Ok I have a load of variables stored in external mapData.php file (which will eventually be a database) which seem to be loading in and populating the contentstring, lat/lng for map marker just fine, but I want the project to be scalable. So I need variables to be dynamic based on the amount of sets in the database. Every time round the loop it …

map.php

<?php
require 'includes/mapData.php';
?>

var map;

var living1 = new google.maps.LatLng(37.3333, -121.9000);

var MY_MAPTYPE_ID = 'custom_style';

function initialize() {

var featureOpts = [
{
  stylers: [
    { hue: '#000044' },
    { visibility: 'simplified' },
    { gamma: 0.5 },
    { weight: 0.5 }
  ]
},
{
  elementType: 'labels',
  stylers: [
    { visibility: 'on' }
  ]
},
{
  featureType: 'water',
  stylers: [
    { color: '#000044' }
  ]
}
];

var mapOptions = {
zoom: 12,
center: living1,
mapTypeControlOptions: {
  mapTypeIds: [google.maps.MapTypeId.ROADMAP, MY_MAPTYPE_ID]
},
mapTypeId: MY_MAPTYPE_ID
};

map = new google.maps.Map(document.getElementById('map-canvas'),
  mapOptions);

var styledMapOptions = {
name: 'Custom Style'
};

var customMapType = new google.maps.StyledMapType(featureOpts, styledMapOptions);

map.mapTypes.set(MY_MAPTYPE_ID, customMapType);

<!-- foreachl -->

<?php for ($x=0; $x<1; $x++) { ?>


<!-- needs unique location name, contentstring name, marker name and infowindow name everytime round the loop-->

var locStr= '<?php echo $locations[$x][12]; ?>'; <!--generates location varaible name from php, but doesn't -->
var conStr= '<?php echo $locations[$x][11]; ?>'; <!--generates contentstring varaible name from php, but doesn't  -->
var infoWin= '<?php echo $locations[$x][10]; ?>'; <!--generates infowindow variable name from php, but doesn't  -->
var marStr= '<?php echo $locations[$x][13]; ?>'; <!--generates marker variable name from php, but doesn't  -->

var locStr = new google.maps.LatLng('<?php echo $locations[$x][1]; ?>', '<?php echo $locations[$x][2]; ?>');

var conStr = '<div>'+
  '<h4 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading"><?php echo $locations[$x][0]; ?></h4>'+
  '<div id="bodyContent">'+
  '<p><b><?php echo $locations[$x][0]; ?></b>' +
  '<?php echo $locations[$x][3]; ?>'+
  '<?php echo $locations[$x][4]; ?>'+
  '<?php echo $locations[$x][5]; ?>'+
  '<?php echo $locations[$x][6]; ?> '+
  '<?php echo $locations[$x][7]; ?> '+
  '<?php echo $locations[$x][8]; ?> '+
  '<?php echo $locations[$x][9]; ?>  '+
  '</div>'+
  '</div>';


var infoWin = new google.maps.InfoWindow({ content: conStr });

var marStr = new google.maps.Marker({
position: locStr,
draggable:false,
title:"Centre"
});

//sets marker on map
marStr.setMap(map);

google.maps.event.addListener(marStr, 'click', function() {
infoWin.open(map,marStr);
});

//end of loop
<?php } ?>


//marker2
//marker2
var boccardo = new google.maps.LatLng('<?php echo $locations[1][1]; ?>', '<?php echo $locations[1][2]; ?>');
var contentString2 = '<div>'+
  '<h4 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading"><?php echo $locations[1][0]; ?></h4>'+
  '<div id="bodyContent">'+
  '<p><b><?php echo $locations[1][0]; ?></b>' +
  ' <?php echo $locations[1][3]; ?>'+
  ' <?php echo $locations[1][4]; ?>'+
  ' <?php echo $locations[1][5]; ?>'+
  ' <?php echo $locations[1][6]; ?>'+
  ' <?php echo $locations[1][7]; ?>'+
  ' <?php echo $locations[1][8]; ?>'+
  ' <?php echo $locations[1][9]; ?>'+
  '</div>'+
  '</div>';

var infowindow2 = new google.maps.InfoWindow({
  content: contentString2
});

var marker2 = new google.maps.Marker({
position: boccardo,
draggable:false,
title:"Centre"
});

//sets marker on map
marker2.setMap(map);

google.maps.event.addListener(marker2, 'click', function() {
infowindow2.open(map,marker2);
});

//end of marker 2


//marker3
var sunnyvale = new google.maps.LatLng(37.38520, -122.01697);
var contentString3 = '<div>'+
  '<h4 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading">Sunnyvale National Guard Armory</h4>'+
  '<div id="bodyContent">'+
  '<p><b>Sunnyvale National Guard Armory</b>' +
  ', 620 E. Maude Sunnyvale, 94086, '+
  ' Near the Fair Oaks / Wolfe Road split, '+
  '408-739-6980, '+
  ' '+
  'Clients must be onsite by 6:00pm for intake. '+
  'Space limited to 125. '+
  'Offsite nights each month due to Guard exercises. '+
  'Meals served daily. '+
  '</div>'+
  '</div>';

var infowindow3 = new google.maps.InfoWindow({
  content: contentString3
});

var marker3 = new google.maps.Marker({
position: sunnyvale,
draggable:false,
title:"Centre"
});

