topic Re: Point Layer to KML - Google Placemarks Blank in Geoprocessing Questions

Point Layer to KML - Google Placemarks Blank

NatashaJurko — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 14:04:26 GMT

Hi everyone,

I am having issues with converting a point shapefile into a KML layer. Once converted and uploaded to Google Maps/Earth the placemarks are missing. Only the shadows of the placemarks are displayed, and I have to select the point on the side legend/menu to see the pop-up table. All the attribute table information is there, and the labeling is converted correctly, it is just the physical point iteself which is missing. Looking through the ArcGIS 10 Desktop Help I followed the examples of converting points to no avail. I have tried other shapefiles and feature classes and they all have the same result.

I have tried:
- using different symbols
- changing layer projections
- trying it as a shapefile and feature class
- uploadeing from different computers
- using different browsers to display google maps

I am working with ArcGIS 10, Editor licence (also have spatial analyst enabled).

Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

Thank-you

Natasha

Re: Point Layer to KML - Google Placemarks Blank

JoeFlannery — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 14:14:36 GMT

Natasha:

Have you looked at the altitude properties of the KML file in the Google Earth TOC?
Right-click the layer and choose Properties.
Click on the Altitude tab and see if the "Clamped to Ground" option is chosen.

Re: Point Layer to KML - Google Placemarks Blank

NatashaJurko — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 14:26:31 GMT

I just tried it in Google Earth and it worked.

Is tehre a similar option in Google Maps?

Natasha

Re: Point Layer to KML - Google Placemarks Blank

KevinHibma — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 17:58:27 GMT

As Joe figured out, it sounds like you have data with Z values of either 0 or below the surface of the earth.
At the 10.1 release we're added a parameter to the tool to "clamp features to the ground" - basically it will override your Zvalues.

For now, you could try:
Run the Create Feature Class tool (make sure to keep the Has Z setting DISABLED)
Run Copy Features tool with your original feature class and insert into the new feature class.
Run Layer to KML on the new featureclass and see how that behaves inside your KML client.

Re: Point Layer to KML - Google Placemarks Blank

NatashaJurko — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 18:40:46 GMT

As Joe figured out, it sounds like you have data with Z values of either 0 or below the surface of the earth.
At the 10.1 release we're added a parameter to the tool to "clamp features to the ground" - basically it will override your Zvalues.

For now, you could try:
Run the Create Feature Class tool (make sure to keep the Has Z setting DISABLED)
Run Copy Features tool with your original feature class and insert into the new feature class.
Run Layer to KML on the new featureclass and see how that behaves inside your KML client.

I just tried it and it didn't do the trick. It all seems to work fine in Google Earth now though. But in Google Maps it's like the point symbology doesn't transfer. In google maps the little icon box is empty, and when I set a google balloon it's like it creates a whole new point, with a shadow, so there are two shadows for the point icon. I attached a screenshot to try and explain this better.

Maybe this is a good time to experiment with embedded arcgis.com maps!! 🙂

Thanks for all your help!
Natasha

Re: Point Layer to KML - Google Placemarks Blank

KevinHibma — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 19:41:53 GMT

I'm sure someone will jump in here and correct me if I'm wrong - but it might be that Google maps cannot support icons inside a KMZ. Its a simple web client, where Google earth and ArcGIS Explorer are full clients.

From what I've read, Google Maps supports Icons inside of KML. (all the doc I read on Maps explains KML, not KMZ specifically). https://developers.google.com/kml/documentation/kmlelementsinmaps
KML icon tags point to files on the internet. (http://.../myIcon.png). With a KMZ file the icons and images get embedded inside. I haven't read one way or the other if Maps can or cannot use icons or files inside a KMZ.

Sorry, I realize this doesn't give you an answer. Until I can read something or see a KMZ with an icon that Maps can use, Im not sure its possible.

Re: Point Layer to KML - Google Placemarks Blank

NatashaJurko — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:37:16 GMT

I'm sure someone will jump in here and correct me if I'm wrong - but it might be that Google maps cannot support icons inside a KMZ. Its a simple web client, where Google earth and ArcGIS Explorer are full clients.

From what I've read, Google Maps supports Icons inside of KML. (all the doc I read on Maps explains KML, not KMZ specifically). https://developers.google.com/kml/documentation/kmlelementsinmaps
KML icon tags point to files on the internet. (http://.../myIcon.png). With a KMZ file the icons and images get embedded inside. I haven't read one way or the other if Maps can or cannot use icons or files inside a KMZ.

Sorry, I realize this doesn't give you an answer. Until I can read something or see a KMZ with an icon that Maps can use, Im not sure its possible.

No this is at least a starting place to start looking. Before I was really lost on where to look to solve the issue. I am just surprised that no one else has had this issue.
Thanks for looking into it and taking the time!

Cheers,
Natasha

Re: Point Layer to KML - Google Placemarks Blank

MichaelGoodnature — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 13:10:52 GMT

No this is at least a starting place to start looking. Before I was really lost on where to look to solve the issue. I am just surprised that no one else has had this issue.
Thanks for looking into it and taking the time!

