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User Guide



About KML

KML, or Keyhole Markup Language, is an XML grammar and file format for modelling and storing geographic features such as points, lines, images, polygons and models for display in Google Earth, Google Maps and other applications. You can use KML to share places and information with other users of these applications. You can find sample KML files on the KML Gallery and Google Earth Community site that describe interesting features and places.

A KML file is processed by Google Earth similarly to the way in which HTML and XML files are processed by web browsers. Like HTML, KML has a tag-based structure with names and attributes used for specific display purposes. Thus, Google Earth acts as a browser for KML files. Learn more.

Google Maps can only display certain KML features. For more information, see this Google Maps Help topic.

Note - A KMZ file is a compressed version of a KML file. Google Earth can open KML and KMZ files if these files have the proper filename extension (.kml or .kmz).

KML Specification and Tutorial

You can learn more about using KML by reading the specification. This document is currently available in English only:

http://code.google.com/apis/kml/documentation/

Also, you can try a hands-on approach to learning KML by following the KML tutorial. This document is currently available in English only:

http://code.google.com/apis/kml/documentation/kml_tut.html

Note - You can display KML data in a time sequence. To learn more, see Viewing a Timeline.

Setting KML Error Options

You can set how Google Earth reacts when it encounters erroneous KML. To do this:

  1. Click Tools > Options > 3D View. (On Mac, click Google Earth > Preferences > 3D View). The Options dialogue box appears.
  2. Click the General tab.
  3. Under KML Error Handling, choose one of the following:
  1. Click OK.

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