.. index:: ! gmt2kml ******* gmt2kml ******* .. only:: not man gmt2kml - Convert GMT data tables to KML files for Google Earth Synopsis -------- .. include:: common_SYN_OPTs.rst_ **gmt2kml** [ *table* ] [ |-A|\ **a**\ \|\ **g**\ \|\ **s**\ [*alt*\ \|\ **x**\ *scale*] ] [ |-C|\ *cpt* ] [ |-D|\ *descriptfile* ] [ |-E|\ [*altitude*] ] [ |-F|\ **e**\ \|\ **s**\ \|\ **t**\ \|\ **l**\ \|\ **p**\ \|\ **w** ] [ |-G|\ **f\|n**\ **-**\ \|\ *fill* ] [ |-I|\ *icon* ] [ **-K**] [ |-L|\ *col1:name1*,\ *col2:name2*,... ] [ |-N|\ [+\|\ *name\_template*\ \|\ *name*] ] [ **-O**] [ |-Q|\ **a**\ \|\ **i**\ *az* ] [ |-Q|\ **s**\ *scale*\ [*unit*\ ] ] [ |-R|\ **a**\ \|\ *w/e/s/n* ] [ |-S|\ **c**\ \|\ **n**\ *scale*] ] [ |-T|\ *title*\ [/*foldername*] ] [ |SYN_OPT-V| ] [ |-W|\ [*pen*][*attr*] ] [ |-Z|\ *args* ] [ |SYN_OPT-bi| ] [ |SYN_OPT-di| ] [ |SYN_OPT-e| ] [ |SYN_OPT-f| ] [ |SYN_OPT-h| ] [ |SYN_OPT-i| ] [ |SYN_OPT-:| ] [ > *output.kml* ] |No-spaces| Description ----------- **gmt2kml** reads one or more GMT table file and converts them to a single output file using Google Earth's KML format. Data may represent points, lines, polygons, or wiggles, and you may specify additional attributes such as title, altitude mode, colors, pen widths, transparency, regions, and data descriptions. You may also extend the feature down to ground level (assuming it is above it) and use custom icons for point symbols. Finally, there are controls on visibility depending on level of detail settings, altitude, regions, including the status upon loading into Google Earth as well as fading depending on zoom. The input files should contain the following columns: *lon* *lat* [ *alt* ] [ *timestart* [ *timestop* ] ] where *lon* and *lat* are required for all features, *alt* is optional for all features (see also **-A** and **-C**), and *timestart* and *timestop* apply to events and timespan features. For wiggles, the *alt* column is required but is expected to represent an along-track data anomaly such as gravity, magnetics, etc. These values will be scaled to yield distances from the line in degrees. Required Arguments ------------------ None. Optional Arguments ------------------ .. |Add_intables| unicode:: 0x20 .. just an invisible code .. include:: explain_intables.rst_ .. _-A: **-A**\ **a**\ \|\ **g**\ \|\ **s**\ [*alt*\ \|\ **x**\ *scale*] Select one of three altitude modes recognized by Google Earth that determines the altitude (in m) of the feature: **a** absolute altitude, **g** altitude relative to sea surface or ground, **s** altitude relative to seafloor or ground. To plot the features at a fixed altitude, append an altitude *alt* (in m). Use 0 to clamp the features to the chosen reference surface. Append **x**\ *scale* to scale the altitude from the input file by that factor. If no value is appended, the altitude (in m) is read from the 3rd column of the input file. [By default the features are clamped to the sea surface or ground]. .. _-C: **-C**\ *cpt* Use the CPT for assigning colors to the symbol, event, or timespan icons, based on the value in the 3rd column of the input file. For lines or polygons we examine the segment header for -Z statements and obtain the color via the cpt lookup. Note only discrete colors are possible. .. _-D: **-D**\ *descriptfile* File with HTML snippets that will be included as part of the main description content for the KML file [no description]. See SEGMENT INFORMATION below for feature-specific descriptions. .. _-E: **-E**\ [*altitude*] Extrude feature down to ground level [no extrusion]. .. _-F: **-F**\ **e**\ \|\ **s**\ \|\ **t**\ \|\ **l**\ \|\ **p**\ \|\ **w** Sets the feature type. Choose from points (**e**\ vent, **s**\ ymbol, or **t**\ imespan), **l**\ ine, **p**\ olygon, or **w**\ iggle [symbol]. The first two columns of the input file should contain (*lon*, *lat*). When altitude or value is required (i.e., no *altitude* value was given with **-A**, or **-C** is set), the third column needs to contain the *altitude* (in m) or *value*. The event (**-Fe**) is a symbol that should only be active at a particular *time*, given in the next column. Timespan (**-Ft**) is a symbol that should only be active during a particular time period indicated by the next two columns (*timestart*, *timestop*). Use NaN to indicate unbounded time limits. If used, times should be in ISO format yyyy-mm-ddThh:mm:ss[.xxx] or in GMT relative time format (see **-f**). For wiggles, the data anomaly is required to be in the 3rd input column. If you also need to plot the track itself then do that separately with **-Fl**. .. _-G: **-G**\ **f\|n**\ *fill* Sets color fill (**-Gf**) or label font color (**-Gn**). Fill: Set fill color for