function init() {
    if (GBrowserIsCompatible()) {

      // this variable will collect the html which will eventually be placed in the sidebar
      var sidebar_html = "";

      // arrays to hold copies of the markers and html used by the sidebar
      // because the function closure trick doesnt work there
      var gmarkers = [];
      var htmls = [];
      var i = 0;


      // A function to create the marker and set up the event window
      function createMarker(point,name,html) {
        var marker = new GMarker(point);
        GEvent.addListener(marker, "click", function() {
          marker.openInfoWindowHtml(html);
        });
        // save the info we need to use later for the sidebar
        gmarkers[i] = marker;
        htmls[i] = html;
        // add a line to the sidebar html
        sidebar_html += '<a href="javascript:myclick(' + i + ')">' + name + '</a><br/>';
        i++;
        return marker;
      }


      // This function picks up the click and opens the corresponding info window
      function myclick(i) {
        gmarkers[i].openInfoWindowHtml(htmls[i]);
      }


      // create the map
      var map = new GMap2(document.getElementById("map"));
   	 map.addControl(new GSmallMapControl());
      map.setCenter(new GLatLng(51.311797,12.374897), 15);
      map.setMapType(G_SATELLITE_TYPE);

      // add the points
      var point = new GPoint(51.311797,12.374897);
      var marker = createMarker(point,"<strong>dioptrin office</strong><br/>Arne Berger<br/>Riemannstrasse 30<br/>04107 Leipzig<br/><br/>Fon:&nbsp;0049&nbsp;341&nbsp;9900072<br/>E-Mail:&nbsp;arne(at)dioptrin(dot)de","dioptrin office<br/>Riemannstrasse 30<br/>04107 Leipzig<br/>")
      map.addOverlay(marker);

      var point = new GPoint(51.124213,10.546875);
      var marker = createMarker(point,"<br/><br/><strong>dioptrin office</strong><br/>Marcel H&uuml;sni<br/>Scheffelstrasse 38<br/>04277 Leipzig<br/><br/>Fon:&nbsp;0049&nbsp;177&nbsp;3868834<br/>E-Mail:&nbsp;marcel(at)dioptrin(dot)de","dioptrin office<br/>Scheffelstrasse 38<br/>04277 Leipzig")
      map.addOverlay(marker);



      // put the assembled sidebar_html contents into the sidebar div
      document.getElementById("sidebar").innerHTML = sidebar_html;

    }

    else {

    }

}