kml / kmz files with metric vs miles/feet

[afrikarma]

Hello, I have created several kml files using the German language version of GE with options set to "Metric" i.e. meters and kilometers.

I then try to get these files displayed on a wordpress blog using a plugin called "Google Maps v3 Shortcode". Unfortunately, the maps don't get displayed properly. They will load with no map details visible, but location and marker properly set. Zooming out will reveal map details. The original files clearly shows the altitude, from which I look at the terrain. It is provided in meters.   But a corresponding zoom factor will not render in my word press maps.

I have now noticed that the behaviour of my WP maps will vary depending on whether I set my options to feet/miles or meters/kilometers. They still don't display properly, but there seems to be some sensitivity.

Can anyone tell me pls whether the settings (metric or other) or the language selection in Google Earth affect how exactly the kml files are generated?   Might it be, that the decimal point settings on my PC (period vs comma) also affect things ?

And finally, while I basically know the difference between kml and kmz should I prefer the one or the other? And why?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thx afrikarma

[Brendan Kenny]

Hi afrikarma,

Do you have a link to your blog that you can share? It would be much
easier to see what you mean if that were the case.

As for the KML/KMZ difference, it is mostly one of multiple vs single
files, and uncompressed vs compressed. See this link for more:
http://code.google.com/apis/kml/documentation/kmzarchives.html

Cheers,
Brendan

On Jun 21, 1:25 pm, afrikarma wrote:
> Hello, I have created several kml files using the German language version of
> GE with options set to "Metric" i.e. meters and kilometers.
>
> I then try to get these files displayed on a wordpress blog using a plugin

> called "*Google Maps v3 Shortcode". Unfortunately, the maps don't get

> displayed properly. They will load with no map details visible, but location
> and marker properly set. Zooming out will reveal map details. The original
> files clearly shows the altitude, from which I look at the terrain. It is
> provided in meters.   But a corresponding zoom factor will not render in my
> word press maps.
>
> I have now noticed that the behaviour of my WP maps will vary depending on
> whether I set my options to feet/miles or meters/kilometers. They still
> don't display properly, but there seems to be some sensitivity.
>
> Can anyone tell me pls whether the settings (metric or other) or the
> language selection in Google Earth affect how exactly the kml files are
> generated?   Might it be, that the decimal point settings on my PC (period
> vs comma) also affect things ?
>
> And finally, while I basically know the difference between kml and kmz
> should I prefer the one or the other? And why?
>
> Any help is greatly appreciated.
>
> Thx afrikarma

> *

[Rossko]

> I then try to get these files displayed on a wordpress blog using a plugin

> called "*Google Maps v3 Shortcode". Unfortunately, the maps don't get

> displayed properly. They will load with no map details visible, but location
> and marker properly set. Zooming out will reveal map details. The original
> files clearly shows the altitude, from which I look at the terrain. It is
> provided in meters.   But a corresponding zoom factor will not render in my
> word press maps.

Maps doesn't fully support <LookAt>
http://code.google.com/apis/kml/documentation/kmlelementsinmaps.html
and the concept of altitude doesn't really have any place.

[afrikarma]

Hello Brandan, thx for offering help!  Please visit http://www.afrikarma.de/2011/06/tubu-tree-camp-ng25-konzession-jao-flats/  and sign in with guest / afrikarma.  Towards the bottom of the post you will find 2 maps. The top one shows a campground icon, but no map details.  Zoom out , and the satellite map will appear. I am referencing a kml file which refers only to that one place. I created it using the German version og Google Earth.

The second map was supposed to refer to the same place. I created it with My Google Maps. But it centers on 0;0 fully zoomed out and shows no placemark.

Can you make any sense of this?

Thanks in advance 
afrikarma

[afrikarma]

Thanks Rossko, I read through the info and found it helpful, but it did not solve the problem. I tried to eliminate all elements from my kml file, that Google maps does not support. But the map still does not show properly.  Check my comment/ link / access information in my reply to Brendan, if you want to have a look for your self.

Best regards afrikarma