var map ;
    var gmarkers = [];
function loadF() {
    
    //<![CDATA[

    if (GBrowserIsCompatible()) {
      // this variable will collect the html which will eventualkly be placed in the side_bar
      var side_bar_html = "";
    
      // arrays to hold copies of the markers used by the side_bar
      // because the function closure trick doesnt work there
    
      var i = 0;


      // A function to create the marker and set up the event window
      function createMarker(point,name,html) {
        var marker = new GMarker(point);
        GEvent.addListener(marker, "click", function() {
		   marker.openInfoWindowHtml(html);
        });
        // save the info we need to use later for the side_bar
        gmarkers[i] = marker;
        // add a line to the side_bar html
        side_bar_html += '<a href="javascript:myclick(' + i + ')" >' + name + '</a><br>';
        i++;
        return marker;
      }


      // This function picks up the click and opens the corresponding info window
   


      // create the map
      var map = new GMap2(document.getElementById("map"));
      map.addControl(new GLargeMapControl());
      map.addControl(new GMapTypeControl());
 	map.setCenter(new GLatLng(61, 10), 6);


      // Read the data from example.xml
      var request = GXmlHttp.create();
	  
      request.open("GET", "beeHives.php??" + new Date(), true);
      request.onreadystatechange = function() {
        if (request.readyState == 4) {
          var xmlDoc = GXml.parse(request.responseText);
          // obtain the array of markers and loop through it
          var markers = xmlDoc.documentElement.getElementsByTagName("marker");
//          alert(markers.length);
          for (var i = 0; i < markers.length; i++) {
            // obtain the attribues of each marker
            var lat = parseFloat(markers[i].getAttribute("lat"));
            var lng = parseFloat(markers[i].getAttribute("lng"));
            var point = new GLatLng(lat,lng);
            var html = markers[i].getAttribute("html");
            var label = markers[i].getAttribute("label");
            // create the marker
            var marker = createMarker(point,label,html);
            map.addOverlay(marker);
          }
          // put the assembled side_bar_html contents into the side_bar div
          document.getElementById("side_bar").innerHTML = side_bar_html;
        }
      }
      request.send(null);
    }

    else {
      alert("Sorry, the Google Maps API is not compatible with this browser");
    }
    // This Javascript is based on code provided by the
    // Blackpool Community Church Javascript Team
    // http://www.commchurch.freeserve.co.uk/   
    // http://econym.googlepages.com/index.htm

    //]]>
    }


   function myclick(i) {
        GEvent.trigger(gmarkers[i], "click");
      }

	

window.onload = loadF;