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Publishing your KML for Google Earth, Google Maps and Beyond
So you have a KML or KMZ file ready for the world? Great! This page is a collection of links to utalise Google Tools for publishing your file easily. See also: Google Outreach have produced an excellent tutorial on ways to promote your KMZ file.
Basically you are going to be creating a XML based wrapper file for your KML file. This is in Googles 'Gadget' format (for iGoogle and 3rd party websites), but it works on Google Maps as a Mapplet too. NEW! See also the box on right for other more direct ways of using your KML file.
You can even use the output from dynamic scripts such as Yahoo Pipes, or a generic RSS file via a convertor (the second option will create KML file you should host somewhere, and use the url below)
When say 'KML' in the following, you can equally use a KMZ file which is simply a KML file zipped in an archive (for compression, and so can contain utility images - but these are less likly to work on Google Maps)
- Link directly to the file for people to view in Google Earth (check MIME types)
- If your file needs updating in the future, you should wrap it in a NetworkLink, see goKML.net
- Preview in Google Maps
- you could use this link directly, and just tell people to use the 'Save to My Maps' link :)
- the 'Link to this page' can be used to create an embedable map
- Create an Maps API based map, Example
- Show in 3D using the Google Earth Plugin
- Easy with takitwithme.com
- With the API, Docs and see "Create NetworkLink" sample
- View on maps.live.com :)
- Share on gearthhacks.com
- Share on GEC
- Last tip: Dont forget to add the KML to your sitemap!
- Validate your KML file at feedvalidator.org (if a network link you should also validate the destination)
- Then Check for Google Maps compatibility
- Head over to the SpecMaker, to get the XML wrapper/definition for your file
- New! Google Maps also have an automatic SpecMaker. (click here to use direct in step 6! no need to host the XML)
- Host this file on the web somewhere! TIP: You can use the Google Gadget Editor, and Google will even host the XML for you!
- heres one I prepared earlier
- Provide your users with links to use your new content: (right click and select Copy Shortcut)
- Add to my iGoogle page (gadget) -or- Open in Page Creator
- Add to any webpage (gadget on any page on the web!)
- Add to Google Maps (as a mapplet in the My Maps tab)
- Add to Google Earth
(displays introduction supplied in the wrapper, you CAN just publish the url of the KML and people can open it direct in Earth!)
- Submit it to Google Directories:
- Standard Mapplets can also use this link: Mapplet Viewer - for these 'gadget' mapplets the gadget html is displayed in the sidebar
No guarantees, Google could easily change something (intentionally or otherwise) to break this. I don't think it volidates any rules/terms of use, as it simply utalises functionality already provided by Google. Suffice to say its not offically endorsed.