Google Code: Google Earth KML Tutorial

Google Code: Google Earth KML Tutorial

location based services

Google Code: Google Earth KML Tutorial

The Google Earth KML Document details everything you need to know to create and share information with the Google Earth client. If, however, you would like to jump right in and see some real examples of what you can do with KML, then this tutorial is for you.

All of the examples you will see here (and many more) are in the KML Tutorial file. Download that file to see what each of the following examples looks like in Google Earth.

Tip: If you want to see what the code looks like for any feature, you can simply click on the feature, right-click and select copy, and paste the content of the clipboard unto any text editor

Table of Contents:
1 Basic KML Documents
1.1 Placemarks
1.2 Descriptive HTML in placemarks
1.3 Ground Overlays
1.4 Paths
1.5 Polygons
2 Advanced KML Documents
2.1 Custom Styles
2.2 Screen Overlays
2.3 Network Links
3 CGI Scripting for KML
3.1 Generating a Random Placemark
4 View-Based Refresh Queries
4.1 Tracking a Point Directly Under Your View
5 KML Server Requirements
1 Basic KML Documents
The simplest kind of KML documents are those that can be authored directly inside the client. That is, you don't need to edit or create any KML in a text editor. Placemarks, ground overlays, paths and polygons can all be authored directly in the Google Earth client.
1.1 Placemarks
Open the Google Earth Tutorial KML file and expand the Placemarks subfolder. There, you will see three different types of placemark: simple, floating, and tethered. The KML code for the tethered placemark looks like this:



Tethered to the ground by a customizable tail
Tethethed placemark