Google Earth Line Maps - 3D (Simple)

RockWorks | Utilities | EarthApps | Lines | Lines | 3D

This program:

• Reads a listing of data from the Datasheet Editor: XYZ endpoint pairs (X1Y1Z1, X2Y2Z2)
• Creates a KML output file with simple line segments drawn between these endpoints using a fixed color at listed elevations.
• Creates a KMZ (zip) output file, containing the KML file.
• Loads the KMZ file in Google Earth.

See also: Line Maps - 2D Simple, Line Maps - 2D/3D 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 what data.
  Click on an existing name to select a different name from the drop-down list. See a sample data layout below.
  • X1: Column that contains the X coordinates for the starting point for the lines.
    These can be Eastings in meters or feet, decimal longitudes, etc. See Defining your Datasheet Coordinates for more information.
  • Y1: Column that contains the Y coordinates for the starting point for the lines.
    
  • Z1: Column that contains the Z or elevation coordinates for the starting point for the lines.
    Be sure you've defined these elevation units.
  • X2: Column that contains the X coordinates for the line endpoints.
    
  • Y1: Column that contains the Y coordinates for the line endpoints.
  • Z2: Column that contains the Z coordinates for the line endpoints.

• Color: Click on the sample to the right to select the color in which all of the lines will be plotted.
• Thickness (Pixels): Into the prompt to the right, type in the number of pixels for all of the lines.
• Elevation Mode:
  • Relative to Ground: Choose this if the Z columns defined above list elevations above ground.
  • Absolute: Choose this if the Z columns list absolute elevations, regardless of the ground elevations at those locations.
• 
  
  

Step-by-Step Summary

1. Access the Utilities program tab. 
2. 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\Lines_3D_Simple_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.

3. Select the RockWorks | Utilities | EarthApps | Lines | Lines | 3D (Simple) menu option. 
4. 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.
   
   
5. Click the Process button to continue. 

The program will create a KML file with line segments between the coordinate pairs, in the color and thickness you specified. It will create a KMZ (zip) file containing the KML file. The Google Earth KML and KMZ file names will be assigned automatically.

6. 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 Line Maps Summary

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