Version 3.19 of the Google Maps API became the default maps 'release' on the 17th Feb 2015 (See https://code.google.com/p/gmaps-api-issues/wiki/JavascriptMapsAPIv3Changelog). The release appears to be causing issues in Internet Explorer when using quirks mode, as is demonstrated by the following test page that I produced from an application which is affected by this issue (and so this may include more code than is necessary here):
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<head>
<title>Google Maps Test Page</title>
</head>
<body style="margin:0; padding:0">
<!-- Adding ?v=3.18 onto the end of this URL will 'fix' the problem -->
<script src='http://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js' type='text/javascript'></script>
<script type='text/javascript'>
function initialize() {
top.google.maps.visualRefresh=true;
var mapOptions = {
zoom: 13,
center: new google.maps.LatLng(51.5072, 0.1275),
mapTypeId: google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP,
scaleControl: true,
overviewMapControl: true
};
this._map = new google.maps.Map(document.getElementById('myMap'), mapOptions);
}
google.maps.event.addDomListener(window, 'load', initialize);
</script>
<div id="myMap" style="width:500px;height:500px;position:relative;"></div>
</body>
</html>
Both Firefox and Chrome will properly show a useable map, while IE raises an error deep in the Google Maps code which reads 'Could not get the display property. Invalid argument.' I've tried debugging the code but it is obfuscated, making it a painful challenge.
Forcing the version back to the last 'frozen' release (3.18) fixes the issue for the time being, but this is only a temporary resolution.
Can anyone suggest a resolution other than report this to Google and hope they fix it?
Additional note:
As I write I note that the information here https://code.google.com/p/gmaps-api-issues/wiki/JavascriptMapsAPIv3Changelog says the releases are:
Experimental: 3.20
Release: 3.19
Frozen: 3.18
Version 3.17 will be removed. Requests for 3.17 or any prior version will now be served version 3.18'
While this page https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/javascript/basics#Versioning says (at the bottom of the page):
Version 3.18 Reference (Release)
Version 3.19 Reference (Experimental)
Version 3.17 Reference (Frozen)
Versions 3.0 - 3.16 have been retired.
This is rather confusing but I would think the Changelog link to be the more up to date source of information. This difference confused me so I thought it worth sharing the observation.
Update 20-Feb-15:
Yesterday Google confirmed this as a Bug - see https://code.google.com/p/gmaps-api-issues/issues/detail?id=7675 - and advised 'We're looking into a fix.'
Thanks for the comments and suggestions, but so far I haven't been able to find a work around which allows my application to work fully as other page components depend on quirks mode, creating a good deal of work to get the whole thing working again. I'm hopeful that Google's attention will resolve this for me.
Update 21-Feb-15:
https://code.google.com/p/gmaps-api-issues/issues/detail?id=7675 now indicates 'A fix will be deployed in the coming week.'
See Question&Answers more detail:
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