topic Re: Flex API 2.4 KML support added - need sample of how to add kml in ArcGIS API for Flex Questions

Flex API 2.4 KML support added - need sample of how to add kml

dcopple — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:57:50 GMT

I see kml support added and in the documentation it says the <layer> tag now supports type = "kml".

I have been trying to add that as a layer in my config.xml file as such:
<Layer> label="Mesowest Observations" type="kml" visible="false"
            url="http://www.srh.noaa.gov/gis/kml/mesowest/mesowestlink.kml"/>

I get an error on load Fault code: Client.CouldNotDecode
                             Fault info: Error #1085
                             Fault details: null

I cannot find any documentation on how to envoke the new layer easily, looks like I could go in and code something to load it, maybe. Anyone else figured out how to add the kml layers? I am combining kml and GIS layers.

Re: Flex API 2.4 KML support added - need sample of how to add kml

dcopple — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 15:30:39 GMT

Ok was able to figure out the config file error here is the correct format:
<layer label="Spot Forecast" type="kml" visible="true"
url="http://www.srh.noaa.gov/gis/kml/SpotForecast/spotLink.kml"/>

However, it isn't working. I believe the kml has the autorefresh mode set as well, maybe that is the problem. It will not load. The above KML is spot weather forecasts for the United States. I did notice that I do not have the newest Flex SDK, so will load that and try again. Do you think that would cause the error? Although the kml layer load is in com.esri sdk.....If it works I will update, or delete this thread. P.S. The copper mines kml included in the apps.config-kml.xml loads fine, the other layers do not (included with the 2.4 flex app).

Thanks,
Don

Re: Flex API 2.4 KML support added - need sample of how to add kml

dcopple — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 15:45:06 GMT

The kml link in my last post still refused to work in flex 2.4. I was able to find samples in the apps folder for those of you who want a sample config, and finally located that on the websites as well, so I appologize for that lack of looking. However, with that said, I cannot get any of the freely posted kml link on the NOAA website to work in Flex. I can load some simple kml files, and load the feed from Inciweb fire incidents (although it is just the points and none of the information associated). I noticed some of these have some CDATA elements that are parsed by the kml viewer. I did notice some of the additional links within a kml could not be loaded (http://www.srh.noaa.gov/gis/kml/raws/rawslink.kml) for example. When opened in ArcGIS Explorer you have to turn on the layers you want to see (Temp & RH for example), but the points appear. The Spot Forecast example in my last post will work in ArcGIS Explorer, and Arc GIS Desktop, but not in my Flex Application. Is this a bug, of does anyone have any hints on how to load those. (Is a seperate KML widget needed to properly parse and display.

I am glad it is starting to support some KML data, but need some help here.

There are a variety of US Govt. NOAA kml data here:http://www.srh.noaa.gov/gis/kml/
I am using some thing from NOAA from thier GIS services, however not all are displayed. Most are KML.

Please reply......

Re: Flex API 2.4 KML support added - need sample of how to add kml

SarthakDatt — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 06:45:31 GMT

Hey Don,

Thanks for reporting this. There are couple of issues here.

The kml(http://www.srh.noaa.gov/gis/kml/SpotForecast/spotLink.kml) contains 1 screen overlay and 1 network link(pointing to http://www.srh.noaa.gov/gis/kml/SpotForecast/spot2.kmz).

- There is a bug in Flex Viewer 2.4, where the TOC does not show a network link which has default visibility of 0(false), hence not allowing you to turn it on(make the request). If you are working with the viewer code base you can make the following change to TOCMapLayerItem.as(replace createKMLFolderTocItem() and createKmlNetworkLinkTocItem()):

private static function createKmlFolderTocItem(parentItem:TocItem, folder:KMLFolder, folders:Array, layer:KMLLayer):TocKmlFolderItem
    {
        var item:TocKmlFolderItem = new TocKmlFolderItem(parentItem, folder, layer);

        // Handle any sublayers of a group layer
        if (folder.subFolderIds && folder.subFolderIds.length > 0)
        {
            var lookInFeatureInfos:Boolean = true;
            for each (var childId:Number in folder.subFolderIds)
            {
                var childFolder:KMLFolder = findFolderById(childId, folders);
                if (childFolder)
                {
                    item.addChild(createKmlFolderTocItem(item, childFolder, folders, layer));
                }
            }
        }
        else if (folder.featureInfos && folder.featureInfos.length > 0)
        {
            for each (var featureInfo:KMLFeatureInfo in folder.featureInfos)
            {
                if (featureInfo.type == KMLFeatureInfo.NETWORK_LINK)
                {
                    var networkLink:KMLLayer = layer.getFeature(featureInfo) as KMLLayer;
                    item.addChild(createKmlNetworkLinkTocItem(item, networkLink, layer));
                }
            }
        }
        return item;
    }

    private static function createKmlNetworkLinkTocItem(item:TocItem, networkLink:KMLLayer, layer:KMLLayer):TocKmlNetworkLinkItem
    {
        var tocKmlNetworkLinkItem:TocKmlNetworkLinkItem = new TocKmlNetworkLinkItem(item, networkLink, layer);
        if (networkLink.loaded)
        {
            createKMLLayerTocItems(tocKmlNetworkLinkItem, networkLink); // as network link is also a type of KMLLayer
        }
        else
        {
            networkLink.addEventListener(LayerEvent.LOAD, layerLoadHandler);
        }

        function layerLoadHandler(event:LayerEvent):void
        {
            createKMLLayerTocItems(tocKmlNetworkLinkItem, networkLink);
        }

        return tocKmlNetworkLinkItem;
    }

- The screen overlay would still not be shown, it is a bug in the api because of the sizeX and sizeY values being -1 and we are looking to fix that.

