IMPORTKML

IMPORTKML brings KML or KMZ files, for example from Google Earth, into your drawing. Points, lines and areas from the file are drawn, spread over layers that follow the folders in the file.

Starting

Type IMPORTKML on the command line, or use the button in the ribbon on the SCAD Data / Export tab, GIS panel.

How it works

1. An Import KML/KMZ window opens. Choose one or more .kml or .kmz files. You can pick several at once.
2. For each file the command reports how it reads the coordinates:
   • KML coordinates detected as WGS84, converting to RD. The coordinates are GPS coordinates and are converted to RD.
   • KML coordinates detected as drawing units, importing as-is. The coordinates are taken over unchanged (longitude as X, latitude as Y).
3. The objects are drawn in model space. Then you get Imported N entities from KML.
4. If a file fails, you see Could not read: <file> or Error importing <file>: .... The other files are still processed.

What gets drawn

In the KML file	In the drawing
Point	A point. If the point has a name, a text with that name is added (text height 1).
LineString	A polyline
Polygon	A closed polyline for the outer boundary, plus a closed polyline for each hole
MultiGeometry	Each part separately, following the rules above

If the file contains an altitude, a point gets that altitude as its Z value. Lines and the outer boundary of an area are drawn flat at the altitude of their first point.

Layers

• An object that sits in a folder gets that folder’s name as its layer. Folders inside folders are joined with a / between them.
• An object that is not in a folder uses its own name as the layer name.
• If it has no name either, it goes on the layer KML-Import.
• The characters <, >, \, ", :, ;, ?, *, |, = and the backtick are replaced by - in the layer name.
• Layers that do not exist yet are created.