Find Places by Address Node in Pathways

Overview

The Find Places by Address node in Foji Pathways is used to look up information about a place or multiple places based on a given address. This is particularly useful for workflows that involve location-based queries, such as verifying business addresses, retrieving geographical data, or integrating mapping services.

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Node Properties

1. Name

• Description: A unique identifier for the node operation.
• Usage: Assign a clear, descriptive name that reflects the purpose of the query (e.g., "Find Nearby Clinics" or "Retrieve Business Location").

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2. Address

• Description: Defines the input address used to search for places.
• Options for Expression Type:
  1. JavaScript Statement: A direct JavaScript expression for defining the address.
  2. JavaScript Function: A function for generating the address dynamically.
  3. Handlebars Template: A dynamic template to inject real-time address values.
• Example Expressions:
  • JavaScript Statement: "1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA"
  • JavaScript Function: function getAddress() {   return "1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA"; }
  • Handlebars Template: user_input_address
• Status: Required (A valid address must be provided for the query to execute).

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3. Result Type

• Description: Determines whether the search should return a single place or multiple places.
• Options:
  • Single Place: Returns the best match for the given address.
  • Multiple Places (Array): Returns a list of all matching places for the given address.
• Example Use Cases:
  • Single Place: Used when searching for a specific business or landmark.
  • Multiple Places (Array): Used when looking for all businesses in a given area.

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4. Variable Name

• Description: The name of the output variable where the retrieved place(s) data will be stored.
• Status: Required (Must be defined for further use in the workflow).
• Usage: Choose a meaningful variable name (e.g., business_location, nearby_places).

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How It Works

1. Define the Address: Specify an address manually, through JavaScript, or via Handlebars Template.
2. Choose the Result Type: Decide whether to return a single place or multiple places.
3. Store Output in a Variable: The retrieved place data is saved under the specified variable name.

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Example Use Cases

1. Finding a Specific Business Location

• Address: "1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA"
• Result Type: Single Place
• Variable Name: apple_hq
• Outcome: Retrieves the location details of Apple Headquarters.

2. Listing Nearby Restaurants

• Address: "Times Square, New York, NY"
• Result Type: Multiple Places (Array)
• Variable Name: restaurants_list
• Outcome: Retrieves a list of restaurants in the Times Square area.

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Best Practices

• Use Dynamic Address Inputs: Utilize Handlebars Templates to fetch user-provided addresses.
• Choose the Right Result Type: Select Single Place for exact location queries, and Multiple Places for broader searches.
• Store Data in a Well-Named Variable: Helps in maintaining workflow clarity and ease of debugging.

The Find Places by Address node is essential for workflows that require location-based data retrieval, enhancing automation for location-aware applications.