Mining Google Web Services: Building Applications with the Google API

382 Pages·2004·6.77 MB·English

by  John Paul Mueller

Mining Google Web
Services: Building
Applications with the
Google API
John Paul Mueller
SYBEX®
4333c00.qxd 3/31/04 9:17 PM Page i
(cid:1) Mining Google Web Services:
Building Applications with the Google API
This page intentionally left blank
4333c00.qxd 4/2/04 4:50 PM Page iii
John Paul Mueller
(cid:1) Mining Google Web Services:
Building Applications with the Google API
Sybex
San Francisco • London
4333c00.qxd 3/31/04 9:17 PM Page iv
Associate Publisher: Joel Fugazzotto
Acquisitions and Developmental Editor: Tom Cirtin
Production Editor: Leslie E.H. Light
Technical Editor: Russ Mullen
Copyeditor: Cheryl Hauser
Compositor: Happenstance Type-O-Rama
Graphic Illustrator: Happenstance Type-O-Rama
Proofreaders: Laurie O’Connell, Nancy Riddiough
Indexer: Lynnzee Elze
Cover Design and Illustration: Richard Miller, Calyx Design
Copyright © 2004 SYBEX Inc., 1151 Marina Village Parkway, Alameda, CA 94501. World rights reserved. No part of this publication may
be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or reproduced in any way, including but not limited to photocopy, photograph, magnetic, or
other record, without the prior agreement and written permission of the publisher.
Library of Congress Card Number: 2003116218
ISBN: 0-7821-4333-4
SYBEX and the SYBEX logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of SYBEX Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.
Screen reproductions produced with PaintShop Pro. PaintShop Pro is a trademark of Jasc Software, Inc.
Internet screen shot(s) using Microsoft Internet Explorer reprinted by permission from Microsoft Corporation.
Openwave and the Openwave logo are trademarks of Openwave Systems Inc. All rights reserved.
Google and the Google logo are trademarks of Google Inc. Screenshots are copyrighted by Google Inc. and are reprinted by permission.
TRADEMARKS: SYBEX has attempted throughout this book to distinguish proprietary trademarks from descriptive terms by following
the capitalization style used by the manufacturer.
The author and publisher have made their best efforts to prepare this book, and the content is based upon final release software whenever
possible. Portions of the manuscript may be based upon pre-release versions supplied by software manufacturer(s). The author and the
publisher make no representation or warranties of any kind with regard to the completeness or accuracy of the contents herein and accept
no liability of any kind including but not limited to performance, merchantability, fitness for any particular purpose, or any losses or damages
of any kind caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly from this book.
Manufactured in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
4333c00.qxd 3/31/04 9:17 PM Page v
SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT: TERMS Warranty
AND CONDITIONS SYBEX warrants the enclosed media to be free of physical defects
for a period of ninety (90) days after purchase. The Software is not
The media and/or any online materials accompanying this book
available from SYBEX in any other form or media than that
that are available now or in the future contain programs and/or
enclosed herein or posted to www.sybex.com. If you discover a
text files (the “Software”) to be used in connection with the book.
defect in the media during this warranty period, you may obtain a
SYBEX hereby grants to you a license to use the Software, subject
replacement of identical format at no charge by sending the defec-
to the terms that follow. Your purchase, acceptance, or use of the
tive media, postage prepaid, with proof of purchase to:
Software will constitute your acceptance of such terms.
The Software compilation is the property of SYBEX unless other- SYBEX Inc.
wise indicated and is protected by copyright to SYBEX or other Product Support Department
copyright owner(s) as indicated in the media files (the “Owner(s)”). 1151 Marina Village Parkway
You are hereby granted a single-user license to use the Software Alameda, CA 94501
for your personal, noncommercial use only. You may not repro- Web: http://www.sybex.com
duce, sell, distribute, publish, circulate, or commercially exploit
the Software, or any portion thereof, without the written consent After the 90-day period, you can obtain replacement media of
of SYBEX and the specific copyright owner(s) of any component identical format by sending us the defective disk, proof of pur-
software included on this media. chase, and a check or money order for $10, payable to SYBEX.
In the event that the Software or components include specific
Disclaimer
license requirements or end-user agreements, statements of condi-
SYBEX makes no warranty or representation, either expressed or
tion, disclaimers, limitations or warranties (“End-User License”),
implied, with respect to the Software or its contents, quality, per-
those End-User Licenses supersede the terms and conditions
formance, merchantability, or fitness for a particular purpose. In
herein as to that particular Software component. Your purchase,
no event will SYBEX, its distributors, or dealers be liable to you or
acceptance, or use of the Software will constitute your acceptance
any other party for direct, indirect, special, incidental, consequen-
of such End-User Licenses.
tial, or other damages arising out of the use of or inability to use
By purchase, use or acceptance of the Software you further agree the Software or its contents even if advised of the possibility of
to comply with all export laws and regulations of the United States such damage. In the event that the Software includes an online
as such laws and regulations may exist from time to time. update feature, SYBEX further disclaims any obligation to provide
