topic Re: KML to Layer Issue- Is what I'm doing supported? in ArcGIS Pro Questions

KML to Layer Issue- Is what I'm doing supported?

jdruding — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 15:33:17 GMT

I'm evaluating ArcGIS for personal use and so Esri won't answer my question as to whether this is supported or not and directed me here. I would like to be able to import KML/KMZ with embedded photos. These KMZ files have tracks and points with photos attached to them and are created in an app called GaiaGPS. I know that the KMZ file is valid because it works as expected if you import it to Google Earth. (the tracks are imported and the points have the photos attached properly)

I'm using the KML to Layer conversion tool and checking the box to "Include Ground Overlay". The import imports the points and polylines, but when I click on a point with a photo, the pop up shows the image link is broken. Looking at the values in the pop up field, I can see that it references the photo with format of:

"<img src="ae297b388e83811290459c4cfb6f6c8d.jpg">"

When looking at the size of the geodatabase, it is clear that the photos are not present after import. (i.e. the geodatabase is very tiny and the original KMZ is 50 MB.) I would have thought that KML to Layer function would either copy the photos to a location relative to the root of the reference above (the geodatabase folder itself?) or automatically configure the image element in the Pop Up.

Is this functionality supported?

Re: KML to Layer Issue- Is what I'm doing supported?

Robert_LeClair — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 16:10:09 GMT

Good morning - you are correct that the ArcGIS for Personal Use program does not have access to Esri Support Services but the Esri Community forum is a great resource that is monitored by Esri staff so we can assist here. With regard to your question, are you able to share the *.kmz so I can test some workflows on my side?

Re: KML to Layer Issue- Is what I'm doing supported?

jdruding — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 17:57:35 GMT

Thanks Robert! The file is too large to attach the entire thing and, besides, it is little too sensitive for me to post publicly. (you could pretty easily find my home, for instance) So, I extracted a single track that has points and photos. NOTE: KMZ files are blocked from upload so I changed the file extension to .ZIP

Re: KML to Layer Issue- Is what I'm doing supported?

Robert_LeClair — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 18:08:42 GMT

Thx! I've downloaded the file and am working with it now in ArcGIS Pro 2.9.1. Natively the *.kmz works just fine in ArcGIS Pro with no data conversion required. I can click on "My Photo - 1/23/22, time" and see the photos just fine. See attached. I'll try converting it to a geodatabase feature class and report my findings.

Re: KML to Layer Issue- Is what I'm doing supported?

jdruding — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 18:27:21 GMT

That's great, so it obviously can be done. Im using 2.9.1 also and my import looks just like yours EXCEPT, in the pop up your are showing, I see a broken link icon instead of the picture. Attached is a pic.

Re: KML to Layer Issue- Is what I'm doing supported?

Robert_LeClair — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 18:31:38 GMT

Right - so I did not run the KML to Layer GP tool at all and just added the *.kmz right to a new Map View. If I run the KML to Layer GP tool, then I see the same thing that you do. Click the Add Data button in the Layer group on the Map core tab and add the *.kmz right to your map. Does it mimic my screen grab earlier?

Re: KML to Layer Issue- Is what I'm doing supported?

jdruding — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 18:39:02 GMT

You rock, Robert! That worked! Thanks!

Re: KML to Layer Issue- Is what I'm doing supported?

jdruding — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 19:46:56 GMT

Hi @Robert_LeClair , I'm back again. 🙂 So this solution solved my first problem of showing the photos, but as soon as started playing around with it, I realized it didn't really solve my original task of importing the KML/KMZ data into the ArcGIS geodatabase. This method created a KML Layer, which is obviously limited in its capabilities. Is there a way to now save this data into a new ArcGIS layer? Or back to the original question, is there a way to make it work with KML to Layer?

Re: KML to Layer Issue- Is what I'm doing supported?

Robert_LeClair — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 20:39:52 GMT

To my knowledge, no. There is an Enhancement Request (NIM086198) - "Images in pop-ups from KML are not maintained with the KML to Layer geoprocessing tool." Wish I had better information for you.

Re: KML to Layer Issue- Is what I'm doing supported?

jdruding — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 02:36:33 GMT

Thanks for letting me know. Is this an idea I’m able to vote for?

Re: KML to Layer Issue- Is what I'm doing supported?

Robert_LeClair — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 16:49:49 GMT

I looked for existing KMZ/KML and photos as an existing idea but did not see one. I'd suggest creating one so it gets visibility with the ArcGIS Pro Developers.

Re: KML to Layer Issue- Is what I'm doing supported?

jdruding — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 12:48:26 GMT

This function has been submitted as an Idea. If you come across this post and are interested in this functionality, please vote for this idea!

