KML to Layer does not keep point rotation

[KeatonVeld]

I have recently switched to ArcPro for work and noticed that when I convert a point feature to a kml, it does not keep the point rotation like it does in ArcMap. Instead all the points are rotated in the same direction.  I have not found a check box or option to enable or disable rotation in the Layer to KML tool.

The rotation of each point is based on an angle field which uses a geographic rotation style.

How the points look in Pro:

How the KML looks:

[Robert_LeClair · Accepted solution]

There is an enhancement request - "ENH-000125666 - Provide the ability to preserve the rotation of the symbols in the KMZ file created using Layer to KML tool in ArcGIS Pro" that is currently under review.  Hopefully in a (near) future update, this will be corrected.

[KevinMitchell1]

Hi Robert, 

Has there been any progress on this issue? I use a point symbol with an arrow rotated by a field "Symbol_Angle" to rotate our turnout gates. The Layer to KML tool works perfectly in ArcMap 10.6. It does not work in ArcGIS Pro 3.3. This layer symbology is critical to our business operations - it shows our office staff which way each gate will send water.

[Robert_LeClair]

Hi Kevin - for the ENH-000125666 request mentioned above, it does show implemented at the ArcGIS  Pro 3.1 release.  I'm curious as to why it's not working at ArcGIS Pro 3.3???

[KevinMitchell1]

I'm not sure. In ArcMap, I run Layer to KML and get the expected output every time. Points have an arrow marker rotated from 0-360 degrees. With the same symbology layer enabled in Pro, the arrow markers all point southeast. I can't find any other discussions of this issue on the internet.

My line and polygon symbology correctly converts to KML with the same symbology applied to both ArcMap and Pro. It's just the point markers with rotation that has issues. This has made me worried for the day that ArcMap is no longer available for download.

[Robert_LeClair]

Can you share a sample of the data with me for testing on my side?  My email address is rleclair at esri dot com - thx!

[KeatonVeldkamp]

Hi Robert, this is the OP on a different account. Not sure if you and Kevin got this figured out. But I wanted to follow up and say that I can confirm that I am having the same issue on 3.3 as I was in 2022. I also rolled back to 3.2 and 3.1 and have not been able to get KML to Layer to respect the point rotation.

I believe I have gotten this to work previously, but it does not appear to be working now.

[KevinMitchell1]

Hi Keaton, I am not aware of the issue being resolved. I still have to dust off ArcMap 10.6 to overwrite my KMZ files that have directional symbology. Fingers crossed the issue is resolved before ArcMap is gone.

[Robert_LeClair]

Hi Keaton - I found the data you sent a while back and tested it using ArcGIS Pro 3.4.2 and at this release it does honor the rotation field as seen in the image below.  Not sure exactly when this was fixed - 3.4.0, 3.4.1 or 3.4.2 but it appears to be working now.  

Regarding ArcMap, yes the retirement for that product line is March 2026. ArcMap will continue to work for customers after that date.  It's just all support for the product will cease.  Let me know if you have additional questions.

[KeatonVeldkamp]

Hi Robert, that is good to hear. Unfortunately I get the no rotation on 3.4.0 and it is the most current version available for me at this time. I will keep my fingers crossed for it to be fixed in 3.4.1 and beyond.

A colleague of mine was able to get the rotation to stick on their own data in 3.3.2 with a Standard license, but I was unable to replicate it using the same version and license. We tried numerous different options (labels on/off, coordinate systems, no attachments, custom vs default esri symbology, stored in a gdb vs a folder) and I could not get it to work, while theirs worked properly each time.

Just for reference but the data I am working with this time was geotagged photos I converted to points with attachments via 'Geotagged Photos to Points (Data Management)' tool. Both the map and data are in WGS 1984. Typically I am working with points with photo attachments collected in Field Maps and then downloaded in a fgdb to ArcPro Desktop.

I will keep this issue in mind and update if I ever get it working on my end.