This applies to the other kml samples that you have been trying as well.

Hope this helps.

Re: Flex API 2.4 KML support added - need sample of how to add kml

dcopple — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 18:20:49 GMT

This helps greatly, thanks for providing that explanation. It has been frustrating to figure out. I am still trying to figure out how to create a widget to load the kml, and I am sure you code will help, just not sure how to create the widget, or where to put the code in yet.

I think a widget, much like the GEORss widget would be a good answer that could easily be thrown out in the code gallery. Someone let me know if you're working on that so I don't waste my time trying different things.

Thanks again for the reply, and I look forward to updates, patches, or a widget to do this......

Re: Flex API 2.4 KML support added - need sample of how to add kml

SarthakDatt — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 06:45:34 GMT

Maybe this would help : http://help.arcgis.com/en/webapps/flexviewer/help/index.html#/Create_your_own_widget/01m300000010000000/

You would add KMLLayer as any other layer is added to the map:


var kmlLayer:KMLLayer = new KMLLayer();
kmlLayer.url = // url to kml document                    
map.addLayer(kmlLayer);

Re: Flex API 2.4 KML support added - need sample of how to add kml

dcopple — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 20:12:26 GMT

Thanks,
I will give it a try and reply back here if that doesn't work. Just for your note, I modified the kml to visibility of 1 and reposted it to my own website to try that. It now opens the TOC, but then will not populate anything point wise. Shows a ? in my TOC window. I assume that is from the network link, however the network link has visibility set to 1 (this is the spot2 kmz file).

I will try your method to see if that gives me different results.

Thanks,
Don

Re: Flex API 2.4 KML support added - need sample of how to add kml

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:16:09 GMT

Sarthak,

I got a url for you that your Flex Viewer workaround does not seem to work for:

http://puff.images.alaska.edu/kml_files/volcano/Puff_monitored_Bezymianny.kml

Any Suggestions?

Re: Flex API 2.4 KML support added - need sample of how to add kml

SarthakDatt — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:32:06 GMT

Robert,

Seems to work fine for me:

Re: Flex API 2.4 KML support added - need sample of how to add kml

dcopple — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:41:01 GMT

Sarthak,
I have modified the kml files and posted to my own server with the visibility set to 1 as you described. I don't think 2.4 handles networked kml links. Changing the value to 1 does make a layer show up in the TOC as if there were something there. However, it only lists the first network link. So the original KML: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/gis/kml/raws/rawslink.kml , I changed the visibilty tag to 1 for each of the network linked elements. I then saved my modified kml to a website and linked that in my config.xml. I then went into one of the subelement links http://www.srh.noaa.gov/gis/kml/raws/rawsTfLink.kml and change the visibility tag to 1 again, and again posted to my own website, this brought up the layer in the TOC again for temp in this case, but still nothing on the map. So rewriting the kml to visibilty 1 helped add it to the TOC, but did not visually display the data on the map. All my modification to the kml were visible using GE, so the KMLs are structured correctly even with my rewrites, and that allowed those element to automatically open in GE. They are in the TOC of my Flex App, but not visible on map.

I need the kml functionality to complete and deploy my Flex Application which is why I have posted so much about kml on the forum. I have not tried your work around yet, as I haven't figured out where to code that. I have modified a few widgets to fit my needs so understand modifying some widgets, but just havn't had the time to code a new widget.

Robert, have you tried the links that I posted earlier to see if they work with the modifications suggested? I see you said the one from Alaska didn't work, so didn't want to put in a bunch of time to have the same happen. Can you give me any direction to how you used the code to get some of the working if they do? I still think a widget would be nice, with an xml that would be able to specifiy the url to the kml file, much like GEORss works now.

One more point I noticed, no pop-ups in the included kml samples, of the online sample map. So if I click on the western railroads kml on the sample map, it does nothing. So if those popups need seperate xml files in the popups menu, and example of how to create those for a kml would be nice, once the kml is working. Like I say, I am in need of this functionality to deploy my project.

Thanks.....

Re: Flex API 2.4 KML support added - need sample of how to add kml

SarthakDatt — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 16:10:12 GMT

Don,

As I mentioned in my earlier post, with the current FV 2.4 you would not see the network links whose default visibility is 0 unless you make that change to the TOCMapLayerItem.as

See the attached image, shows how the toc would look after the change is made. You would not have to manually set the visibility of each network link. It works fine with nested network links as well.

