Google Picasa 3 maps module no longer works (object error)

Issue

The places sidebar stopped working in Google Picasa 3. The following error is displayed instead of a map:

Google Picasa 3 maps module error

[object Error]
You are using a browser that is not supported by the Google Maps JavaScript API. Consider changing your browser.

 Resolution

Close Picasa and perform the following steps:

  • Open Registry Editor (regedit.exe)
  • Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION
  • Create a new DWORD entry with name: picasa3.exe and Hexadecimal value: 2af8 (Decimal: 11000).
    Update 05/2022: You may need to enter 0 instead of 2af8.

Open Picasa and the embedded maps module should now work.

October 2018
Windows 10 Pro (1803)
Picasa 3.9.141

Update 05/2022

Due to the Goole Maps backend change, the fix stopped working. A very similar error message is now being displayed instead of the map:

You are using a browser that is not supported by the Google Maps JavaScript API. Please consider changing your browser.
Error: The Google Maps JavaScript API does not support this browser.

All you need to restore the fix (unclear for how long) is to follow the original instructions, but instead of value: 2af8, enter 0.
Credit for this goes to www.picxl.de.

Update 10/2023

A recent Google Maps API update now caused another issue: the map is displayed correctly, but the red marker showing the exact location is missing.

To resolve the issue perform the following steps:

  • Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Picasa3\runtime\geotag and open file geopanelscript_v3.html in a text editor.
  • Near the end of line 63, replace ...&v=3 with  ...&v=3.51 &v=3.52
    Note: Since 11/2023 with &v=3.51 you may see the error: "ReferenceError: 'google' is undefined". Use &v=3.52
  • You'll need admin rights to save the changes.

The credit for this solution goes to Verrens on www.dpreview.com

Update 05/2024

Another update broke Google Maps red marker again. This time, you have to add the following line just before the line we were editing in the 10/2023 update:

<script type="text/javascript" src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/webcomponentsjs/2.0.0/webcomponents-bundle.js"></script>

The credit for this workaround goes to https://www.picxl.de.

69 comments

  • Guys! Found the solution in the picxl.de website! 

    Before this line:

      <script type="text/javascript" src="http://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?client=google-picasa-client&sensor=false&v=3.53">

    Insert this line:

      <script type="text/javascript" src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/webcomponentsjs/2.0.0/webcomponents-bundle.js"></script>

    All this in your C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Picasa3\runtime\geotag\geopanelscript_v3.html. 

     

  • It seems that in some updates to Windows or other, the java program version gets changed and to recover the map, you have to get into the geopanelscript_V3 to adjust that API reference code (as described above) to match your version, otherwise Picasa won't know how to render the map....Once you rectify that java reference to the actual version on your computer-which should be the latest...and if that it doesn't seem to work, it won't hurt to just try various version numbers...3.51-3.52-3.53 (and sounds like this latter is the latest but may be replaced soon.)

    Per the missing position marker (what many refer to as a 'balloon') it has disappeared again after that nice fix developed in August 2023 at https://www.picxl.de/picasa3-maps-fehlerbehebung/ met up with this latest java disconnect.

    As another notes, invoking the 100 Monkey Theory, I've tried to redo using that fix in a variety of experimental DWORD modifications but haven't found one yet to work.  I ran up some info on other types of programs that give similar errors, where IE Browser needs to be set to be Emulated by Microsoft Edge since IE11 is now totally defunct.  That is the 'intervention' solution for older software that still needs IE.  I have tried to adjust that setting in MS Edge but that, too, doesn't seem to recover the position marker.  Has anyone had any experience playing with that IE Emulation?  I'm not a 'code-ite'.  Can anyone explain how that emulation reference would that get properly coded in the geopanelscript_V3 instruction for Picasa geotagging? 

  • Upd 03/2024. Use the same solution but 3.53 ver

    • Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Picasa3\runtime\geotag and open file geopanelscript_v3.html in a text editor.
    • Near the end of line 63, replace ...&v=3 with  ...&v=3.51 &v=3.53
      Note: Since 11/2023 with &v=3.51 you may see the error: "ReferenceError: 'google' is undefined". Use &v=3.53

    • Going to Ver. 3.53 adds the map but it does not add the previous red balloons. Does anyone know how to correct the red balloons?

