Please help steer me in the right direction...

[Michael.]

Hello,

A google map involving .kml and the google earth plugin has been
developed by a vendor for our website for a microsite.

I am a web developer, and would like to learn how I might be able to
amend the files myself and not go though our vendor to be able to
update new additions to the site.

Here is a version of a site involving .kml files that we have had
developed by a vendor. It includes .kml and .html files in the site.

http://www.iongeo.com/events_map/data_processing.html

Now, how would I be able to add new placemarker bubbles and links as
was done on this site for various locations? I have google earth
loaded on my computer, where I've been able to import .kml files onto
the software and can sort of figure out how to add new placemarkers,
but I am still thrown on how some things were made:

1.) So, after a new placemarker is made, how do you get it to have a
"bubble" where text / images / links can be made?

2.) After all edits have been made, do you just "save my places" so
that the kml is updated and then just re-upload it to the site?

3.) What is the purpose of Google Earth Pro compared to Google Earth
when developing the kml to the level of detail of what was produced
for the site I indicated? Is that the software I might need in order
to make such edits?

those inquires might be confusing to digest, so if there is something
I can be more clear about, please let me know. I think the best way
for me to get started is to have discussion with an expert here, so
please let me know if there is something I can do to clarify what I
need.

Thanks,
Mike

I have been able to tinker around with google earth and load in the

Any help would be greatly appreciated, I am very much open to
suggestion.

[Grok Lobster]

Start by looking at the KML tutorial, http://code.google.com/apis/kml/documentation/kml_tut.html
Note that not all KML elements are supported for the plugin.
KML files can be edited using a text editor.

[vzett]

>
> 1.) So, after a new placemarker is made, how do you get it to have a
> "bubble" where text / images / links can be made?

Any placemark with a <description> tag will have a balloon

>
> 2.)  After all edits have been made, do you just "save my places" so
> that the kml is updated and then just re-upload it to the site?

You can do this, but editing content this way can cause unintended
changes to your underlying styles and other aspects. Looking at your
examples, you'd likely be better maintaining either a spreadsheet or
database of your locations and projects and then generating your KML
via script so that everything is always consistent.

I've built both database and spreadsheet systems for many clients so
that they can do their own updates/additions without needing to work
directly with KML and this can be done at relatively low cost. For
example, at www.teachmideast.org they use simple Excel spreadsheets to
define tours and a script generates both Google Maps compatible simple
KML and Google Earth client 'full' tours.

>
> 3.)  What is the purpose of Google Earth Pro compared to Google Earth
> when developing the kml to the level of detail of what was produced
> for the site I indicated?  Is that the software I might need in order
> to make such edits?

Most projects at the level you've indicated are developed via custom
code/software. GE Pro does provide enhanced GIS import functions, but
most of those are already available externally via open source
software libraries and one of the key aspects of professional KML
design is the 'style' look and feel development which isn't handled
well yet by the built-in GE KML editor.

I'd be glad to discuss your requirements in detail. You can contact me
via e-mail at vzett "at" earthnc.com

- Virgil
Director
EarthNC, Inc