Making GE Gallery KML Searcheable

[rhall76]

Newbie that made the following submission to the KML gallery - used a
Network Link from "page creator"

http://earth.google.com/ig/directory?synd=earth&pid=earth&num=24&url=http://maps.google.com/maps/gx%3Foe%3Dutf-8%26output%3Dghapi%26q%3Dhttp://rhall76.googlepages.com/AquiferGEGalleryNL.kml%26thumbnail%3Dhttp://wilbur.csbs.ewu.edu/Links/Portfolios/rhall/rhimages/aq-thumbnail.png%26screenshot%3Dhttp://wilbur.csbs.ewu.edu/Links/Portfolios/rhall/rhimages/aq-screenshot.png&output=html

Have been following all tutorials/forums on how to make it searcheable
- but no luck. Also cannot get the preview page to show the proper
Title and Description.

Assuming it is something simple. Do I have to make a sitemap at Page
Creator?

Thanks in advance for any hints

[barryhunter [KML Guru]]

One possiblity is to make 'KML mapplet' for Google Maps and iGoogle
etc, which displays your KML file. As this file is a full gadget it
contains descriptions etc. I dont think even Google have a proper name
for these, but they seem to also be called geofeeds.

I've submitted a few of these to the Google Maps gallery, and they
have magically appeared in the Google Earth gallery - whether
intentional I cant say, but it worked for me.

A tool for making the mapplet is here:
http://gmaps-samples.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/mapplets/specmaker.html

but I have a tool that might help in using it:
http://www.nearby.org.uk/gadget-for-kml.php

Hope that helps,

On Jul 22, 7:08 pm, rhall76 wrote:
> Newbie that made the following submission to the KML gallery - used a
> Network Link from "page creator"
>

> http://earth.google.com/ig/directory?synd=earth&pid=earth&num=24&url=...

[rhall76]

Thanks Barry. Think I can wade through this (I will try your tool
first, then mapplet maker). Will let you know if it works.

Using a NetworkLInk to a kml file. Think I should make a .kmz instead?

Thanks for quick response.

Ron Hall

On Jul 22, 3:11 pm, barryhunter [KML Guru] wrote:
> One possiblity is to make 'KMLmapplet' for Google Maps and iGoogle
> etc, which displays yourKMLfile. As this file is a full gadget it

> contains descriptions etc. I dont think even Google have a proper name
> for these, but they seem to also be called geofeeds.
>

> I've submitted a few of these to the Google Mapsgallery, and they
> have magically appeared in the Google Earthgallery- whether

> intentional I cant say, but it worked for me.
>
> A tool for making the mapplet is here:http://gmaps-samples.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/mapplets/specmaker.html
>
> but I have a tool that might help in using it:http://www.nearby.org.uk/gadget-for-kml.php
>
> Hope that helps,
>
> On Jul 22, 7:08 pm, rhall76 wrote:
>

> > Newbie that made the following submission to theKMLgallery- used a

[rhall76]

Barry,

Think I worked my way properly through your tool (nice job). It was
great help!

Gadget appears here properly http://www.google.com/ig/adde?moduleurl=rhall76.googlepages.com/aquifer.xml

But preview of "Submit to Google Earth Gallery" dialog page showed
same old problem when I gave it the networklink url. Does not display
xml title and description, still not searchable in gallery. Did not
name the xml the same as network link - think that makes a difference?

Wondering if I should just be patient and see what shows up.

Thanks for your time and attention.

Ron Hall

On Jul 22, 3:11 pm, barryhunter [KML Guru] wrote:

> One possiblity is to make 'KMLmapplet' for Google Maps and iGoogle
> etc, which displays yourKMLfile. As this file is a full gadget it

> contains descriptions etc. I dont think even Google have a proper name
> for these, but they seem to also be called geofeeds.
>

> I've submitted a few of these to the Google Mapsgallery, and they
> have magically appeared in the Google Earthgallery- whether

> intentional I cant say, but it worked for me.
>
> A tool for making the mapplet is here:http://gmaps-samples.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/mapplets/specmaker.html
>
> but I have a tool that might help in using it:http://www.nearby.org.uk/gadget-for-kml.php
>
> Hope that helps,
>
> On Jul 22, 7:08 pm, rhall76 wrote:
>

> > Newbie that made the following submission to theKMLgallery- used a

[barryhunter [KML Guru]]

On Jul 23, 6:59 pm, rhall76 wrote:
> Barry,
>
> Think I worked my way properly through your tool (nice job). It was
> great help!
>

> Gadget appears here properlyhttp://www.google.com/ig/adde?moduleurl=rhall76.googlepages.com/aquif...

