ExceltoMap.xlsm | Elements

Folders are containers that host other elements, including other folders.

To set up a folder element, enter a name in column C or E and select 'ᐯ' or 'ᐳ' in the cell to the right.
They appear as a open or closed folder in the sidebar of the map.
Folders designated with 'ᐯ' are initially open, while those designated with 'ᐳ' are initially closed.
Map-users can subsequently open or close them as needed.
Map-users can toggle the show/hide status of the elements in a folder all together.

Link element

Links are special elements that link subordinate elements to folders to build intricate folder hierarchies.

To set up a link element, enter a name in column C or E and select '.link' in the cell to the right.
A link name designated in column E must also appear in a separate row in column C.
This element in column C can be either a link or other element.
Links are not map elements and they do not appear in the map.

Place element

Place elements display place marks and labels on the map.

The target places assigned in column G of the folder are place elements.

Place elements are always included in folders. They cannot be standalone.
When column G is left blank, all the places in the dataset are the place elements of that folder.

Initially, the display style of place elements is set with default values.
Specification on display style:

Change assigments in columns J, K, L, M, N, O, and P as needed. Columns Q and R must be left blank.
The style is set on a folder-basis. For an exception, refer to the 'by~' assignment in Tutrial2.

Specification in column J:

When the label text in column J matches one of data item names, the value of that data item is used as label for each place. Otherwise, the text in column J is used as a label for all the places.

Specification in column M:

The following affixes to the symbol shape ("◉" or "▣") specification append a function.
Affix 'balloon' makes clicking a symbol display the place information in a balloon. Refer to Tutrial2.
Affix 'time' makes time-based dynamic display of place marks. Refer to Tutrial2.

Direct entry of place locations:

The entry 'adhoc' in colomn G prompts the user to enter locations in columns Q and R.
The entered locations do not need to match those of the places in the dataset.

Display of place marks and labels:

Google Earth displays place marks at specified locations and place labels slightly offset from them.
If the size of place marks is set to 0, the center of the place label will be at the specified location.
When the size of place labels or marks is set to 0.4 or less, they may not be visible on the map.
Set the colors of place marks and labels by the color of the cells in columns K and N.

Note element

A note is a special place element intended to show messages to map-users.

The message is shown when its place mark is clicked. Its position is unimportant.
To set up a note element, enter a name in column C or E and select '.note' in the cell to the right.
Its name is used as a label on the map.
It can either be standalone or be contained in a folder.
Messages for notes are stored in either the Notes sheet or the subNotes sheet.
The Notes sheet comes with the system file and is used for storing general-purpose messages.
The subNotes sheet comes with the data file and is used for storing messages specific to each data file.
When both Notes and subNotes sheets have same-name messages, the one in the latter is used.
Messages in both sheets are editable.
Messages prepared in advance:

Several messages have been stored in advance in the Notes sheet.
These are general-purpose messages for map users.
A note named 'ClickThisFirst' may be helpful for first-time users of the map.

Display positions of notes:

When no need to give meaning to the position of notes, leave it to the automatic setting.
With this setting, the first note is centered in the map, and subsequent notes are shifted downward.
If the following settings are not made, automatic setting is effective.

How to specify the display position of notes:

Specify target places in column G. Then, the note is displayed at the center of these places.
Enter coordinates in column Q and R and the height above ground in column S.
This entry makes an assignment in column G insignificant.

Display style of note marks and labels:

Use columns K, L, M, N, and O in the same way as that for place marks and labels.

Path element

A path element display connecting lines among its target places on the map.

This element is intended to display GPS data tracks.
To set up a path element, enter a name in column C or E and select '.path' in the cell to the right.
It can either be standalone or be contained in a folder.
Its target places are assigned in column G. If left blank, all places in the dataset are targeted.
The path line is drawn in the order of the places in the dataset.
Initially, the line color is white and its thickness is 0.9. Set them in column K and L as needed.

View element

A view element gives a viewpoint to look at the map.

A vew element named 'Initial View' is a single requisite for a kml file
To set up a view element, enter a name in column C or E and select '.view' in the cell to the right.
It can either be standalone or be contained in a folder.
In default, the viwpoint encompasses all the target places.
The target places are assigned in column G.
If left blank, all places in the dataset are targeted.
Setting an arbitrary viewpoint:

Enter a tilt angle, an azimuth, latitude, longitude, and a range in columns L, O, Q, R, and S respectively.
This specification makes the entry in column G insignificant.
For details, refer to 'Tips' - 'How to set an arbitrary viewpoint'.

Tour element

The tour element makes a moving viewpoint that visits and flies around target places.

To set up a tour element, enter a name in column C or E and select '.tour' in the cell to the right.
It can either be standalone or be contained in a folder.
The target places are assigned in column G. If it is left blank, all places in the dataset are targeted.
The visits are made in the order of the data in the dataset.
Fly-around radius (the distance between the viewpoint and the focal place):

The default radius is 1000 m. To change it, enter the radius of your choice in column S.
Columns Q and R must be left blank.

How to set different fly-around radii for each place.

Create a data item named "radius1" in the dataset, and enter a fly-around radius for each place.
With a negative value, it will visit the place but not fly around it. Its absolute value sets the view height.
Create another data item named 'radius2" and enter a value to fly around a place twice.
It will fly around with 'radius1' and then with 'radius2'.

Direct entry of locations to visit:

The entry 'adhoc' in column G initially makes a space of two rows for the entry of locations.
Secure the necessary number of rows and enter locations and radii into columns Q, R, and S.
The locations do not need to match those of the places in the dataset.
Multiple rows for one place allows to fly around it multiple times either with the same or different radii.

Note:

The number of places to visit leads to a significant increase in the kml file size.
When the kml file size exceeds 5MB, consider reducing the number of places to visit first.