Exporting RockPlot2D Sections to Google Earth (KMZ)

RockPlot2D File | Export | KMZ (Google Earth) Section/Profile
or
Utilities | Grafix | 2D Utilities | Export | KMZ

Use this program to save an existing cross section or profile diagram (Rw2D image) into a Google Earth KMZ file.  The result is your RockWorks diagram displayed vertically in Google Earth. 

! Since the diagram is output as a single vertical panel in Google Earth, this is most appropriate for profiles and for cross sections that follow a straight path.

Menu Options
Step-by-Step Summary

Menu Options

• Rw2D Input File: (Grafix menu only.) Click to the right to select the name of the Rw2D file containing the cross section or profile to be exported to KMZ format. This file must have already been saved in the RockPlot2D window.  See Saving RockPlot2D Images. 
• End Points
  • Stored Endpoints (Profiles only): Choose this option if you are exporting a profile diagram, and wish to use the stored endpoints (in the Rw2D file) for the placement of the profile in Google Earth. (RockPlot2D stores endpoints for profile diagrams only.)
  • Manual Endpoints: Choose this option if you need to manually define the endpoints, for cross section diagrams.
    • Endpoint 1
      • Longitude: Click to the right to type in the decimal longitude coordinate for the left edge of the diagram. Be sure that western longitudes are entered as negative values.
      • Latitude: Click to the right to type in the decimal latitude coordinate for the left edge of the diagram. Be sure that southern latitudes are entered as negative values.
    • Endpoint 2
      • Longitude: Click to the right to type in the decimal longitude coordinate for the right edge of the diagram.
      • Latitude: Click to the right to type in the decimal latitude coordinate for the right edge of the diagram.
• Vertical Position: Google Earth does not offer display of data below the ground surface.  As a consequence, all subsurface data must be shifted vertically upwards such that it resides above the ground surface.  This export tool will do this shift automatically.  However, if you are working in an area of steep slopes, you may find it beneficial to add an additional shift adjustment. Expand this heading to define where the vertical diagram will be placed relative to the ground in Google Earth.
  
  • Offset:  Click to the right to type in the offset, in meters, relative to the ground.
    If set to zero, the bottom of the diagram will be placed along the ground surface. This is the easiest method for obtaining a quick display. See the left image, below.
    If set to a value > zero, the bottom of the diagram will be placed above ground surface. See the second image, below.
    If set to a value < zero, the bottom of the diagram will be placed below ground surface. This is shown in the third image, below.

• Transparent Background: Check this option to have the background color in the image be set to fully transparent. In the example above, the profile on the right on the left was generated with Transparent Background turned on.
  Note that you can also apply transparency to the diagram as a whole once it's plotted in Google Earth.
  
  

Step-by-Step Summary

1. From RockPlot2D:  If necessary, open the Rw2D file containing the profile or section diagram you wish to export (see Opening Plot Files) or save the current plot if it's untitled (see Saving RockPlot2D Images).  Be sure to use the Layers pane to turn on/off the items you do/don't want to have displayed in the output.
2. Select the File | Export | KMZ (Google Earth) Section/Profile command from the RockPlot2D menu.
   - OR -
   From the Utilities menu, select the Grafix | 2D Utilities | Export | KMZ (Google Earth) menu option.
3. Enter the requested menu options, as described above.
4. Click the Process button to proceed.

The program will create a KML file containing the vertical image. It will create a KMZ (zip) file containing the KML file. The Google Earth KML and KMZ file names will be assigned automatically.

5. If RockWorks displays the KMZ name in a popup window for your reference, you can confirm:
   • Automatically load file into Google Earth: Be sure this is checked if you want to display the output at this time.
   • Show this message every time a KMZ File is Created: If checked, this window will be displayed each time a Google Earth output is created. Uncheck this if you prefer not to see this window in the future.
     (Both of these settings are also available via the Preferences menu.)
     
     
   • Click OK to continue or Cancel to cancel the operation.

The resulting diagram will be displayed in Google Earth, if requested.

  Back to Export menu

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