How can I make kml data look like google maps?

Question

I have a program that generates a .shp file, and exports this as a kml file. I would like to be able to display my output using the standard google map 'map' style (gray background, yellow streets, etc) in google earth, or in the google earth api.

Is there a style guide or method that I should be using?

Any thoughts appreciated - I wasn't sure how to structure this question.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Well, you can load KML files into Google Maps using the API:

http://code.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/services.html#XML_Overlays

It'll certainly look like Google Maps then :-)

Doesn't help you much if you absolutely need the data visualised inside Google Earth though.

Answer 2

You can define styles in the KML and then apply them to the lines. I don't think there's any predefined styles that look like roads in google maps.

If you define the appearance in ArcGIS before exporting to KML, doesn't that set the appearance in Google Earth?

Answer 3

Here is an ArcGIS style that will mimic the Google roads style. http://conversationswithmyself.com/181/