Importing KML files into Google Maps

[trailrunners]

I'm trying to make an interactive map of various trails in our
community. I want each type of trail to have it's own unique colored
line as well. I have GPS track files that have been converted to KML
so I can upload them to Google Maps.

I'm having several problems:

- When I go into My Maps and create a new map, I'm able to do so.
When I try to edit and import a KML file, the map that I've named then
becomes whatever the name of that KML file was. Can I just import
several KML files into Google Maps and keep the map name whatever I
named it?

- The bigger problem is that when I import a kml file that is made up
of several (often hundreds) of separate tracks, I get like 8 pages of
tracks on the map, and the map only shows a few of those tracks at a
time. In this case then, only some of the trails show up and I have
to go from page to page to have the other trails show up.

What I'd like to do, is try to collapse all of these separate tracks
into one track so all of the lines show up. Is there any way to
combine these tracks into one? I've tried several methods, and none
of them have worked.

Are there any ways to make a Google Map with several different kml
files showing up on one map? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[barryhunter [KML Guru]]

As you have found MyMaps does rather arbitrary 'paging' of results,
however if the only reason to use MyMaps is if you want the results
visible on Google Maps (ie you dont need the files to be editable in
GoogleMaps), you can just use the KML file directly. Just upload your
file to webspace somewhere (even pages.google.com :) and paste in the
url into the search box - hay presto - you can display the file.
Displaying the file like this does have limits but they are generally
better.

To get teh serveral files showing at once you just need to create a
container KML file that simply has network links to each of the
seperate files.

If it helps I created this:
http://www.nearby.org.uk/gadget-for-kml.php
which might help package your KML file into a easier to redistribute
package (eg you can just give the mapplet url and people can then
easily add it to their map)

On Feb 5, 4:45 am, trailrunners wrote:
> I'm trying to make an interactive map of various trails in our
> community. I want each type of trail to have it's own unique colored
> line as well. I have GPS track files that have been converted to KML
> so I can upload them to Google Maps.
>
> I'm having several problems:
>
> - When I go into My Maps and create a new map, I'm able to do so.
> When I try to edit and import a KML file, the map that I've named then
> becomes whatever the name of that KML file was. Can I just import
> several KML files into Google Maps and keep the map name whatever I
> named it?

I've not found a way round that either :(

[trailrunners]

Thanks a lot for the reply!

My primary goal with this map is to post it to a website where people
can interact and zoom in and zoom out to see the trails, nearby
streets and other features. I'd like to use it simply for people to
view and click on to zoom in and out for better viewing.

If I understand you correctly, could I make a map in Google Earth
importing these track files I've converted to KML, show each
individual trail as a different color, ID each trail with a placemark,
save this entire map as a KML file and then display it in Google
Maps? I'm not sure I'm understanding the process you describe
completely.

Thanks again for your help!

[Jonathan van Tuijl]

trailrunners wrote:
> My primary goal with this map is to post it to a website where people
> can interact and zoom in and zoom out to see the trails, nearby
> streets and other features.  I'd like to use it simply for people to
> view and click on to zoom in and out for better viewing.
>
> If I understand you correctly, could I make a map in Google Earth
> importing these track files I've converted to KML, show each
> individual trail as a different color, ID each trail with a placemark,
> save this entire map as a KML file and then display it in Google
> Maps?  I'm not sure I'm understanding the process you describe
> completely.

Yes, if you can put it in several KML files, you can put it in one KML
file. If you know KML you can manipulate the files directly, but
Google Earth can also do this. Simply make a new folder in the sidebar
and drag & drop all trails in there. You can also change their color
there (by right-clicking and selecting get info, or cmd-i on Macs or
probably ctrl-i on other platforms). Once you're done, right-click on
the folder and save as. That folder and its contents will end up in
the KML/KMZ file.

I'm not the Google Maps expert here though, so I don't know if it will
display it all at once.

Jonathan

[barryhunter [KML Guru]]

Yes I think you got it ;)

The main issue is 'how' you import the KML into Google Maps, and the
best I think for your situation is just to upload the KML file
somewhere and use the url of it in the search box.

[Jim Bannon]

WOW.... Google has really BLOWN it with Google Maps.  A shame, as it has the POTENTIAL to blow every other solution on the market AWAY!  My God, nothing they do is "Intuitive"

My goal:  Create a track on Google Maps that I can share in online groups so Motorcyclists can duplicate the ride I plan to take and later the route I ACTUALLY TOOK!.

NOTE: I am using the "Google My Tracks Android App" to record the trip LIVE, as I ride my motorcycle and video record the trip with my GoPro.  I do SAVE and then SHARE that result to email and Google Drive to share that result with friends and MEETUP Group members.

BUT, alas it is a static MAP, not a "LIVE, GPS "Navigatable", Waypoint List, Route/Track" that can be opened, manipulated and edited, or saved for later opening by another person in a LIVE Google Maps NAVIGATE session so they could duplicate the ride {HUGE FROWN} :-(
.
The "My tracks App" is used for the ACTUAL ride, but I wanted to use Google Maps for the PLANNED ride route.
(Huge Learning curve here, to create that PLAN using Google Maps - but I am now past that!) -- I am, however, still up against the 10 waypoint limitation :-(

Can not figure how how to do a SIMPLE SAVE of that PLANNED ROUTE Google Maps result - Map and Waypoints and Tracks!  {Huge Frown AGAIN!!!}
... My God, Google, you really can't get a File/Save right?

GOAL: To SAVE that track/file/map -- I have yet to figure how to do that -- other than copy the URL :-(

My goal is to NAVIGATE that Google Maps PLANNED route result... which is not practical on a desktop PC, but if I could SAVE a file, and transfer that file to my Google Maps Android App -- I could then NAVIGATE that route on my Samsung Tab 3 tablet, mounted to the handlebar of my motorcycle -- Running it LIVE, real-time - and following that pre-planned route as I drive.

ANY IDEAS / Thoughts / Work-Arounds / Third Party Solutions?
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