symbols, extrusions, polygons and positive anomaly wiggles [Default is light orange at 75% transparency]. Optionally, use **-Gf-** to turn off polygon fill. Text labels: Specify color for font [Default is white]. Optionally use **-Gn-** to disable labels. .. _-I: **-I**\ *icon* Specify the URL to an alternative icon that should be used for the symbol [Default is a Google Earth circle]. If the URL starts with + then we will prepend `http://maps.google.com/mapfiles/kml/ `_ to the name. To turn off icons entirely (e.g., when just wanting a text label), use **-I**-. [Default is a local icon with no directory path]. .. _-K: **-K** Allow more KML code to be appended to the output later [finalize the KML file]. .. _-L: **-L**\ *name1*,\ *name2*,... Extended data given. Append one or more column names separated by commas. We will expect the listed data columns to exist in the input immediately following the data coordinates and they will be encoded in the KML file as Extended Data sets, whose attributes will be available in a Google Earth balloon when the item is selected. This option is not available unless input is an ASCII file. .. _-N: **-N**\ [-\|+\|\ *name\_template*\ \|\ *name*] By default, if segment headers contain a **-L**"label string" then we use that for the name of the KML feature (polygon, line segment or set of symbols). Default names for these segments are "Line %d" and "Point Set %d", depending on the feature, where %d is a sequence number of line segments within a file. Each point within a line segment will be named after the line segment plus a sequence number. Default is simply "Point %d". Alternatively, select one of these options: (1) append **-** to supply individual symbol labels (single word) via the field immediately following the data coordinates, (2) append **+** to supply individual symbol labels as everything to the end of the data record following the data coordinates, (3) append a string that may include %d or a similar integer format to assign unique name IDs for each feature, with the segment number (for lines and polygons) or point number (symbols) appearing where %d is placed, (4) give no arguments to turn symbol labeling off; line segments will still be named. Note: if **-N-** is used with **-L** then the label must appear before the extended data columns. Also note that options (1) and (2) are not available unless input is an ASCII file. .. _-O: **-O** Append KML code to an existing KML file [initialize a new KML file]. .. _-Q: **-Qa**\ \|\ **i**\ *azimuth* Option in support of wiggle plots (requires **-Fw**). You may control which directions the positive wiggles will tend to point to with **-Qa**. The provided azimuth defines a half-circle centered on the selected azimuth [0] where positive anomalies will plot. If outside then switch by 180 degrees. Alternatively, use **-Qi** to set a fixed direction with no further variation. **-Qs**\ *scale*\ [*unit*\ ] Required setting for wiggle plots (i.e., it requires **-Fw**). Sets a wiggle scale in *z*-data units per the user's units (given via the trailing unit taken from d|m|s|e|f|k|M|n|u [e]). This scale is then inverted to yield degrees per user z-unit and used to convert wiggle anomalies to map distances and positions. .. _-R: **-Ra**\ \|\ *w/e/s/n* Issue a single Region tag. Append *w/e/s/n* to set a particular region (will ignore points outside the region), or append **a** to determine and use the actual domain of the data (single file only) [no region tags issued]. .. _-S: **-S**\ **c**\ \|\ **n**\ *scale*] Scale icons or labels. Here, **-Sc** sets a scale for the symbol icon, whereas **-Sn** sets a scale for the name labels [1 for both]. .. _-T: **-T**\ *title*\ [/*foldername*] Sets the document title [default is unset]. Optionally, append /*FolderName*; this allows you, with **-O**, **-K**, to group features into folders within the KML document. [The default folder name is "*Name* Features", where *Name* is Point, Event, Timespan, Line, Polygon or Wiggle]. .. _-V: .. |Add_-V| unicode:: 0x20 .. just an invisible code .. include:: explain_-V.rst_ .. _-W: **-W**\ [*pen*][*attr*] :ref:`(more ...) <-Wpen_attrib>` Set pen attributes for lines, wiggles or polygon outlines. Append pen attributes to use [Defaults: width = default, color = black, style = solid]. If the modifier **+cl** is appended then the color of the line are taken from the CPT (see **-C**). If instead modifier **+cf** is appended then the color from the cpt file is applied to symbol fill. Use just **+c** for both effects. Note that for KML the pen width is given in (fractional) pixels and not in points (1/72 inch). .. _-Z: **-Z**\ *args* Set one or more attributes of the