Help with Google Earth KMZ file please

[reeljustice]

I have recently been working with Google Earth.

I am creating a "Network Link" collection and tried using it from my coastaloutdoors site.

I'm not sure it is serving correctly in IE.

Below is some information I obtained from the Google Earth forums. Could you shed some light on what the problem may be? Is if possible to serve such a network link file from our FQ account? If so, please illuminate.

I believe I have uploaded such a file to http://www.coastaloutdoors.com/ge/Ga_WMAs.KMZ

Thanks in advance.
Joel

Set MIME type on server to properly serve KMZ files

Generally when this happens, it's because the MIME types are not correctly set on the server.

For an Apache server, you would include these two lines in httpd.conf:

AddType application/vnd.google-earth.kml+xml .kml
AddType application/vnd.google-earth.kmz .kmz

For Microsoft's Internet Information Server, you would follow these directions;

IIS Version 6.0:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtec...4.mspx?mfr=true

IIS 4.0 and 5.0:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtec...ty/mimeiis.mspx

If you manage your own web server, you must change your own configuration. If you do not, you must contact your web site hosting service and get them to make these changes.

My understanding is that Firefox checks with the OS to determine what it would do, if it couldn't open them itself. IE makes some guesses based on the file type. Since a KMZ file is inherently a zip file with a different extension, it tries to open it as a zip file.

Edited same day afternoon....
The solution above was for an own windows 2003 web server
For Webhosting I had to put the lines
AddType application/vnd.google-earth.kml+xml .kml
AddType application/vnd.google-earth.kmz .kmz
into a .htaccess file at the root of my webhosting package.

[sheila]

We just answered a question about this forum post from the Service Desk, and for completeness, I'm posting our response here in the forums as well...


FutureQuest runs the Apache web server. We do have many MIME types already in the default configuration, but you are able to add additional MIME types yourself. You do not require access to httpd.conf but instead can just use .htaccess files.

The following posts from the forums should provide additional guidance. While it is not the same file-type as you are working with, it is a similar process.
http://www.aota.net/forums/showthread.php?t=22392
http://www.aota.net/forums/showthread.php?t=15899

[reeljustice]

Thank you Sheila. If anyone has interest in serving Google Earth files, the following in your .htaccess file should work, placing either in the folder from which you wish to serve, or in your www root folder.

AddType application/vnd.google-earth.kml+xml .kml
AddType application/vnd.google-earth.kmz .kmz

If you would like to see all the US National Forests and State lands for GA, KY and SD the US National Forests, National Grasslands and public lands for the states of GA, KY and SD, check it out HERE (http://www.coastaloutdoors.com./PublicLands/US_Public_Lands.kmz). I haven't nearly completed the collections or organization, but, this is the beginnings of the Network Link system. NOTE: You will have to have Google Earth's free viewer installed. If you haven't installed it yet, it is really COOL!

[sheila]

That was very interesting. I clicked on your link and it popped my Google Earth on my Mac right up, and I was able to go to some of the sites in your map (there were so many I didn't visit them all!).

Anyhow, I like this. I never thought of trying this before, but I have on occassion wanted to be able to share a Google Earth map. Now I have an idea how to do it. ;)

[johnfl68]

You can also share with those that do not have Google Earth.

If you go to Google Maps:
http://www.google.com/maps/

And put the URL of the kml/kmz file in the search box:
http://www.coastaloutdoors.com/PublicLands/US_Public_Lands.kmz

It will show up in Google Maps. (Although there is a size limit, so some of the data in this case is truncated)

You can save the page as a link using the "Link to this page" option.

John

[reeljustice]

Glad you guys like it. I'm working to basically make pretty much every place a "network link" so that I can add to or modify the file with respect to each individual places and only save changes to that PLACE file as opposed to having to resave everything else.

This concept also lends itself well to collaboration in large projects. For example purposes, supposed Sheila were mainly interested in Chatahoochee National Forest and had tons of information about Chatahoochee NF. She could be the "keeper" of the Chatachoochee NF KMZ place file and make additions as she saw fit. She would simply upload the modified file to the same web location each time. The "Network Link" in the collection refers to the web address so any updates Sheila makes would be pulled into the collection when a viewer opens Google Earth.