RockWorks | Utilities | EarthApps | Points | Cones | Simple
This program:
- Reads a listing of XY locations from the Datasheet Editor.
- Creates a KML output file with the point locations illustrated with filled up- or downward-pointing 3D cones, at a constant color and size.
- Creates a KMZ (zip) output file, containing the KML file.
- Loads the KMZ file in Google Earth.
See also: Cone Maps - Proportional, Cone Maps - Advanced
Menu Options
Step-by-Step Summary
Menu Options
- Input Columns: The prompts along the left side of the window tell RockWorks which columns in the input datasheet contain the required data.
Click on an existing name to select a different name from the drop-down list. See a sample data layout below.
- X: Column that contains the X coordinates for the cones.
These can be Eastings in meters or feet, decimal longitudes, etc. See Defining your Datasheet Coordinates for more information.
- Y: Column that contains the Y coordinates for the cones.
- Style: Choose upward- or downward-pointing cones by clicking in the appropriate button.
- Height (Meters): Defines the height for the cones, in meters. Click on the current setting to type in a new value.
For example, an entry of 1000 would create cones that have a height of 1 kilometer.
- Radius (Meters): Defines the radius for the cones, as expressed in meters.
- Color: Defines the fill color for the cones. The current color is displayed to the right.
To change the color, click on the color sample and choose a new color from the list.
- Include Labels: Insert a check here to label the site in the Google Earth side panel and in the map.
- Label Column: Defines the column that contains the text to be used for the labels.
Click on the current name displayed to the right, to choose a different column name from the drop-down list.
- Color: Defines the color for the labels.
Click on the current color, displayed to the right, to choose a different color.
- Scale: Defines the size of the labels. Default = 1.
Rule of thumb: 0.5 will create small labels, 2.0 large labels.
Step-by-Step Summary
- Access the Utilities program tab.
- Create a new datasheet and enter or import your location coordinates into the datasheet.
Or, open one of the sample files and replace that data with your own. (In this example, the sample file = "RockWorks17 Data\EarthApps Samples\Cones_Simple_Downwards_01.rwDat")
Longitude and latitude coordinates must be in decimal format. If you're using another coordinate system, be sure you've specified the Units and the Projection Settings as appropriate.
- Select the RockWorks | Utilities | EarthApps | Points | Cones | Simple menu option.
- Enter the menu options as described above.
! Tip: If you're working with one of the sample .rwDat files, you can load its specific menu settings by (1) clicking on the Menu button at the top of the window, (2) clicking Load from RCL, and (3) browsing for the .rcl file with the same name as the .rwDat file you're working with.
- Click the Process button to continue.
The program will create a KML file listing the cones at the point locations, using the color and size you've specified. It will create a KMZ (zip) file containing the KML file. The Google Earth KML and KMZ file names will be assigned automatically.
- 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 map will be displayed in Google Earth, if requested.
Back to Point Map Summary
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