Google Earth Polyline Maps - Multiple

RockWorks | Utilities | EarthApps | Lines | Polylines | Multiple

This program:

• Reads from the Datasheet Editor a listing of the names of one or more external text files which list XY locations and Z elevations for the vertices for the separate polylines.
• Creates a KML output file with connected line segments drawn between these vertices using a fixed color. The polylines can be clamped to the ground, plotted at an elevation relative to the ground, or at an absolute elevation.
• Creates a KMZ (zip) output file, containing the KML file.
• Loads the KMZ file in Google Earth.

See also: Google Earth Polyline Maps - Single

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.
  • Name: Select the column that contains the text to label the polyline in the Google Earth side panel.
    
  • File Name: Column that contains the names of the external .rwDat files containing the polyline vertices.
    Tip: use the File | Import | Create File List program to quickly create a list of specified file names.
    
• Color: Defines the color for the polylines. The current color is displayed to the right. To change the color, click on the color sample and choose a new color from the drop-down list.
• Thickness (pixels): Defines the thickness for the polylines. Click on the displayed value to type in a preferred pixel thickness.
• Altitude Mode: These settings determine the vertical placement of the polylines.
  • Clamp to Ground: Choose this for the line segments to lie along the ground topography. Note that long segments will be subdivided automatically to hug the ground.
  • Relative to Ground: Choose this for the polyline segments to plot a specified distance above ground. The elevations above ground are specified by the Z coordinates in the external XYZ files. Note that this offset is assigned to the line endpoints, so that short lines will mirror the topography but long lines will not.
  • Absolute: Choose this to float the polyline vertices at a specific elevation regardless of the ground surface. The absolute elevations are specified by the Z coordinates in the external XYZ files.
• Extrude: Check this option if you've selected above-ground display of the polyline (Relative or Absolute, above) and want to display the segments as extruded panels coming up from ground level, giving an appearance of a fence.
  • Fill Color: Defines the color for the extruded panels. Click on the current color swatch to change the color. In the example below, the polyline is plotted in blue, at relative elevations, with the extruded panels filled red.

• Override Elevations: Check this option if you want to override the elevation values in the linked files, and plot all of the polylines at a specified elevation.
  • Elevation (Meters): Click here to type in the relative or absolute (as defined above) elevation in meters.

Step-by-Step Summary

1. Access the Utilities program tab. 
2. Create a new datasheet and enter or import your list of polyline XYZ files and other information 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\Polylines_Mulitple_01.rwDat")

You can use the Columns | Column Properties menu option to establish the file-name column (such as "Polyline XYZ File" shown above) as containing linked data, specifically another .rwDat file. Doing so allows you to double-click in one of the cells to display the contents of the linked file.

Note that the Longitude and latitude coordinates in the linked files 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 | Polylines | Multiple 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 the various polylines plotted at the defined locations, in the color, thickness, and elevation mode 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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