.KML File

What is a .kml file?

A .kml file is a Keyhole Markup Language file. It is a file format used to display geographic data in an Earth browser such as Google Earth. KML files use XML to express geographic annotation and visualization by storing locations, image overlays, video links, and modeling information like lines, shapes, 3D images, and points.

How to open a .kml file?

• Use Google Earth. Google Earth is a popular program for viewing geographic data. You can open a KML file in Google Earth by following these steps:
  1. Open Google Earth.
  2. Click on the File menu.
  3. Select Open.
  4. Navigate to the KML file you want to open and double-click on it.
• Use a text editor. KML files are plain text files, so you can open them in any text editor. This is useful if you want to view the contents of the KML file or make changes to it.
• Use a web browser. There are a number of web browsers that can open KML files. This is a convenient way to view KML files if you don't have a dedicated program for doing so.

What are the limitations of .kml files?

• Size limit: The maximum uncompressed size of a KML file is 10MB. If your KML file is larger than this, you will need to compress it before you can open it in Google Earth.
• Complexity limit: The maximum number of features that can be included in a KML file is 10,000. If your KML file contains more than this number of features, you may experience performance issues when you open it in Google Earth.
• Feature type limit: KML files can only contain a limited number of feature types, including points, lines, polygons, and images. If you need to store other types of geographic data, you will need to use a different file format.
• Version support: KML is a constantly evolving format, and older versions of Google Earth may not support newer versions of KML files. Make sure to use the latest version of Google Earth if you want to ensure that your KML files are compatible.

What are some common problems with .kml files?

• File corruption: KML files can become corrupted if they are not saved properly. This can happen if the file is edited in a text editor or if it is transferred between different computers. If a KML file is corrupted, it may not open or it may not display correctly in Google Earth.
• Invalid syntax: KML files are XML files, so they must follow a strict syntax. If the syntax of a KML file is incorrect, it will not open or it may not display correctly in Google Earth.
• Unsupported features: KML files can only contain a limited number of feature types, including points, lines, polygons, and images. If a KML file contains features that are not supported by Google Earth, they will not display in Google Earth.
• Version incompatibility: KML is a constantly evolving format, and older versions of Google Earth may not support newer versions of KML files. If you try to open a KML file in an older version of Google Earth, it may not open or it may not display correctly.