Globe Manager KML Tab

You can use the KML tab to add Keyhole Markup Language (KML) files (.kml/.kmz) to a 3D Graphics window. Using the KML tab shortcut menu, you can display, hide, or zoom to features specified in the KML files. For KML features that STK does not currently support, see the list below.

STK will animate through a dynamic KML as long as the time period of the animation is consistent with the time tags associated with the KML objects. You can view time metadata in the KML item properties. You can access some examples of KML files in <STK install folder>\Data\Resources\stktraining\KML.

Manage KML documents

Right-click the empty KML window to display a shortcut menu. Select Open KML Data... to add a KML file.

The table of contents of the opened KML file displays in the KML window. You can display or hide KML features by selecting or clearing the check box next to each feature. When you select the check box, the item will display on the globe in the 3D Graphics window. When the check box is not selected, the item will not display. Click the plus and minus sign icons to display or hide the hierarchy of KML features in the KML window.

Right-click a feature in the KML tabto display a shortcut menu. Select Zoom Tofor displaying the feature in the 3D Graphics window. Select Open KML Data... to add a KML file. Select Remove KML Content to remove the file.

KML tools

KML Tools
Icon Description
Open KML Open KML Content opens a KML file in Globe Manager.
Close KML Remove KML Content closes a KML file in Globe Manager.
Properties Displays the properties for the selected KML item in the Globe Manager: KML Item Properties dialog box.
Zoom To Click Zoom To to move to a specific KML item in the 3D Graphics window. You can also right-click the item in Globe Manager and select Zoom To from the shortcut menu, or select the item and then select Zoom To in the KML tab toolbar.
Reload KML Reloads the KML content.
Get Info Tool Opens the Get Info tool.
KML Help Opens the STK Help.

Show Balloon

Right-click an item in the KML tab and select Show Balloon from the shortcut menu to display informative text associated with the object. You can also double-click a KML item in the 3D Graphics window to display the information balloon. If you double-click an item in the 3D Graphics window while holding down the SHIFT key, the information balloon will appear and the 3D Graphics window will zoom to the item.

Properties

The KML Item Properties window displays a number of fixed property values for the selected item and editable refresh rates for network linked items.

Property Description
Name Displays the item name.
Link Displays the item link, if one exists.
Latitude Displays the item's latitude.
Longitude Displays the item's longitude.
Altitude Displays the item's altitude.
View Period
View Period Applies to KML items that have an associated visibility time span. The item is only visible when the animation time is within that time span. If a time span is not specified in the KML file, the View Period fields do not apply.
Start Time Displays the start time of the item's view period. "N/A" is displayed if a beginning view period value is not present.
Stop Time Displays the stop time of the item's view period. "N/A" is displayed if an ending view period value is not present.
Refresh
Time Based Enables you to set a time-based refresh rate of network-linked items. Options are:
  • Every - Refreshes every time the specified time period (entered as Hours/Minutes/Seconds) has elapsed.
  • On Expiration - Refreshes the file when the expiration time specified in the file is reached.
  • Once (default) - Refreshes when the file is loaded and whenever the link parameters change.
View Based Enables you to set a view-based refresh rate of network linked items. Options are:
  • After camera stops - After camera movement stops, the file refreshes after the specified time period (entered as Hours/Minutes/Seconds) has elapsed.
  • Never (default) - Ignores any changes in the view.
  • On request - Refreshes the file only when you select Reload/Refresh Content from the KML toolbar or Reload KML Contents from the item menu.
  • Region in view - Refreshes the file when the region reappears in the 3D Graphics window.
 
Description Text Displays the HTML text found in the item's description element.

Hide/Show Toolbar

Select the Hide/Show Toolbar option from the shortcut menu to hide or show the KML toolbar across the top of the KML tab.

Switch to List View or Tree View

Right-click any item or in the empty space in the KML window. Select Switch to List View from the shortcut menu to display only the file names of the loaded KML data. You can use the list view to minimize the load time of large KML files when the tree view is not necessary. In list view, all KML tab features are disabled except Open, Remove, and Reload of KML files.

Select Switch to Tree View from the shortcut menu to display a tree view of the loaded KML data. All KML tab operations are available in the tree view.

Import As...

Right-click an item in the KML tab and select Import As... to turn the KML item into one of the following STK objects:

  • Aircraft
  • Ground Vehicle
  • Ship
  • Line Target

Unsupported KML features

STK does not currently support the following KML features :

  • The tessellate option (Lines on Terrain) on LineString and LinearRing features
  • Globe overlays drawn at an altitude
  • Fade extent for regions
  • Photo overlays
  • Highlighted style
  • Updating of models with link refresh properties
  • Anything in the Google extension namespace
  • Updating overlays with link refresh properties

STK does not read Google extensions, such as LatLonQuad, when displaying KML. STK only honors items in the Open Geospatial Consortium KML standard.