>
> But preview of "Submit to Google Earth Gallery" dialog page showed
> same old problem when I gave it the networklink url.

Dont use that one. You've created a mapplet so you only need to submit
it to the Google Maps directory (and it automatically appears in the
Google Earth one)

> Does not display
> xml title and description, still not searchable in gallery. Did not
> name the xml the same as network link - think that makes a difference?
>
> Wondering if I should just be patient and see what shows up.

It can take a couple of weeks for a mapplet to be listed in the
gallery I've seen.

[rhall76]

Can't remember (age 54) whether I actually hit "Submit" button after
Gallery Preview or not (think not). I guess I will just wait and see.

Wondering if this will deal with "searchability" issue in GE KML
Gallery or not. Have not made a site map at my page creator account
(not much content - just trying to get the basics down so I can help
smaller local eco not-for-profts get their message out without their
own server). Might try working my way through the process of a sitemap
for my page creator account.

Thanks for all your help. Might try asking about the sitemap issue at
Out Reach Forum.

Ron Hakk

On Jul 23, 11:54 am, barryhunter [KML Guru] wrote:
> On Jul 23, 6:59 pm, rhall76 wrote:
>
> > Barry,
>
> > Think I worked my way properly through your tool (nice job). It was
> > great help!
>

> > Gadget appears here properly http://www.google.com/ig/adde?moduleurl=rhall76.googlepages.com/aquif...
>
> > But preview of "Submit to Google EarthGallery" dialog page showed

> > same old problem when I gave it the networklink url.
>
> Dont use that one. You've created a mapplet so you only need to submit
> it to the Google Maps directory (and it automatically appears in the
> Google Earth one)
>
> > Does not display

> > xml title and description, still not searchable ingallery. Did not

> > name the xml the same as network link - think that makes a difference?
>
> > Wondering if I should just be patient and see what shows up.
>

> It can take a couple of weeks for a mapplet to be listed in thegalleryI've seen.

>
>
>
> > Thanks for your time and attention.
>
> > Ron Hall
>

[barryhunter [KML Guru]]

Was going to reply on the outreach forum, but realised what going to
say is continuing from here, so would lack context...
------

Not sure what you mean by 'sitemap', but page creator creates you one
automatically
http://rhall76.googlepages.com/sitemap.xml
A sitemap just notifies search engine crawlers of files you have - to
make it easier to find your content.

The issue seems to be that submitting via the Google Earth gallery,
uses
http://maps.google.com/maps/gx
to automatically create the mapplet/geofeed - but this doesnt create
the description/title. (ideally it could pick from the kml - but it
doesnt)

Now you have created a the mapplet that doe contain the a title/
description, and submitted it to the Gadget Gallery (which seems to be
common ot all Google services) - Via Google Maps, hopefully it will be
approved and then show up in the Google Earth Gallery automatically.


... of course this is all based on my observation from the outside,
dont know if true. Also I guess the fact that you already have your
KML listed in the Gallery, might mean they would be less inclined to
approve the newer (but better one) - somehow need to get the old one
removed if that is the case?

On Jul 24, 5:14 pm, rhall76 wrote:
> Can't remember (age 54) whether I actually hit "Submit" button after
> Gallery Preview or not (think not). I guess I will just wait and see.
>
> Wondering if this will deal with "searchability" issue in GE KML
> Gallery or not. Have not made a site map at my page creator account
> (not much content - just trying to get the basics down so I can help
> smaller local eco not-for-profts get their message out without their
> own server). Might try working my way through the process of a sitemap
> for my page creator account.
>
> Thanks for all your help. Might try asking about the sitemap issue at
> Out Reach Forum.
>
> Ron Hakk
>
> On Jul 23, 11:54 am, barryhunter [KML Guru] wrote:
>
> > On Jul 23, 6:59 pm, rhall76 wrote:
>
> > > Barry,
>
> > > Think I worked my way properly through your tool (nice job). It was
> > > great help!
>

> > > Gadget appears here properlyhttp://www.google.com/ig/adde?moduleurl=rhall76.googlepages.com/aquif...

