KML Label Placement

[BrianG]

I have converted about a dozen point shapefiles to KML using an
extension called 'Export to KML.' Everything came over correct and
looks great in Google Earth, but the labels for each placemarker sit
directly on top of the point.

I would like to change this so that the labels are offset, similar to
the default labeling in GE if you were to click on the map to create a
placemark. The label 'Untitled Placemark' does not sit directly on
top of the push pin, it is above and to the right of the pushpin.

Any insight, I have tried many manipulations of the kml, nothing is
working for me and I cannot find a direct reference in the doco,
please help!

[BrianG]

How do I get the label, 'kml1' off the point?

Example KML:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<kml xmlns="http://earth.google.com/kml/2.2">
<Document>
<name><![CDATA[KMLLabelEx]]></name>
<open>1</open>
<Snippet maxLines="2"></Snippet>
<description><![CDATA[Exported from KMLLabelEx on 10/22/2008]]></
description>
<Schema name="KMLLabelEx" id="KMLLabelEx_schema">
<SimpleField type="int" name="FID">
<displayName><![CDATA[FID]]></displayName>
</SimpleField>
<SimpleField type="int" name="Id">
<displayName><![CDATA[Id]]></displayName>
</SimpleField>
<SimpleField type="string" name="ExNUM">
<displayName><![CDATA[ExNUM]]></displayName>
</SimpleField>
</Schema>
<Style id="FEATURES">
<IconStyle>
<color>FF001694</color>
<scale>0.333333333333333</scale>
<Icon>
<href>root://icons/palette-4.png</href>
<x>32</x>
<y>128</y>
<w>32</w>
<h>32</h>
</Icon>
</IconStyle>
<LabelStyle>
<color>00FFFFFF</color>
</LabelStyle>
<BalloonStyle>
<text>
<![CDATA[FID = $[KMLLabelEx/FID]
Id = $[KMLLabelEx/Id]
ExNUM = $[KMLLabelEx/ExNUM]
]]>
</text>
</BalloonStyle>
</Style>
<Style id="FEATURES_LABELS">
<IconStyle>
<color>00000000</color>
<Icon>
<href>http://maps.google.com/mapfiles/kml/shapes/
placemark_circle.png</href>
</Icon>
</IconStyle>
<LabelStyle>
<color>FFFFFFFF</color>
</LabelStyle>
</Style>
<Folder>
<name>Features</name>
<open>0</open>
<Placemark>
<name><![CDATA[kml1]]></name>
<Snippet maxLines="2"></Snippet>
<styleUrl>#FEATURES</styleUrl>
<ExtendedData>
<SchemaData schemaUrl="#KMLLabelEx_schema">
<SimpleData name="FID">0</SimpleData>
<SimpleData name="Id">0</SimpleData>
<SimpleData name="ExNUM"><![CDATA[kml1]]></SimpleData>
</SchemaData>
</ExtendedData>
<Point>
<extrude>0</extrude>
<altitudeMode>clampedToGround</altitudeMode>
<coordinates>
-122.258819443589,38.0103668159179,0
</coordinates>
</Point>
</Placemark>
</Folder>
<Folder>
<name>Feature Labels (<![CDATA[ExNUM]]>)</name>
<open>0</open>
<Placemark>
<name><![CDATA[kml1]]></name>
<styleUrl>#FEATURES_LABELS</styleUrl>
<Point>
<extrude>0</extrude>
<altitudeMode>clampedToGround</altitudeMode>
<coordinates>
-122.258819443589,38.0103668159179,0
</coordinates>
</Point>
</Placemark>
</Folder>
</Document>
</kml>

[Roman N]

Hi Brian,

A few steps to do that:

1) Unless you need the Feature Labels folder for a specific purpose,
you can probably get rid of it.

2) Change, in your <LabelStyle>:

<color>00FFFFFF</color>

to:

<color>FFFFFFFF</color>

The '00' in 00FFFFFF causes a completely hidden label.

3) You may want to make the icon bigger, i.e. change the
<scale>0.3333... to <scale>1</scale> or simply remove it.

Hope that helps!
- Roman

[BrianG]

That did the trick, thank you very much!