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Coordinate tools: KML-Plotter

Version 1.3, Mikko Heikkinen (send feedback)

Converts tabular (tab-separated values) data into a KML-file, which can then be viewed with Google Earth. The data is not automatically saved or published anywhere. More instructions at the end of this page.

Instructions

Converts tabular (tab-separated values) data into KML-file, which can be viewed with Google Earth. Cut and paste your data to the form and click "submit", and you'll see the data in Google Earth.

The data can be in either of these two formats:

Simple format

Columns in this order:

1. name
2. latitude (wgs84 decimal degrees or 3–7 -digit Finnish Uniform Grid)
3. longitude (wgs 84 decimal degrees or 2–7 -digit Finnish Uniform Grid)
4. coordinate system; write here one of the following:
   • ykj
   • wgs84
5. other information (free form)

Sample data (txt-file).

Standard georeferencing format

Columns in this order:

1. latitude (decimal degrees)
2. longitude (decimal degrees)
3. named place
4. Extent
5. MaxError Distance
6. MaxError Units

About formats, options and errors

• MaxError Units can be one of the following: m, meter, meters, metre, metres, km, kilometer, kilometers, kilometre, kilometres, mi, mile, miles, ft, feet, feets, yds, yd, yard, yards.
• Decimals can be separated by commas (,) or dots (.).
• Fields have to be separated by tabs. Don't use tabs inside the actual data, since this mixes up the column order.
• Empty rows will be removed from the data. A row will be classified as empty if latitude and/or longitude field is empty or not numerical.
• "ykj" means Finnish Uniform Grid coordinates (yhtenäiskoordinaatisto in Finnish). These coordinates may be 3 to 7 digits long. Leading 3 of the longitude may be missing.
• Grid coordinates may be points (eg. 6680000:3380000), squares (eg. 668:338) or tetragons used by botanists (eg. 6680-6681:3380-3382).
• Make sure that values are correct; the system won't check most of them.
• The system reports about removed rows and out of bounds Grid-coordinates. See the description field of the KML-file.
• Due to coordinate conversion (Grid to WGS84) there can be an error between 0–23 meters
• Due to possible inaccuracy of Google Earth, there can be an error between 0–80 meters (or more?)
• Checking "Show polygon" draws a line between the points in the order in which the points are in the data.