[rhall76]

Thanks. Makes sense to me. Wonder if I should change xml filename to
mimic kml.

Reference to "sitemap" comes at http://code.google.com/apis/kml/documentation/kmlSearch.html

Did not know it was created automatically -greatly appreciate that
info.

Did try (a bit ago) reposting data http://rhall76.googlepages.com/Spokane_Rathdrum_Aquifer.kml
Added "atom" tags etc per link referenced above. Still had same
problem, but 'created by' info did appear as "Ron Hall" vs url that
displays now. Lately have not been able to find in the gallery search.

Will wait and see what turns up.

Thanks for all the effort.

FYI - If you are curious, check out our place at rough API I am
working on http://wilbur.csbs.ewu.edu/Links/Portfolios/rhall/GoogleEarth/3DWarehouse.html

Ron Hall

On Jul 25, 5:31 am, barryhunter [KML Guru] wrote:
> Was going to reply on the outreach forum, but realised what going to
> say is continuing from here, so would lack context...
> ------
>
> Not sure what you mean by 'sitemap', but page creator creates you one

> automaticallyhttp://rhall76.googlepages.com/sitemap.xml

> A sitemap just notifies search engine crawlers of files you have - to
> make it easier to find your content.
>
> The issue seems to be that submitting via the Google Earthgallery,

> useshttp://maps.google.com/maps/gx

> to automatically create the mapplet/geofeed - but this doesnt create

> the description/title. (ideally it could pick from thekml- but it

> doesnt)
>
> Now you have created a the mapplet that doe contain the a title/

> description, and submitted it to the GadgetGallery(which seems to be

> common ot all Google services) - Via Google Maps, hopefully it will be
> approved and then show up in the Google EarthGalleryautomatically.
>
> ... of course this is all based on my observation from the outside,

> dont know if true. Also I guess the fact that you already have yourKMLlisted in theGallery, might mean they would be less inclined to

> approve the newer (but better one) - somehow need to get the old one
> removed if that is the case?
>
> On Jul 24, 5:14 pm, rhall76 wrote:
>
> > Can't remember (age 54) whether I actually hit "Submit" button after

> >GalleryPreview or not (think not). I guess I will just wait and see.

>
> > Wondering if this will deal with "searchability" issue in GEKML

> >Galleryor not. Have not made a site map at my page creator account

> > (not much content - just trying to get the basics down so I can help
> > smaller local eco not-for-profts get their message out without their
> > own server). Might try working my way through the process of a sitemap
> > for my page creator account.
>
> > Thanks for all your help. Might try asking about the sitemap issue at
> > Out Reach Forum.
>
> > Ron Hakk
>

[rhall76]

FYI Finally figured out (with a hint from page creator group)

Edited kml file that Networklink linked to - was a file that had a
"Folder" tag

Works better - detail window shows up properly, added better search
qualities (title,author, description)

Based on KML reference I thought some of these things might be
inherited from parent tags

Edited tags within "Folder" feature in this file. Changed the <name>,
added <description>, added atom tags (also ammended xlmnsp to include
reference to atom). Uploaded and it worked better.

Seems to reference aquifer.xml file I added to page creator.

On Jul 25, 9:23 am, rhall76 wrote:
> Thanks. Makes sense to me. Wonder if I should change xml filename to
> mimickml.
>

> Reference to "sitemap" comes athttp://code.google.com/apis/kml/documentation/kmlSearch.html

>
> Did not know it was created automatically -greatly appreciate that
> info.
>

> Did try (a bit ago) reposting datahttp://rhall76.googlepages.com/Spokane_Rathdrum_Aquifer.kml

> Added "atom" tags etc per link referenced above. Still had same
> problem, but 'created by' info did appear as "Ron Hall" vs url that
> displays now. Lately have not been able to find in thegallerysearch.
>
> Will wait and see what turns up.
>
> Thanks for all the effort.
>
> FYI - If you are curious, check out our place at rough API I am

> working onhttp://wilbur.csbs.ewu.edu/Links/Portfolios/rhall/GoogleEarth/3DWareh...
>
> Ron Hall

[barryhunter [KML Guru]]

Excellent news, glad the gadget xml file worked out! I can find your
file by searching on 'Aquifer' now :)