An overview of the To KML toolset

Keyhole Markup Language (KML) is an XML-based language provided by Google for defining the graphic display of spatial data in applications such as Google Earth and Google Maps. KML enables these applications to support the open integration of custom data layers from many GIS users.

Map layers created in ArcMap, ArcGlobe, or ArcScene are the primary mechanisms used in ArcGIS to prepare and deliver information using KML. You essentially author your map layers so that they support various KML capabilities.

KML encapsulates the graphic display of GIS features and imagery, as well as the presentation of feature attributes and other descriptive information. All of this information must be authored inside ArcGIS Desktop before creating the KML file. Some of the key properties to be defined include the layer's name, the layer's label expression, and the HTML Popup presentation of attributes.

Once the layers and maps have been authored, you can use the below tools to export zipped KML (KMZ) files for consumption in any application that supports the KML format, such as ArcGIS Explorer, ArcGlobe, Google Earth, and Google Maps.

Tool	Description
Layer To KML	This tool converts an in-memory or file-based feature or raster layer into a KML file containing a translation of ESRI geometries and symbology. This file is compressed using ZIP compression, has a .kmz extension, and can be read by any KML client including ArcGIS Explorer, ArcGlobe, and Google Earth.
Map To KML	This tool converts a map document into a KML file containing a translation of ESRI geometries and symbology. This file is compressed using ZIP compression and will have a .kmz extension and can be read by any KML client including ArcGIS Explorer, ArcGlobe, and Google Earth.

Tools in the To KML toolset