*MarkerClustererPlus: additional marker on map shows below ClusterImage OverlayView

[GoogleCodeExporter]

What steps will reproduce the problem?
1. use MarkerClustererPlus v2.0.6
2. use Google Maps Javascript v3.7
3. set up a Map
4. create a MarkerClusterer with a set of Markers that should cluster (close 
proximity)
5. with the ClusterImage visible, add your own Marker, 
  5.1. as a kind of Drop-Pin (Animate.DROP)
    -- animation nonessential
  5.2. with zIndex google.maps.Marker.MAX_ZINDEX

Expected result:
Drop-Pin marker should display on top of ClusterImage OverlayView, not under 
it, especially when:
* Drop-Pin marker added after MarkerClusterer completed displaying clusters
* Drop-Pin marker setZIndex(google.maps.Marker.MAX_ZINDEX)

Actual result:
Drop-Pin marker displays under ClusterImage OverlayView without regard to 
zIndex.  

Version: MarkerClustererPlus 2.0.6

Browser / Operating System:
Chrome 15.0.874.121 (OS X 10.6)
Safari 5.1.2 (OS X 10.6)
Firefox 8.0.1 (OS X 10.6)
-- really not browser specific

Additional comments:

There is a fix for this: appendChild to overlayImage pane.  Still receives 
mouse events.

markerclusterer.js:127
-  this.getPanes().overlayMouseTarget.appendChild(this.div_);
+  this.getPanes().overlayImage.appendChild(this.div_);

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Original issue reported on code.google.com by ptan...@raditaz.com on 10 Dec 2011 at 2:17

[GoogleCodeExporter]

This issue has been raised before and the thought has been to ensure that the 
clustered markers appear above everything else. Let me reconsider by switching 
to overlayPane on a production map to see if anything breaks.

Original comment by garylitt...@gmail.com on 13 Dec 2011 at 4:31

• Changed state: Acknowledged

[GoogleCodeExporter]

By the way: if switching to overlayImage pane there is much work to be done in 
addition to the single line change you mentioned.

Original comment by garylitt...@gmail.com on 13 Dec 2011 at 4:36

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Would it be possible instead to set a high zIndex?  From my reading of the 
Google Maps v3 docs, that is the recommended way.  I have changed my code with 
the above fix and you may verify on http://www.raditaz.com or (development) 
http://quesofresco.raditaz.com - create user -> Edit Station -> Edit Location.

If you want I will gladly test and submit code.  

The fix noted above does not break for what I am doing but will test other 
overlays.

Original comment by ptan...@raditaz.com on 13 Dec 2011 at 4:41

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I am definitely missing something, then.  I'll review other code tests you use. 
 So far it works for my (admittedly limited) use case.

Original comment by ptan...@raditaz.com on 13 Dec 2011 at 4:44

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I don't think the click handler works when the pane is changed to overlayImage. 
Not sure why, but I haven't really studied the issue yet. The cluster icons 
need to be standard markers if in overlayImage pane, so that will affect a lot 
of code as well. I'm beginning to see why the original creator of 
MarkerClusterer did it the way he did.

Original comment by garylitt...@gmail.com on 13 Dec 2011 at 4:47

[GoogleCodeExporter]

This code works for a click event handler:

function createClusterer(markers) {
    var cluster_styles = [{
      // [yoffset, xoffset] from top left: cluster location bottom center
      //anchorIcon: [40, 20],
      // we actually want the real center (simplifies things later)
      width: 40,
      height: 40,
      url: /images/stations/map_pin_multiple.png
    }],
    opts = {
      averageCenter: true,
      gridSize: 40,
      zoomOnClick: false,
      imagePath: images/stations,
      imageExtension: png,
      imageSizes: [40],
      styles: cluster_styles,
      calculator: self.cluster_calculate,
      zoomOnClick: false,
      title: Cluster of Stations
    },
    clusterer = new MarkerClusterer(self.map, markers, opts);
    google.maps.event.addListener(clusterer, 'click', self.onClusterClicked);
    return clusterer;
}

What I used was google.maps.addListener() not google.maps.addDomListener (used 
in ClusterIcon.prototype.onAdd,
http://google-maps-utility-library-v3.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/markerclustererpl
us/src/markerclusterer.js:128).

Original comment by ptan...@raditaz.com on 13 Dec 2011 at 5:20