Regarding the features not shown on the map, I think there is a problem in the server not returning any renderer information. I am looking more into that. You can see the same by looking at the response in Firebug.

Re: Flex API 2.4 KML support added - need sample of how to add kml

SarthakDatt — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 16:32:06 GMT

One more point I noticed, no pop-ups in the included kml samples, of the online sample map. So if I click on the western railroads kml on the sample map, it does nothing. So if those popups need seperate xml files in the popups menu, and example of how to create those for a kml would be nice, once the kml is working.

You do not have to do anything specific, the kml layer comes with the popup info. I can see the popup on the western railroads kml at my end. I must agree the popups in this case are not well configured 🙂 :

Re: Flex API 2.4 KML support added - need sample of how to add kml

dcopple — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 17:29:20 GMT

Did it render any points for you in your test. I can open it in GE, so I know the server is working for GE, but not in Flex.

I also appreciate the code, but am a beginner, so not sure how to impliment the code yet. I have modified the config file, and have modified a couple of widgets, but that is as far as I have gotten with code experimentation.

Do I use the code you provide in the main application file? Just not sure how to use it. Sorry for my ignorance on the matter. I will continue to hack away until I figure it out.

Thanks,
Don

Re: Flex API 2.4 KML support added - need sample of how to add kml

SarthakDatt — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 17:48:53 GMT

Did it render any points for you in your test. I can open it in GE, so I know the server is working for GE, but not in Flex.

No it did not, as "our" server is not returning any renderer info. This seems to be a bug. You can try your kml on arcgis.com and see the same result.

Do I use the code you provide in the main application file?

No, you would not be changing the main application file. In you viewer source code, you can go to com->esri->viewer->components->toc->tocClasses package and find TOCMapLayerItem.as. Now simply replace the methods in this file with the code I provided.

Re: Flex API 2.4 KML support added - need sample of how to add kml

PatrickTruitt — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 18:10:44 GMT

sdat,

I've noticed that the KML file must be Public in order for parsing. I work in an area that might require some sensitive kml data, any plans at ESRI to provide some local parsing?

Thanks.

Re: Flex API 2.4 KML support added - need sample of how to add kml

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 18:19:30 GMT

Sarthak,

So this is what I am working on. I am adding KML Layer support to my TOC Widget that integrates legend swatches and TOC and I now have it working well. The one issue that remains (besides kml symbology looks much better in GE) is that if the KML does not specify a default symbol than you guys give it a default symbology (which is fine), but then you never provide anything to the getLegendInfos function. Just thought you should know from a developers perspective what is not working.

Re: Flex API 2.4 KML support added - need sample of how to add kml

dcopple — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 18:36:50 GMT

Thanks for working on this too Robert. Hope the bugs get worked out soon.

Thanks also for letting me know where to put the code. Will try that adn see what happens.

OK, I implemented to code change, which brings up the TOC, however, the points come up as (?). So not sure if the kml is being parsed correctly or not. I will have to look through the code to see which part returns a (?) if there is an error I guess. So it looks as if there is still a bug. My screen shot is below, and I am working with the publically availible kml here:http://www.srh.noaa.gov/gis/kml/SpotForecast/spotLink.kml

Here's my screen shot, so you can see TOC now works, just not being rendered on the map.

Re: Flex API 2.4 KML support added - need sample of how to add kml

ErikArchibald — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 19:22:07 GMT

sdat,

I've noticed that the KML file must be Public in order for parsing. I work in an area that might require some sensitive kml data, any plans at ESRI to provide some local parsing?

Thanks.

I'm having this problem too. I'd like to have all my KML hosted on an intranet. Any ideas for a work-around?

Re: Flex API 2.4 KML support added - need sample of how to add kml

dcopple — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 21:13:01 GMT

Sarthak,
Just a quick update to my comment about the popup for the kml. I opened the same western rr kml file in GE, it gives much more information than the popup that does work in flex. So I think it is the way that is being parsed also. I hope to get the other stuff working, but also need the pop ups to work as well. A lot of the data that are included with the KML's I am trying to load are included in the pop up that comes up with the point on the map.

I included a screen shot of the same rr kml that comes with the example viewer kml, but it shows much more data in the pop up. Any ideas on how to create the pop up?

Maybe Robert is working on this with his Widget as well though. Sorry to keep bugging you, but I am in need of this to work.....

Still just have a (?) for my kml layers too, haven't figured that out, no display on the map, but is in the TOC. Could it be something with the map datum, and kml file differences?

Thanks,
Don

Re: Flex API 2.4 KML support added - need sample of how to add kml

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 01:03:11 GMT

Don,

I tested several links for the http://www.srh.noaa.gov/gis/kml site and could not get a one of them to work either but I have had good success with other kmls so I would say for the time being look else where for kml data you can use, as it is unlikely that the issue will get resolved without another release of the API and or viewer.