//sets marker on map
marker3.setMap(map);

google.maps.event.addListener(marker3, 'click', function() {
infowindow3.open(map,marker3);
});

//end of marker 3

//marker4
var sanjosefamilyshelter = new google.maps.LatLng(37.36608, -121.86866);
var contentString4 = '<div>'+
  '<h4 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading">San Jose Family Shelter</h4>'+
  '<div id="bodyContent">'+
  '<p><b>San Jose Family Shelter</b>' +
  ', 692 N. King Road, 95133, San Jose. '+
  ' Near the Fair Oaks / Wolfe Road split, '+
  ' 408.926.8885, '+
  ' '+
  'Call between 10:00am and 11:00am M-F for availability. '+
  'Program fee. '+
  'Parents over 18 & boys up to 17 years. '+
  'Comprehensive day services, monthly bus passes.'+
  '</div>'+
  '</div>';

var infowindow4 = new google.maps.InfoWindow({
  content: contentString4
});

var marker4 = new google.maps.Marker({
position: sanjosefamilyshelter,
draggable:false,
title:"Centre"
});

//sets marker on map
marker4.setMap(map);

google.maps.event.addListener(marker4, 'click', function() {
infowindow4.open(map,marker4);
});

//end of marker 4

//marker5
var innvision1 = new google.maps.LatLng(37.33684, -121.90413);
var contentString5 = '<div>'+
  '<h4 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading">InnVision Emergency and Transitional Shelter</h4>'+
  '<div id="bodyContent">'+
  '<p><b>InnVision Emergency and Transitional Shelter</b>' +
  ', Montgomery Street Inn, 358 N Montgomery St., '+
  ' San Jose, CA 95110, '+
  ' 408.271.5160, '+
  ' '+
  'Arrive by 10:00am Monday-Friday for assessment for program entry. '+
  'Adult Men Only. '+
  '</div>'+
  '</div>';

var infowindow5 = new google.maps.InfoWindow({
  content: contentString5
});

var marker5 = new google.maps.Marker({
position: innvision1,
draggable:false,
title:"Centre"
});

//sets marker on map
marker5.setMap(map);

google.maps.event.addListener(marker5, 'click', function() {
infowindow5.open(map,marker5);
});

//end of marker 5

//marker6
var innvision2 = new google.maps.LatLng(37.35997, -121.90075);
var contentString6 = '<div>'+
  '<h4 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading">InnVision Emergency and Transitional Shelter</h4>'+
  '<div id="bodyContent">'+
  '<p><b>InnVision Emergency and Transitional Shelter</b>' +
  ', Commercial Street Inn, '+
  ' 260 Commercial Street, '+
  ' San Jose, CA 95112'+
  ' Call 408.271.1630 for availability. '+
  ' Adult Women Only. '+
  '</div>'+
  '</div>';

var infowindow6 = new google.maps.InfoWindow({
  content: contentString6
});

var marker6 = new google.maps.Marker({
position: innvision2,
draggable:false,
title:"Centre"
});

//sets marker on map
marker6.setMap(map);

google.maps.event.addListener(marker6, 'click', function() {
infowindow6.open(map,marker6);
});

//end of marker 6

    
}

google.maps.event.addDomListener(window, 'load', initialize);

mapData.php

<?php

$locations = array
  (
  array(
        "Gilroy National Guard Armory",//00
        37.02043,//01
        -121.5617,//02
        ", 8490 Wren Avenue, Gilroy, 95020,",//03
        "Near Las Animas Park.",//04
        "Telephone: 712-0453.", //05
        "Clients must be onsite by 6:00 pm for intake.", //06
        "Space limited to 100.",  //07
        "Offsite nights each month due to Guard exercises.",  //08
        "Meals served daily.",  //09
        "infoWindow1", //10
        "content1", //11
        "location1", //12
        "marker1", //13
        ),
  
  array(
        "Boccardo Reception Center",//00
        37.30345,//01
        -121.87065,//02
        ", 2011 Little Orchard, San Jose, 95125,",//03
        "Near The Plant shopping area.",//04
        "Telephone: 408-510-7502.", //05
        "Clients must be onsite by 3:30 pm to join the lottery for bed assignments. ", //06
        "Space limited to 50. ",  //07
        "Shelter opens at 4:00pm. ",  //08
        "Meals served daily. ",  //09
        "infoWindow2", //10
        "content2", //11
        "location2", //12
        "marker2", //13
        ),
  
  array("BMW",60,59),
  
  array("Toyota",110,100)
  );

?>