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14. Adding Shapefiles and XY Data to Google Earth Pro
Google Earth Pro has the ability to directly import ESRI shapefile (.shp) format files for display. Point, line, and polygon shapefiles can all be viewed directly in the google earth pro interface. Additionally, Google Earth Pro can also import other graphic file types commonly used in GIS applications such as MapInfo (.tab), Microstation (.dgn), .tif, .img, .bmp, and many more. Google Earth Pro can also import GPS tracks, routes, and waypoints as .txt and. csv files.gsapp resources gis tut 14
Adding Shapefiles to Google Earth Pro
Launch Google Earth Pro, the default should be orbiting above North America. Click File > Import. From the filetype pulldown, select ESRI Shape (.shp), navigate to the folder where you shapefile is located and select it. Notice that Google Earth Pro collapses the 6 or 7 parts that make up a shapefile into one visible file, just as in ArcCatalog.
You are then asked if you would like to save a style template to the "ingested" features. Click no.
You are then asked if you would like to save a style template to the "ingested" features. Click no.
Google Earth will then fly to the extent of your points. And just like with shapefiles, they will not appear at first. Simply click on the box to the left next to the name of your file to show them.
Sometimes, by default, Google Earth will label all of the points, which clutters the map and slows down the rendering of it. If you want to eliminate the labels, right click on the name of your file layer, select properties, then the style,color tab. Set the scale of the label to 0.
You now have GPS points in Google Earth Pro.
Sometimes, by default, Google Earth will label all of the points, which clutters the map and slows down the rendering of it. If you want to eliminate the labels, right click on the name of your file layer, select properties, then the style,color tab. Set the scale of the label to 0.
You now have GPS points in Google Earth Pro.
Google Earth Pro can import GPS points directly from a GPS device-generated .txt or. csv files. To start, click File > Import. From the filetype pulldown, select Generic Text (.txt .csv), navigate to the folder where your file is located, select it and click open.
The Data Import Wizard will open allowing you to specify the method Google Earth Pro will use to interpret your text file. Usually this will be either comma or tab delimited. Whichever method it is, the preview in the wizard should look similar to the image above, where fields are ordered horizontally. If you choose a delimiting method that results with only one vertical or horizontal field, it is likely the wrong choice.
Click Next
The Data Import Wizard will open allowing you to specify the method Google Earth Pro will use to interpret your text file. Usually this will be either comma or tab delimited. Whichever method it is, the preview in the wizard should look similar to the image above, where fields are ordered horizontally. If you choose a delimiting method that results with only one vertical or horizontal field, it is likely the wrong choice.
Click Next
The next dialogue in the wizard asks you to specify the fields Google Earth will use to represent the latitude and longitude position of the points. Usually in a text file, there will be no headings (such as in an excel table or dbf database) so you must actually select your first point entry values to designate lat and long.
For latitude click the pulldown and select the number that corresponds to the latitude value for that point (usually the second entry in the list). For longitude, select the number that corresponds to the longitude value for that point (usually the third entry in the list). Click Next
The next dialogue allows you to specify the data type of each field. Leave this with the default settings. Click Back
Clicking back then presents you with a dialogue that wasn't previously there. Here the wizard tells you that your text field contains addresses. Ignore this page and click Back. You will return to the lat/long dialogue. Click Finish
If you have more than 2500 points in the text file, a message box will appear warning you about performance. Click Import all
Another message box will appear asking if you want to apply a style template, click no.
For latitude click the pulldown and select the number that corresponds to the latitude value for that point (usually the second entry in the list). For longitude, select the number that corresponds to the longitude value for that point (usually the third entry in the list). Click Next
The next dialogue allows you to specify the data type of each field. Leave this with the default settings. Click Back
Clicking back then presents you with a dialogue that wasn't previously there. Here the wizard tells you that your text field contains addresses. Ignore this page and click Back. You will return to the lat/long dialogue. Click Finish
If you have more than 2500 points in the text file, a message box will appear warning you about performance. Click Import all
Another message box will appear asking if you want to apply a style template, click no.