topic Layer to KML wont create a valid kmz in ArcGIS Pro Questions

Layer to KML wont create a valid kmz

AdrianPatrulescu — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 13:27:30 GMT

Hi,

I try to export 'layer to kml' and most the times wont work (it produced an empty KMZ for example parks.kmz - inside kmz.zip)

But with another layer it produced a valid kmz file (for example pa.kmz - inside kmz.zip)

The both layers have the same spatial references (EPSG 3844), and both are polygons

Does anybody have the same problem?

I have followed this steps for converting to kml: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STUxT3yWy3c

But the result it is an empty kmz (in Google earth/ArcGis is not showing any geometry)

Thank you

Adrian

Re: Layer to KML wont create a valid kmz

David_Brooks — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 13:33:55 GMT

@AdrianPatrulescu , did you know that you can drag and drop a shapefile straight into Google Earth Pro? You can then export a KML/KMZ from there, as a workaround.

If there is an error dropping a shapefile version of your layer into Google Earth, then possibly you have an invalid geometry that isn't support in keyhole markup language.

Also, possibly true/bezier curves in the original layer? Try and "generalize" the layer and re-export?

Re: Layer to KML wont create a valid kmz

AdrianPatrulescu — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 06:51:52 GMT

Hi David,

Thank you for your quick response

I didn't know you can drag shp to G.Earth Pro

I will use this workaround although will require extra steps because most of my data are inside GDB and require export to shp and import to G.Earth Pro.

I have tried with one shp - imported to G.Earth Pro and exported to kmz works OK but the same shp I imported to ArcGis Pro then exported to kmz it didn't work - is generated same empty kmz

I have attached this shp

Thank you

Adrian

Re: Layer to KML wont create a valid kmz

David_Brooks — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 08:32:17 GMT

@AdrianPatrulescu , i projected your data into WGS84 and then exported to KML and it worked fine, yielding 140 features.

However, i also ran the check geometry tool and you appear to have some dodgy polygons too:

FEATURE_ID	PROBLEM
12	self intersections
72	self intersections
125	null geometry

Running repair geometry fixes the self intersections and deletes the null geometry rows. However, only 139 features remained unlike via the project to WGS84 method, and exporting to KML from your native coordinate system is yielding null geometry in the KML in Google Earth. (oddly, it recognises each feature as a point with no gemoetry but all the attributes).

Ultimately, a geoprocess of projecting to WGS84 will solve it, but maybe check the validity of the data you're using as well.

Re: Layer to KML wont create a valid kmz

AdrianPatrulescu — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 10:08:26 GMT

Thank you again David,

If I re-project to 3857 and then export to kml it work OK, also geometry check is important before re-project.

Best regards

Adrian

Re: Layer to KML wont create a valid kmz

RodNielson1 — Mon, 22 Nov 2021 00:28:13 GMT

I had a similar issue. I saved my project as Arc 10.7 and Feature to KML worked fine. All of the other things mentioned here I did and go no result, but going back to 10.7.1 worked.

Re: Layer to KML wont create a valid kmz

Anonymous User — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 14:46:01 GMT

I'm using Pro 3.1.0. When using the tool on a feature service it works as expected. I exported the shapefile to a stand alone file geodatabase (I needed to make some updated to the geometry that I don't want to save in our SDE database) and then tried to run the tool and I keep getting the generic 999999 error. Any thoughts? I exported it as a shapefile with the same results and tried both of the methods mentioned above (project & repair geometry) without success.

Re: Layer to KML wont create a valid kmz

AdministradorGIS-PCG — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 21:27:43 GMT

A mí me pasa lo mismo en ArcGIS Pro 3.5.6 y con el Pro 3.6 también, al querer exportar una capa desde shapefile o desde una feature class simplemente no avanza, se cuelga, hay que cerrar el programa, también revisé geometría y no me mostró errores. No sabía lo de arrastrar un shapefile directamente a Google Earth, lo probaré, la solución que hallé fue convertir los shapefile a KML por medio de QGIS, los generó sin error y se abrieron sin problemas en GE.
The same thing happens to me in ArcGIS Pro 3.5.6 and also with Pro 3.6. When I try to export a layer from a shapefile or a feature class, it just doesn't go through, it hangs, and I have to close the program. I also checked the geometry and it showed no errors. I didn't know you could drag a shapefile directly into Google Earth, I'll give that a try. The solution I found was to convert the shapefiles to KML using QGIS, which generated them without errors and they opened in GE without any problems.