems rather short sighted to me. What it means to me is that people 
using Firefox can not print the biorhythm chart I developed. I have to 
use IE to print it. (In IE the "print backgrounds" option is hiding in 
Tools - Internet Options - Advanced - under Printing. Once that is 
checked, IE prints the chart perfectly).

I should probably explain that right on the site for any frustrated 
FF/Mozilla users (though I'd hate to be a source of bad press). Better 
yet, of course, would be if someone would fix this bug. Maybe with the 
rising popularity of Google maps its priority will increase.

-- 
*****************************
 Chuck Anderson • Boulder, CO
 http://www.CycleTourist.com
 Integrity is obvious.
 The lack of it is common.
*****************************