Handing off to Apple Maps Application from Within Third-Party App in Objective-C

Question

Does anyone know if it's possible to invoke the native Apple Maps application on an iOS 8 device from within a third-party app and pass in the user's Current Location (if they give permission) as well as a destination Latitude and Longitude to allow the Maps app to plot a route?

I have a relatively simple application which shows an MKMapView with various locations plotted on it in a local area. Tapping on one shows an annotation, which in turn allows a modal view to be presented with more information about the premises. I have a "Get Directions" option which I want to simply capture the users location and open up the Maps app with a route calculated from their location to the premises that they've selected without the overhead of having to do it all myself in this app - no budget for handling UI, errors, routing etc (just thought it would be a nice feature if it could be done as simply as handing off to the Maps app).

Any help or advice appreciated.

Answer 1

Yes, it's quite possible, easy, and well documented. Take a look at the MKMapItem class, and the method openMapsWithItems:launchOptions: method. If you set up the options correctly it will display driving directions.

Answer 2

Thanks to @Duncan C for pointing me in the right direction. You can actually invoke the maps app using URL schemes and pass in a few parameters but it's also possible through the points giving by Duncan. Here's the full code I ended up with to do exactly what I required.

// Check to see if we can use Maps app.
    // Pass an MKMapItem (destination) in along with Current Location
    // Specify what kind of directions we want (driving, Walking etc).
    // Invoke the Maps app.
    Class mapItemClass = [MKMapItem class];
    if (mapItemClass && [mapItemClass respondsToSelector:@selector(openMapsWithItems:launchOptions:)])
    {
        // An MKMapItem which we will pass to Maps app.
        // I'm using properties from my Shop object.
        CLLocationCoordinate2D coordinate = CLLocationCoordinate2DMake(_shop.coordinate.latitude, _shop.coordinate.longitude);
        MKPlacemark *placemark = [[MKPlacemark alloc] initWithCoordinate:coordinate addressDictionary:nil];
        MKMapItem *mapItem = [[MKMapItem alloc] initWithPlacemark:placemark];
        [mapItem setName:[NSString stringWithFormat:@"Branch Name: %@", _shop.branch.name]];
        // Set the directions mode to "Driving"
        NSDictionary *launchOptions = @{MKLaunchOptionsDirectionsModeKey : MKLaunchOptionsDirectionsModeDriving};
        // Get the "Current User Location" MKMapItem
        MKMapItem *currentLocationMapItem = [MKMapItem mapItemForCurrentLocation];
        // Pass the current location and destination map items to the Maps app
        [MKMapItem openMapsWithItems:@[currentLocationMapItem, mapItem] launchOptions:launchOptions];
    }
    else
    {
        UIAlertView *alert = [[UIAlertView alloc] initWithTitle:@"Directions Error"
                                                        message:@"Sorry, we've encountered a problem meaning we're unable to provide you with directions at the moment.\n\nPlease use the Call Branch or Text Branch options to get in touch with a representative."
                                                       delegate:self
                                              cancelButtonTitle:@"Dmiss"
                                              otherButtonTitles:nil];
        [alert show];
    }