PROBLEM

Data Interoperability cannot import .kml or .kmz files

Last Published: April 25, 2020

Description

** Internal Publish Only! This article may contain information that is not intended for external circulation. **

When using the Quick Import tool in Data Interoperability on a .kml or .kmz file a general error may be generated.The most likely cause of the Quick Import tool failing is that the .kml or .kmz file is not in the correct version.

Cause

The file formats, .kml and .kmz, have different version types (2.0, 2.1 and 2.2). At this time the Data Interoperability extension only supports the conversion of version 2.0 .kml and .kmz files. Versions 2.1 and 2.2 are not supported for conversion causing any Data Interoperability tools to fail on these files.

Solution or Workaround

The Quick Import tool functions properly, if the header in the .kml file reads version 2.0.

In order to implement the following workaround, a .kmz file needs to be converted to .kml format.

  1. Open the .kmz file in Google Earth. Go to File > Save as > (save Type as .kml)
    Note:
    If using a .kml file, move to step 2.

  2. Open the .kml file in Notepad.
    Right-click Start > Explore (navigate to .kml) > Right-click .kml > Open with > Choose program > Notepad.
  3. In the first line of Notepad, there is a code section reading:
    xmlns="http://earth.google.com/kml/2.1"> or
    xmlns="http://earth.google.com/kml/2.2">

    Change this to
    xmlns="http://earth.google.com/kml/2.0">.

    Click File > Save.
  4. The Data Interop Quick Import tool will now execute properly.

Article ID:000009805

Software:
  • ArcMap 9 x
  • ArcMap 8 x

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