Re: KML to Layer Issue- Is what I'm doing supported?

Brian_Parker4 — Thu, 05 May 2022 22:35:07 GMT

To add a layer of complication to this: I need to upload a KMZ to ArcGIS online for use in fieldmaps and the online viewer. While in Pro I can see and use the KMZ, it is larger than 10 MB so I can not upload to Online without converting to a feature layer to my knowledge. This presents a problem, because when I convert it, it loses attachments, so this becomes a problem.

Re: KML to Layer Issue- Is what I'm doing supported?

Stefan_Thorn — Wed, 11 May 2022 22:51:27 GMT

Hi,

I have wrote a workaround, see also the attached pdf, based on the data of @jdruding It can be improved with python scripts to do all the steps in ArcGIS Pro but I cannot write them.

KML/KMZ data with attachments to ArcGIS Pro

In this workaround only two photo attachments per feature class can be added. Writing a python script will improve the process and could make it possible to add more photos as attachments to a feature class.

ArcGIS Pro

Use the Tool KML to Layer to convert the KML/KMZ data to a file geodatabase
Result: the data from the KMZ (Track…) is converted to a file geodatabase KML.gdb and added to the TOC:

In the created geodatabase create attachments on the point layer:
1. Right click Points > Manage> enable Attachments (Global IDs will also be enabled)

Open attribute table from the Point layer and add fields:
1. Photo1 (text, 255)
2. Photo2 (text, 255)

Excel

The next steps are done in Excel but it would be easier and quicker to use a Python script in Field Calculator à who can writing python script?

Select all records, click Copy and paste all records to Excel:
1. Save your Excel
In the column [PopupInfo] (or other column) information is stored about the attached images in the kml data. We need these filename of the photos to be able add the images as attachments.
1. i.e. two photos attached

Location: 39.69032; -74.67498

Elevation: 32.8 ft

Time Created: 1/23/22; 4:22:49 PM EST

In Excel: Add the next formula in column:
1. I2 = column [PopupInfo]
Column Photo1:

=SUBSTITUTE(IFERROR(MID(I2;FIND("<img src=";I2)+10;37);"");"""";"")

Getting the first filename
Filename of the photos has not always the same length in ,therefor it is possible that the last character “ after .jpg will be added, substitute will remove the “.

Edit the formula to get every filename correct or Step 9
Column Photo2:

=SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(IF(LEN(I2)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(I2;".jpg";""))>4;MID(RIGHT(I2;LEN(I2)-FIND("|";SUBSTITUTE(I2;"=";"|";LEN(I2)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(I2;"=";"")))));2;38);"");">";"");"""";"")

The formula will search from right to left in the text.
If in the text “.jpg” occurs twice the sum is 8 characters and is > 4 and a second filename is in the data, otherwise no output

Getting the second filename

Filename of the photos has not always the same length in characters therefor, it is possible that the last the characters “ and/or > after .jpg will be added, substitute will remove the > and “.

Edit the formula to get every filename correct or Step 10
Add new sheet “attachments”
Select all data in “Sheet1” and copy as values to sheet “attachments”
In sheet attachments remove all columns except [OID*], [GlobalID], [photo1] and [photo2]
In columns [photo1] and [photo2] correct the few filename extensions.
Add <Null> in de cells that are empty, i.e.:

Save your excel

Now a nice trick in ArcGIS Pro

If not trusting, use Join to add the filenames in [photo1] and [photo2] from the Excel.
Select the data in column [photo1], right click Copy
Go to ArcGIS Pro
In attribute table Points click on column name photo1, ctrl-v
1. The values will be copied into the records
Save edits
Repeat for [photo2]

Import attachments

Tool ‘Add Attachments’

Import photo1

For the <Null> values you will get error messages or when a filename is not correct.

Import photo2
1. For <null> values you will get error messages

Results

popup from the KML data opened in ArcGIS Pro

popup from the data converted to file geodatabase

Re: KML to Layer Issue- Is what I'm doing supported?

jdruding — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 18:12:13 GMT

Wow! Very cool. I'll have to give this a try! I don't know Python either, but Ive been wanting to learn 🙂

Re: KML to Layer Issue- Is what I'm doing supported?

AbbyPortwood — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 22:01:22 GMT

Did anyone ever figure this out? I am having the same issue with getting photos stored in my KML to upload.

Re: KML to Layer Issue- Is what I'm doing supported?

MichaelBodziak — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 16:49:56 GMT

How did you complete this correctly?? I have a kml file with pictures and I cannot get them to convert to a GDB feature with Picture.