How to specify the autocomplete results in a certain country? - google-maps-api-3

Question

I have the same autocomplete script as in the documentation: https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/javascript/examples/places-autocomplete
My include script:
<script type="text/javascript" src="//maps.google.com/maps/api/js?v=3.8&sensor=false&libraries=geometry,places&language=&hl=&region=FR"></script>
The javascript:
function initAutocomplete(callback, input_s, lat_s, lng_s, label_s) {
var input = $(input_s)[0];
var autocomplete = new google.maps.places.Autocomplete(input);
//autocomplete.bindTo('', search_map.map);
google.maps.event.addListener(autocomplete, 'place_changed', function () {
var place = autocomplete.getPlace();
if (place.geometry) {
$(lat_s).val(place.geometry.location.lat());
$(lng_s).val(place.geometry.location.lng());
$(label_s).val(place.formatted_address);
if (callback) {
callback();
}
}
});
}
initAutocomplete(somefunction, '#zipcode_search_input', "#search_lat", "#search_lng", "#search_address_label");
I'd like the results to be biased in favor of french cities. Eg: if I type "laval", I want Laval, France to show up first, then Laval, Canada.
Specifying region or language, region or hl in the include script doesn't help. How can I bias the results towards france ?

Answer 1

You have to use location biasing:
Change:
var autocomplete = new google.maps.places.Autocomplete(input);
to:
var autocomplete = new google.maps.places.Autocomplete(input,
{componentRestrictions: {country: 'fr'}});
Edit: componentsRestrictions actually restricts the results in a specific country. To bias the results instead (results from others countries are still shown, but with lower priority), do this:
Grab sw and ne lat/lng here
var southWest = new google.maps.LatLng(42.97250, -3.82324);
var northEast = new google.maps.LatLng(51.64529, 5.49316);
var bounds = new google.maps.LatLngBounds(southWest,northEast);
var autocomplete = new google.maps.places.Autocomplete(input, {bounds: bounds});
google.maps.event.addListener(autocomplete, 'place_changed', function () {
//...
});