Export Google Earth File

The Export Google Earth File allows you to produce a KML (Keyhole Markup Language or alternatively a KMZ) file of Carlson points, lines, arcs and polylines for rendering in other mapping and GIS applications such as Google Earth. Throughout this discussion, KML will be used to also describe KMZ files unless explicitly noted.

Drape on Google Terrain (2D): When this option is selected, entities written to the KML file will have an Altitude setting of "Clamped to ground."

Use Elevations from the Drawing (3D): When this option is selected, entities written to the KML file will have an Altitude setting of "Absolute."

Include Selected Points: When enabled, this option exports selected Carlson point information to the KML <Placemark><Point>...</Point></Placemark> tag structure.

Include Layer Information: When enabled, this option organizes exported information based on the layer of each entity, with each CAD layer becoming a KML <Folder>...</Folder> entry with the color of the group taking the general color of the CAD layer.

Shade Closed Regions: When enabled, all closed polyline regions (e.g. building pads, ponds, etc) will be fill-shaded.

Export to KMZ Format: When enabled, the KML file is written to the more compact (zipped) KMZ version of the standard KML file format.

Display Results in Google Earth: When enabled, the results of the KML are passed to and automatically opened with Google Earth.

Note:

• When the Use Elevations from the Drawing (3D) option is selected, be aware that elevation values lower than the Google Earth terrain may be obstructed in the Google Earth display.
• Attribute information (e.g. Number, Elevation, Description) of selected Carlson points are also written to the KML and will display in the "balloon" when a point is picked in the Google Earth display or data hierarchy.
• When the Shade Closed Regions toggle is enabled, note that all closed polyline regions will become fill shaded and may lead to undesired results for items such as closed contours.
• When prompted for the name of the KML/KMZ file to write, the appropriate KML or KMZ file extension based on the Export to KMZ Format toggle will be added to the file if the file extension is not specified.
• Arcs and polylines with arcs are converted into chord segments that closely approximate the arc(s).
• Other entities not supported for direct export to a KML file (e.g. circles, 3DFaces, ellipses, splines, multilines, regions and solids), can be first turned into polylines with the Entities to Polylines command. Text entities can be converted to polylines through the use of the Text Explode To Polylines command.
• The graphical symbology of any/all items sent to the KML file can be manually modified via the Google Earth interface.

Prompts

Select points, polylines, lines and arcs to write.
FILter/<Select entities>: Select the desired entities and press Enter when complete.

See Also:

• To import a Google Earth image into your drawing, use the Place Google Earth Image command.
• To import a Google Earth terrain data into a Carlson TIN (surface model), use the Place Google Earth Image command.
• To import KML content into your drawing, use the Import Google Earth File command.

Pulldown Menu Location: File > LandXML/RoadXML/Google Earth
Keyboard Command: kmlwrite
Prerequisite: Points, lines or polylines in the drawing with an established projection zone through Drawing Setup.