iOS app collaboration has become increasing popular these days, so I’d like to highlight the great new possibilities we added to our URL scheme API in Where To? 7.
x-callback support
To return to the calling app, Where To? 7 supports the x-callback-url specification:
| Parameter | Example value *) | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
x-source |
Your App |
Display name of the originating app. Displayed in a blue bar on top of the navigation bar. |
x-success |
yourapp:// |
Callback URL to launch the originating app. Will be opened if the user taps into the blue bar on top of the navigation bar. |
x-error |
yourapp://?failure=1 |
Callback URL to launch the originating app in case of an error. For instance, if a POI specified in the URL can’t be found, this error callback URL is opened. |
*) Example values are shown here in non-encoded form. In the actual URL they have to be URL-encoded.
Directions
When a destination is provided via the location or poi parameter, Where To? can optionally display directions to it using the showDirections parameter. The means of transport can be specified (car, bike, pedestrian) or left at the last selected state (whereto).
Example
Show bicycle directions from San Francisco to a great burger place in Sausalito:
whereto7://?location=37.77493,-122.41942&poi=11276723836617286738&showDirections=bike
Directions using third party apps
In addition to the built-in directions viewer, any of our 40+ supported third party apps can be launched to show directions. Just specify the name of the app as shown in Where To? as the value of the showDirections parameter.
Example
Navigate from Portland to Mount Rainier National Park using CoPilot Live:
whereto7://?location=45.522947,-122.67643&poi=6698156646550578200&showDirections=CoPilot%20Live
Launch Where To? for Pebble
By specifying pebble as the value of the showDirections parameter the Where To? companion app automatically opens on the Pebble watch and displays the direction and distance to the destination.
Example
Show the direction and distance to the Eiffel Tower on the Pebble watch:
whereto7://?poi=10222232094831998944&showDirections=pebble
Send to car
By specifying bmw, mercedes-benz or mmi-connect (for Audi) as the value of the showDirections parameter places can be sent right to the car dashboard.
Example
Send the details of Zugspitzbahn (cable railway to Germany’s tallest mountain) to the BMW dashboard using BMW ConnectedDrive:
whereto7://?poi=12584825406177042586&showDirections=bmw
Summary
To familiarize yourself with the parameters supported by Where To?, consult the Where To? API documentation with all the details.
If you’ve implemented interesting workflows using the Where To? URL scheme or if you support it in your app, please let us know. We’ll gladly mention it here.
Likewise, if you’re missing a certain parameter, please contact us with your idea.
We can’t wait to see what you come up with!