Digital humanities

Author: Helena Bermúdez Sabel (helena.bermudez@usc.es) Maintained by: David J. Birnbaum (djbpitt@gmail.com) Last modified: 2021-12-27T22:03:50+0000

Fake KML embed gadget

Before using the gadget

If you have not yet read Embedding KML files into HTML, we recommend doing that before continuing. Google no longer supports the use of this kind of gadget to embed Google GIS visualizations. We offer here an alternative to the official instructions, because the technology it depends on is still operative, but that that may not be the case for much longer. This illustrates a general risk of using third-party tools and other resources, which may disappear without warning, and without any obvious replacement or other alternative.

Using the gadget

This section is a duplicate of the Fake KML embed gadget maker, a successful attempt to replicate the functionality of the real KML embed gadget provided by Google, which is currently offline. The developer of the replica site, Barry Hunter, took the original open-source code and wrapped it in a convenient basic container. As Hunter warns, the iframe generated by this tool comes with no warranty at all: Google could discontinue or break the Google Earth API or Google Maps API, on which this tool relies. This feature is in no way endorsed by Google Inc.

If you’ve created your KML file from your project files using XSLT, upload your KML file to your project web site. Copy the link and paste it in the first box
Fill out the form below choosing your preferences. Then click the Submit button.
A new page should appear, either a 3D globe or a 2D map with your content (required plug-in for the 3D globe).
If you are satisfied with the results, copy the URL of that page and use it as needed in your project.

kml_url	KML or My Maps URL
view_mode	View mode
lat	Optional - Center Latitude (leave blank to center on KML file)
lng	Optional - Center Longitude (leave blank to center on KML file)
zoom	Maps zoom level - Optional
earth_2d_fallback	3D - Fall back to 2D on error True · False
earth_fly_from_space	3D - Fly in from space True · False
earth_show_nav_controls	3D - Show navigation controls True · False
earth_show_buildings	3D - Show buildings True · False
earth_show_terrain	3D - Show 3D terrain True · False
earth_show_roads	3D - Show roads True · False
earth_show_borders	3D - Show borders and labels True · False
earth_sphere	3D - Sphere
maps_streetview	2D - Enable Streetview True · False
maps_zoom_out	2D - Zoom out on load True · False
maps_default_type	2D - Default Map Type

Useful tips

Longitude and latitude coordinates are optional, but we recommend specifying them in order to center the zoom of the map when using the 2D display.
To embed the map in your HTML file, you can use <iframe src="{URL of the popup window created after submitting the form}">. The <iframe> element is valid in HTML5 and in XHTML4 transitional, but not in XHTML4 strict. Now that HTML is an official W3C recommendation, you should use that if you are using <iframe> elements.
If you update your KML file, there is no need to repeat the process of using the embed gadget. When you or another user clicks on the link to the URL that you generated using the embed gadget, it will load the current version of the KML from your site, including any changes you may have made.