Integrating Bing Maps SDK into Your Metro Style App: Step-by-StepMetro style (now commonly referred to as Windows Store or Universal Windows Platform — UWP) apps benefit from seamless mapping experiences for navigation, location-aware features, and spatial visualization. This guide walks through integrating the Bing Maps SDK into a Metro-style/UWP app step-by-step: from prerequisites and setup to advanced features, optimization, and deployment. Code examples use C# and XAML for UWP; where appropriate, notes for C++/JavaScript are included.
Prerequisites
- Development environment: Visual Studio 2015 or later (Visual Studio 2017/2019/2022 recommended).
- Target platform: Windows ⁄8.1 for classic Metro apps or Windows 10 for UWP. This guide targets UWP on Windows 10 for the broadest compatibility.
- Bing Maps Key: Register for a Bing Maps API key at the Bing Maps Portal. Use a key appropriate for your app type (development vs. production).
- NuGet & SDK: Ensure you have the Bing Maps SDK for Windows Store apps (or the Bing Maps SDK for Windows 10 UWP) available via NuGet or the Microsoft Store extensions, depending on your target.
- Capabilities: Your app manifest must declare location capability if you use geolocation. In the Package.appxmanifest, enable Location under Capabilities.
Create the UWP Project
- Open Visual Studio and create a new “Blank App (Universal Windows)” project.
- Choose target and minimum versions of Windows 10 that match your deployment needs.
- Confirm the project builds and runs (a blank app should deploy to Local Machine or Simulator).
Install Bing Maps SDK
- Open the NuGet Package Manager (right-click project > Manage NuGet Packages).
- Search for and install the appropriate package:
- For Bing Maps SDK for UWP: install Microsoft.BingMaps.SDK.UWP (package name may vary depending on current distribution).
- After installation, confirm references and assets are added (MapControl and related assemblies).
Add the Map Control to Your XAML
In your MainPage.xaml, add the namespace and MapControl:
<Page x:Class="MyApp.MainPage" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation" xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml" xmlns:controls="using:Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls" xmlns:maps="using:Microsoft.Maps.MapControl" xmlns:local="using:MyApp"> <Grid Background="{ThemeResource ApplicationPageBackgroundThemeBrush}"> <maps:MapControl x:Name="MyMap" ZoomLevel="10" Center="47.6062,-122.3321" MapServiceToken="YOUR_BING_MAPS_KEY"/> </Grid> </Page> Notes:
- Replace “YOUR_BING_MAPS_KEY” with your actual Bing Maps key or set it programmatically.
- Namespace aliases (maps) may differ by SDK package; use the one introduced by your Bing Maps SDK.
Initialize the Map in Code-Behind
In MainPage.xaml.cs, you can set MapServiceToken and initialize events:
using Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls; using Microsoft.Maps.MapControl; // Namespace may vary by package using Windows.Devices.Geolocation; public sealed partial class MainPage : Page { public MainPage() { this.InitializeComponent(); MyMap.MapServiceToken = "YOUR_BING_MAPS_KEY"; MyMap.Loaded += MyMap_Loaded; } private async void MyMap_Loaded(object sender, Windows.UI.Xaml.RoutedEventArgs e) { // Optionally set center to user location if permission granted var access = await Geolocator.RequestAccessAsync(); if (access == GeolocationAccessStatus.Allowed) { var locator = new Geolocator { DesiredAccuracyInMeters = 100 }; var pos = await locator.GetGeopositionAsync(); MyMap.Center = new Location(pos.Coordinate.Point.Position.Latitude, pos.Coordinate.Point.Position.Longitude); MyMap.ZoomLevel = 14; } } } Adding Pushpins/MapIcons
Use MapElements or children to mark locations.
using Microsoft.Maps.MapControl; // adjust namespace using Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Maps; using Windows.Devices.Geolocation; // Example: add a MapIcon (UWP map controls) var mapIcon = new MapIcon { Location = new Geopoint(new BasicGeoposition { Latitude = 47.6097, Longitude = -122.3331 }), NormalizedAnchorPoint = new Windows.Foundation.Point(0.5, 1.0), Title = "Downtown", ZIndex = 0 }; MyMap.MapElements.Add(mapIcon); Or for older Bing Maps control, use Pushpin objects and MapLayer.
Routing and Directions
Bing Maps REST services provide routing. Use HttpClient to call the REST API and parse JSON.
