title: Using Google Map in Xamarin
body: <p>I am trying to use Google Map API in Xamarin for Android and so far its been a hair pulling experience. I am new to Xamarin and trying to get the hang of it. I have tested some basic controls and they seem to work fine.Now I am trying to use Google Map Api. I have inserted the Api key in AndroidManifest.xml as per the Xamarin documentation. I have the following code in my Main.axml file</p>
  
  <pre><code>&lt;?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?&gt;
  &lt;LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
      android:orientation="vertical"
      android:layout_width="fill_parent"
      android:layout_height="fill_parent"&gt;
      &lt;fragment
          android:id="@+id/map"
          android:layout_width="match_parent"
          android:layout_height="match_parent"
          class="com.google.android.gms.maps.MapFragment" /&gt;
  &lt;/LinearLayout&gt;
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Here is my activity class</p>
  
  <pre><code>[Activity (Label = "Testing", MainLauncher = true)]
      public class MainActivity : Android.GoogleMaps.MapActivity
      {
  
          protected override bool IsRouteDisplayed {
              get {
                  return false;
              }
          }
  
          protected override void OnCreate (Bundle bundle)
          {
              base.OnCreate (bundle);
  
  
              SetContentView (Resource.Layout.Main);
  
              // Get our button from the layout resource,
              // and attach an event to it
              //Button button = FindViewById&lt;Button&gt; (Resource.Id.myButton);
  
              //button.Click += delegate {
              //    button.Text = string.Format ("{0} clicks!", count++);
              //};
          }
      }
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>When I run the above code it throws an exception </p>
  
  <pre><code>Android.Views.InflateException: Loading
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I don't get any details of the error like we normally do in VS. I have no idea what is wrong I'm just following the documentation blindly at the moment to see something on the screen and then play with it but that's not happening any soon I guess!</p>
  
  <p>I am targeting Google API Version 8 for this test project.</p>
  
  <p>Kindly suggest what am I missing here?</p>