OK, so just to keep you guys updated about what is happening.
Basically, Google Maps API now requires an API key. Old users still have 3 months to make the corresponding changes in their scripts, however new users have to have the key already.
My original idea was:
- include the script with the key in the header and therefore only that script would need to be changed. On pages where this is used, the script would then be loaded twice - once as part of the header and with the API key and once in the actual body of the page, without it. Of course this is not a very elegant solution, but I would of course over time delete that duplicate during updates of those plugins and pages concerned, or during new version release.
Unfortunately, as it turned out, this will not work. Since the header is loaded first, it loads the script with the API key. So far so good. However, it then continues to the body section and here it is loaded again, this time without it. And at that moment, it ignores the original and thinks you did not include the API key.
There are therefore only two possibilities:
1. include it in the header like now, but delete it in all those pages where it is included currently, without the API key
2. dont include it in the header and change the code in those pages
Since it is not required to be loaded on each site in the header and since I would have to change all those pages concerned anyway, there really is no point in having it in the header, so I will go with option number two.
However, just doing some very quick analysis, when counting all the core pages of the template + blocks + plugins, it will be over 61 changes, so it might take me a few days before I update it all. Current users who installed the template prior to Jun 22 can still use the old scripts, but I recommend you also update it, since there really is no point in postponing it, because sooner or later you will have to do it. It will stop working in September.