this feature for any specific duration other than the initial posting.
Reusable Code in This Book
The exclusion of implied warranties is not permitted by some
The author(s) created reusable code in this publication expressly
states. Therefore, the above exclusion may not apply to you. This
for reuse by readers. Sybex grants readers limited permission to
warranty provides you with specific legal rights; there may be
reuse the code found in this publication, its accompanying CD-
other rights that you may have that vary from state to state. The
ROM or available for download from our website so long as the
pricing of the book with the Software by SYBEX reflects the allo-
author(s) are attributed in any application containing the reusable
cation of risk and limitations on liability contained in this agree-
code and the code itself is never distributed, posted online by elec-
ment of Terms and Conditions.
tronic transmission, sold, or commercially exploited as a stand-
alone product.
Shareware Distribution
This Software may contain various programs that are distributed
Software Support
as shareware. Copyright laws apply to both shareware and ordi-
Components of the supplemental Software and any offers associ-
nary commercial software, and the copyright Owner(s) retains all
ated with them may be supported by the specific Owner(s) of that
rights. If you try a shareware program and continue using it, you
material, but they are not supported by SYBEX. Information
are expected to register it. Individual programs differ on details of
regarding any available support may be obtained from the
trial periods, registration, and payment. Please observe the
Owner(s) using the information provided in the appropriate
requirements stated in appropriate files.
read.me files or listed elsewhere on the media.
Should the manufacturer(s) or other Owner(s) cease to offer sup- Copy Protection
port or decline to honor any offer, SYBEX bears no responsibility. The Software in whole or in part may or may not be copy-pro-
This notice concerning support for the Software is provided for tected or encrypted. However, in all cases, reselling or redistribut-
your information only. SYBEX is not the agent or principal of the ing these files without authorization is expressly forbidden except
Owner(s), and SYBEX is in no way responsible for providing any as specifically provided for by the Owner(s) therein.
support for the Software, nor is it liable or responsible for any sup-
port provided, or not provided, by the Owner(s).
This page intentionally left blank
4333c00.qxd 3/31/04 9:17 PM Page vii
To Karen Watterson,
a kindred spirit and fellow worker.
4333c00.qxd 3/31/04 9:17 PM Page viii
Acknowledgments
T
hanks to my wife, Rebecca, for working with me to get this book completed. I really don’t
know what I would have done without her help in researching and compiling some of the
information that appears in this book. She also did a fine job of proofreading my rough draft
and page proofing the result.
Russ Mullen deserves thanks for his technical edit of this book. He greatly added to the
accuracy and depth of the material you see here. Russ is always providing me with great
URLs for new products and ideas. I also appreciated his hard work in testing endless versions
of applications and providing input in my ideas. This book is technically challenging in that
it relies on a number of programming languages, new and evolving technology, and several
new products. Russ met the challenge with an efficiency that few other people could match.
A number of people read all or part of this book to help me refine the approach and to test
the examples on a number of systems. These unpaid volunteers helped in ways too numerous
to mention here. I especially appreciate the efforts of Eva Beattie who read the entire book
and selflessly devoted herself to this project. Phillipp Lenssen provided a lot of information
about both Google Web Services and Amazon Web Services. He also provided the inspira-
tion for the combined Google and Amazon application. Osvaldo Téllez Almirall provided
extensive input on international issues, making the book much better suited to international
needs as a result. David Clark helped with accessibility, user interface, and PHP development
issues.
Matt Wagner, my agent, deserves credit for helping me get the contract in the first place
and taking care of all the details that most authors don’t really consider. I always appreciate
his help. It’s good to know that someone wants to help.
Finally, I would like to thank Tom Cirtin, Leslie Light, Cheryl Hauser, and the rest of the
editorial and production staff at Sybex for their assistance in bringing this book to print. It’s
always nice to work with such a great group of professionals and I very much appreciate the
friendship we have built over the last two books.
4333c00.qxd 3/31/04 9:17 PM Page ix
Contents at a Glance
Introduction xvii
Part I Discovering Google Web Services
Chapter 1: Learning about Google Web Services 3
Chapter 2: Defining a Search 29
Chapter 3: Working with Web Service Data 47
Part II Writing Google Web Services Programs
Chapter 4: Starting the Development Process 79
Chapter 5: Writing Applications Using VBA 103
Chapter 6: Writing Applications Using Visual Studio 133
Chapter 7: Writing Applications Using PHP 177
Chapter 8: Writing Applications Using Java 199
Chapter 9: Writing Applications for Mobile Devices 229
Part III Refining Your Google Web Services Program
Chapter 10: Crafting Your Application 257
Chapter 11: Other Refinements You Should Consider 275
Appendixes
Appendix A: Helpful Third Party Resource Sites 299
Appendix B: Google License Checklist 305
Appendix C: Late Breaking Google Web Services News 309
Glossary 313
Index 339