    • Thank you for the quick update from 3.52 to 3.53. Simple, but only when you know it.

      I am really curious if others have found an alternative to Picasa. Dead so many years, but still we use it because nothing else out there is as easy, intuitive, and for me, allows the scrolling through my thousands of folders without every clicking a thing.

      Wonder if there is a forum out there discussing alternatives.

  • Pessoal alguém conseguiu fazer o icone voltar a aparecer? O mapa foi resolvido com o 2.53.

    Guys, did anyone manage to make the icon appear again? The map was resolved with 2.53.

  • Missing red marker workaround for v 3.53 (as of 28/02/24, or, for any colonials, 02/28/24)

    1) Put location address into search and the "Put photo here?" box appears but no red marker

    2) Click on green location marker at top left and the box disappears

    3) Click on exact place where you want the photo to be geotagged, box reappears (still without any marker) and you can click "OK" and it's done.

    Tried it a dozen times and it seems ok (can't believe I may have solved a problem!)

      • I switched to geosetter (only) for showing of the marker on a map.

        In a way it is for geodata better then picasa because it also can show a track by importing a gpx file.

        So you see the markers from your fotos and the track on one map.

      • Correct. I have a file of 100 cemetery photos. Previously I got a red balloon for every grave. Now with 3.53 I get a map that jumps around for each photo but no red balloon. So it is useless.

      • I see, Oscar - I'm currently using Picasa to geotag AI images so my problem is solved but I'm sorry it doesn't help with yours.

        I knew it was too good to be true that I would find a solution to anything!

      • No that is not what we are after.

        The fotos are already geotagged (by camera or an external gpslogger and app) and picasa is not showing the marker of the location of the foto anymore.

        The not showing of the marker is the problem.

      • Because it enables photos to be geotagged exactly where you want them to be geotagged rather than the initial position given by the PIcasa map.

        This is what everybody is after, right?

        From my point of view, it doesn't matter if the red marker appears or not as long my photos are geotagged exactly where I want them to be.

  • The "ReferenceError: 'google' is undefined" showed up again. In the geopanelscript_v3.html I changed "&v=3.52" into "&v=3.53" and now it works again.

  • Since februari 21 the 'ReferenceError: 'google' is undefined' is back.

    I changed v3.52 to v3.53 and the map is visible again but the red markers are still missing.

  • I'm now getting a "ReferenceError: 'google' is undefined" error under the places tab in Picasa.  Anyone else seeing this or have a fix?

  • All working now having taken the following steps (as per the the above comments by 

    Step One

    To restore the red location marker l've performed the following steps:

    • Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Picasa3\runtime\geotag and open file geopanelscript_v3.html in a text editor.
    • Near the end of line 63, replace ...&v=3 with  ...&v=3.51
      geopanelscript_v3.html

    NB - You'll need admin rights to save the changes.

    Step Two

    Close Picasa and perform the following steps:

    • Open Registry Editor (regedit.exe)
    • Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION
    • Create a new DWORD entry with name: picasa3.exe and Hexadecimal value: 0 (Decimal: 11000).

     

      • If you don't know how to give yourself full permission to a file, just copy it to your desktop, make the changes, and then copy it back to its original location. You will get a UAC prompt where you click Allow, Continue, etc.

  • solution that works given by Verrens on another site :

This issue is caused by google updating the Maps JavaScript API to version 3.52.
It is therefore necessary to force Picasa to use the previous version 3.51.
So I edited the geopanelscript_V3.html file located in the folder : C:\Program Files(x86)\Google\Picasa3\runtime\geotag folder - line 63
and replaced at line 63 :
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?client=google-picasa-client&sensor=false&v=3"></script>
with
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?client=google-picasa-client&sensor=false&v=3.51"></script>

You must be an administrator to edit this file as it is in a subfolder of Program Files(x86)

  • I think our days with Picasa Geotagging are done; as of today, Picasa is not even displaying the map. 🙁  And it does not look like there will be a fix for it... 

    Does anyone know about another software that will easily display the picture's location? I know Adobe light room does, but I'm not sure how easy it is to manage that function. I think you need to trigger the geotagging process. Picasa was automatic... 

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