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16. Exporting and Importing KML from and to Google Earth

A. Exporting to KML

1. Load the KML tool. If this is the first time exporting to KML you might have to load the KML tool. Right-click on the toolbar and check the “Export to KML” option.

2. Once you do this a Google Earth button will appear.

3. Once you have added the desired layer into ArcMap, click the Google Earth button to open the dialog box. Here, select the layer that you want to export.

4. If you want the layer to have labels or if you want to extrude it, select the appropriate fields. Once you do this, make sure the appropriate units are selected and the box “Extrude features based on the height” is checked.

5. If you click on the “Options” button you will be able to change the transparency level and the way the layer is going to be named and labeled in Google Earth.

6. Finally, choose where you want to save the file and click “OK”.

7. GIS will ask you if you want to open Google Earth and load the file. Once in Google Earth, the buildings will adapt to the terrain automatically. To better visualize them, turn off the 3D Buildings option in Google Earth.

A. Importing from KML or KMZ

1. If you have a KML or KMZ file that you want to import into GIS, there’s a special tool for this. Open the toolbox and go to Conversion Tools/From KML/KML to Layer.

2. Choose the file that you want to import and the location where you want to save it. You have to choose a specific folder in which to put this file.

3. Finally, after GIS has finished converting your file into a shapefile, add the file that you have just created. Sometimes GIS will create both a layer (.lyr) type of file and a geodatabase (.gdb). If this is the case double click the geodatabase file and load the file that is stored there.