How do I change the mapId of a Google vector map?

Question

With Google's raster maps, I could create a map with an initial style like this (example taken from Google's documentation):

var mapStyles = [{ elementType: 'geometry', stylers: [{ color: '#242f3e' }]}];
var mapOptions = {
    center: { lat: 40.674, lng: -73.945 },
    zoom: 12,
    styles: mapStyles 
};
var map = new google.maps.Map(document.getElementById('map'), mapOptions );

Then, I could change the style like this:

var newStyles = [{ elementType: 'geometry', stylers: [{ color: '#ffffff' }]}];
map.setOptions({ styles: newStyles });

With the vector based maps, instead of specifying the style in code, I need to specify a map ID. That map ID will have a style that someone configured in the cloud. I created two of these map IDs (a normal theme and a dark them) following the instructions here, and then instantiated my map like this:

var mapOptions = {
    center: { lat: 40.674, lng: -73.945 },
    zoom: 12,
    mapId: 'abcd1234mymapid'
};
var map = new google.maps.Map(document.getElementById('map'), mapOptions );

I tested both map IDs to be sure the theme was working. The problem is that I can't figure out how to change the map ID after creating the map. I want to allow the user to switch between map IDs. I tried:

// Does not work
map.setOptions({mapId: 'efgh5678myothermap'})

// Also does not work
map.mapId = 'efgh5678myothermap'

Is this functionality gone with Google's vector maps or am I doing it wrong?

I did make sure to include both map IDs when loading Google's script:

user_11257949 · Answer

Currently, the only workaround to switch from one style to another (changing mapIds) is to create a new map instance. Note that each map instance is billed. As per Dynamic Maps Usage and Billing. You can do something like this:

//Event that triggers change of map style
document.getElementById("map_id_1").addEventListener("click", function(){
  mapID = "YOUR_MAP_ID"
  new google.maps.Map(document.getElementById("map"), {
      ...sharedOptions,
      mapId: mapID,
      useStaticMap: false
    });
});

Here's a complete JSFiddle sample you can try.

Dynamically changing the mapId through the setOptions() function currently is not possible as it appears that mapId is not yet added as a property of the MapOptions interface as per the documentation.

I already filed a Feature Request in Google Maps Public issue tracker to support for this.

How do I change the mapId of a Google vector map?

1 Answers