Example request (pseudo-URL):
https://dev.virtualearth.net/REST/v1/Routes?wp.0=Seattle,WA&wp.1=Redmond,WA&key=YOUR_BING_MAPS_KEY
Parse the response to extract route path points and render a MapPolyline on the map:
var polyline = new MapPolyline { StrokeColor = Windows.UI.Color.FromArgb(200, 0, 120, 215), StrokeThickness = 4, Path = new Geopath(routeCoordinates) // routeCoordinates is IList<BasicGeoposition> }; MyMap.MapElements.Add(polyline); Geocoding (Address ⇄ Coordinates)
Use Bing Maps REST Location API for geocoding. Send address queries, parse the response for coordinates, and then place a MapIcon or recenter the map.
Handling Map Events & User Interaction
- PointerPressed/PointerReleased: custom gestures.
- MapTapped/MapDoubleTapped (control-specific events) for handling taps on map elements.
- Track camera changes via ViewChanged/ViewChanging events to lazy-load markers.
Performance & UX Tips
- Use clustering for many pins to reduce visual clutter.
- Use MapElement (MapIcon/MapPolyline) instead of UIElement overlays when possible — they’re GPU-accelerated.
- Virtualize lists of POIs and only add visible MapElements.
- Cache geocoding and routing responses to reduce API calls and latency.
- Respect rate limits on the Bing Maps API; implement exponential backoff on failures.
Offline Considerations
Bing Maps SDK has limited offline capabilities. If offline usage is critical, consider:
- Pre-caching tiles for known areas (subject to license limits).
- Using custom offline tile layers or alternative offline map providers with appropriate licensing.
App Manifest & Permissions
- Enable Location capability in Package.appxmanifest.
- If using internet resources, ensure Internet (Client) capability is set.
- For background location or background tasks, declare appropriate background capabilities and follow platform policies.
Testing & Debugging
- Test on Local Machine, Simulator, and Device (if applicable).
- Use Fiddler or Network tracing to inspect REST calls.
- Monitor key usage in the Bing Maps Portal to detect quota issues.
Publishing Considerations
- Replace development keys with production keys.
- Verify licensing terms for Bing Maps (usage limits, commercial use).
- Ensure privacy disclosures if you collect/track user location.
Advanced Features
- 3D map layers and terrain (availability depends on SDK).
- Custom tile layers for overlays (heatmaps, transit).
- Real-time data overlays using SignalR/WebSockets for live tracking.
- Integration with Azure services for scalable routing/geocoding backends.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
- Map not appearing: check MapServiceToken, correct namespaces, and that the SDK package matches target OS.
- Geolocation permission denied: ensure Location capability and prompt handling.
- REST responses empty: verify API key, URL format, and query parameters.
Example: Full Minimal MainPage.xaml + MainPage.xaml.cs
MainPage.xaml
<Page x:Class="MyApp.MainPage" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation" xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml" xmlns:maps="using:Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Maps"> <Grid> <maps:MapControl x:Name="MyMap" ZoomLevel="12" /> </Grid> </Page> MainPage.xaml.cs
using Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls; using Windows.Devices.Geolocation; using Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Maps; using Windows.UI; public sealed partial class MainPage : Page { public MainPage() { this.InitializeComponent(); MyMap.Loaded += MyMap_Loaded; } private async void MyMap_Loaded(object sender, Windows.UI.Xaml.RoutedEventArgs e) { var access = await Geolocator.RequestAccessAsync(); if (access == GeolocationAccessStatus.Allowed) { var locator = new Geolocator { DesiredAccuracyInMeters = 50 }; var pos = await locator.GetGeopositionAsync(); MyMap.Center = pos.Coordinate.Point; MyMap.ZoomLevel = 14; var icon = new MapIcon { Location = pos.Coordinate.Point, Title = "You are here", NormalizedAnchorPoint = new Windows.Foundation.Point(0.5, 1.0) }; MyMap.MapElements.Add(icon); } } } Further Reading & Resources
- Bing Maps REST Services documentation (routing, geocoding).
- Bing Maps SDK for UWP control reference.
- Microsoft Docs on UWP MapControl and location APIs.
This walkthrough gives a practical path to integrate Bing Maps into a Metro-style/UWP app, plus code snippets, best practices, and troubleshooting tips to help you ship a mapping-enabled application.
Leave a Reply