Cheers,
Natasha

I just found this thread, as I am having the same problem and can not find a solution. I ran the layer to KML tool in arcgis, imported the .kmz file into google maps and only the shadows of the points showed up, symbology shows up fine in google earth, and the funny thing is that the purple point symbology shows up perfect when I load "my maps" in google maps via my smart phone. Anyone know why the symbology for the imported .kmz does not show up on google maps on my PC?
I read the help above, but to no avail.
Thanks
-Mike

Re: Point Layer to KML - Google Placemarks Blank

deleted-user-Iw1i-upQP54t — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:39:32 GMT

I'm having the same problem. Symbology loads 'ArcMap > Earth' fine and then 'Earth > Maps' fine if the symbology is changed, but 'ArcMap > Maps' produces only shadows. I'm surprised that I can't find more about this problem. If you have found a solution please post it!

Re: Point Layer to KML - Google Placemarks Blank

KevinMyles — Wed, 15 May 2013 20:13:53 GMT

Hoping to bump this. Anyone with new news?

I am student and new to KML. Basically have 132 points in a points.shp and used Layer to KML giving me a KMZ. As soon as I import it into my places it displays just the shadows rather than the symbology. Is there a work around the zipping (KMZ) at all and just have 132 individual KLM's? Thanks in advance.

Re: Point Layer to KML - Google Placemarks Blank

KevinMyles — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:50:36 GMT

You can import your KMZ into Google Maps, symbolize them all individually, save them and export as KML to you desktop. Then you can re-import them into a new Google Map as KML. Can be a painfull process with a lot of points but it's one way to work around this issue.

Re: Point Layer to KML - Google Placemarks Blank

EricMcPhee — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:25:04 GMT

Here is my clunky work around.
1. Create KMZ using "Layer to KML" tool
2. In windows explorer, go to the directory you output the KMZ
3. rename the file extension to .zip (ie MyTest.kmz -> MyTest.zip)
4. Extract the zip file
5. open the extracted folder and open the doc.kml file
6. use a 'find and replace' on the 'styleurl' tag

In my kml's there is always this tag "<styleUrl>#IconStyle01</styleUrl>". I replace it with nothing (no text) using find and replace tool in a text editor.

7. save the kml
8. In your Google maps, import the kml file that you modified. This should result in the default blue pushpin as the placemark.

Not very elegant or cool, but seems to get the job done.

Re: Point Layer to KML - Google Placemarks Blank

KevinHibma — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:29:52 GMT

Hmmm... thinking out loud based on the last couple forum posts....

Would having an option on the tool, something like "override symbology / default symbology" (which would do something that Erin explained) be beneficial to many people? It seems the only time you would NOT want the icon embedded into the KMZ would be when you're creating KML specifically for google maps.
I can't promise this change, but if theres enough interest its something we could consider for a future release.

Re: Point Layer to KML - Google Placemarks Blank

StephJohnson — Fri, 24 May 2013 22:44:57 GMT

Hmmm... thinking out loud based on the last couple forum posts....

Would having an option on the tool, something like "override symbology / default symbology" (which would do something that Erin explained) be beneficial to many people? It seems the only time you would NOT want the icon embedded into the KMZ would be when you're creating KML specifically for google maps.
I can't promise this change, but if theres enough interest its something we could consider for a future release.

I am having the same problem with all of my kmz files created with arcmap 10. Only the shadows show up. I have hundreds of points and would hate to have to redo them all one at a time. Any help would be appreciated.

Re: Point Layer to KML - Google Placemarks Blank

LarryZietsman — Sat, 13 Jul 2013 20:17:11 GMT

Here is my clunky work around.
1. Create KMZ using "Layer to KML" tool
2. In windows explorer, go to the directory you output the KMZ
3. rename the file extension to .zip (ie MyTest.kmz -> MyTest.zip)
4. Extract the zip file
5. open the extracted folder and open the doc.kml file
6. use a 'find and replace' on the 'styleurl' tag

In my kml's there is always this tag "<styleUrl>#IconStyle01</styleUrl>". I replace it with nothing (no text) using find and replace tool in a text editor.

7. save the kml
8. In your Google maps, import the kml file that you modified. This should result in the default blue pushpin as the placemark.

Not very elegant or cool, but seems to get the job done.

Thanks for the work around...the problem has cost me days of trying!
Larry

Re: Point Layer to KML - Google Placemarks Blank

JoelGuerra — Tue, 24 Sep 2013 13:15:10 GMT

I am having a version of the same problem. I am trying to display points as pie chart symbology. I am trying to view the pie charts in Google Earth and I am converting in Arcmap to kml. I have the pie chart in 2 colors yet once I convert the file to kml and bring them into Google Earth, all I see are grey circles without the original colors I'd done in Arcmap. Maybe I'll try to edit the kml script as was suggested earlier in this thread.