Document and Region tags. Append **+a**\ *alt\_min/alt\_max* to specify limits on visibility based on altitude. Append **+l**\ *lod\_min/lod\_max* to specify limits on visibility based on Level Of Detail, where *lod\_max* == -1 means it is visible to infinite size. Append **+f**\ *fade\_min/fade\_max* to fade in and out over a ramp [abrupt]. Append **+v** to make a feature *not* visible when loaded [visible]. Append **+o** to open a folder or document in the sidebar when loaded [closed]. .. |Add_-bi| replace:: [Default is 2 or more input columns, depending on settings]. .. include:: explain_-bi.rst_ .. |Add_-di| unicode:: 0x20 .. just an invisible code .. include:: explain_-di.rst_ .. |Add_-e| unicode:: 0x20 .. just an invisible code .. include:: explain_-e.rst_ .. |Add_-f| unicode:: 0x20 .. just an invisible code .. include:: explain_-f.rst_ .. |Add_-g| unicode:: 0x20 .. just an invisible code .. include:: explain_-g.rst_ .. |Add_-h| unicode:: 0x20 .. just an invisible code .. include:: explain_-h.rst_ .. include:: explain_-icols.rst_ .. include:: explain_colon.rst_ .. include:: explain_help.rst_ Examples -------- To convert a file with point locations (lon, lat) into a KML file with red circle symbols, try :: gmt2kml mypoints.txt -Gfred -Fs > mypoints.kml To convert a multisegment file with lines (lon, lat) separated by segment headers that contain a **-L**\ labelstring with the feature name, selecting a thick white pen, and title the document, try :: gmt2kml mylines.txt -Wthick,white -Fl -T"Lines from here to there" > mylines.kml To convert a multisegment file with polygons (lon, lat) separated by segment headers that contain a **-L**\ labelstring with the feature name, selecting a thick black pen and semi-transparent yellow fill, giving a title to the document, and prescribing a particular region limit, try :: gmt gmt2kml mypolygons.txt -Gfyellow@50 -Fp -T"My polygons" -R30/90/-20/40 > mypolygons.kml To convert a file with point locations (lon, lat, time) into a KML file with green circle symbols that will go active at the specified time and stay active going forward, try :: awk '{print $1, $2, $3, "NaN"}' mypoints.txt | gmt gmt2kml -Gfgreen -Ft > mytimepoints.kml To extract contours and labels every 10 units from the grid temp.nc and plot them in KML, using red lines at 75% transparency and red labels (no transparency), try :: gmt grdcontour temp.nc -Jx1id -A10+tlabel.txt -C10 -Dcontours.txt gmt gmt2kml contours.txt -Fl -W1p,red@75 -K > contours.kml gmt gmt2kml -O -N+ -Fs -Sn2 -Gnred@0 label.txt -I- >> contours.kml To instead plot the contours as lines with colors taken from the cpt file contours.cpt, try :: gmt gmt2kml contours.txt -Fl -Ccontours.cpt > contours.kml To plot magnetic anomalies as wiggles along track, with positive wiggles painted orange and the wiggle line drawn with a black pen of width 2p, scaling the magnetic anomalies (in nTesla) so that 50 nT equals 1 nm on the map, and place the wiggles 50m above the sea surface, use :: gmt gmt2kml magnetics_lon_lat_mag.txt -Fw -Gforange -W2p -Ag50 -Qs50n > wiggles.kml Limitations ----------- Google Earth has trouble displaying filled polygons across the Dateline. For now you must manually break any polygon crossing the dateline into a west and east polygon and plot them separately. Google Earth also has other less obvious limitations on file size or line length. These do not seem to be documented. If features do not show and you are not getting an error, try to reduce the size of the file by splitting things up. Making Kmz Files ---------------- Using the KMZ format is preferred as it takes less space. KMZ is simply a KML file and any data files, icons, or images referenced by the KML, contained in a zip archive. One way to organize large data sets is to split them into groups called Folders. A Document can contain any number of folders. Using scripts you can create a composite KML file using the **-K**, **-O** options just like you do with GMT plots. See **-T** for switching between folders and documents. The gmt_shell_scripts.sh contains function gmt_build_kmz that can assist in building a KMZ file from any number of KML files (and optionally images they may refer to). Kml Hierarchy ------------- GMT stores the different features in hierarchical folders by feature type (when using **-O**, **-K** or **-T/**\ *foldername*), by input file (if not standard input), and by line segment (using the name from the segment header, or **-N**). This makes it more easy in Google Earth to switch on or off parts of the contents of the Document. The following is a crude example: [ KML header information; not present if **-O** was used ] GMT Data Document Point Features