Introduction < Usage Directions > Refine Your Location

Directions to Use MDAH Map Data in Google Earth

For pleasing results, a relatively fast connection (say DSL or cable modem) is recommended. A normal phone modem may work but at a frustratingly slow speed.

If you don't have the Google Earth (GE) application already installed, then get it at http://earth.google.com/ (Windows and Mac versions) and install it.

If you are eligible to access the MDAH Google Earth map, you will have received an email with the URL to the map file and a username and password to access the file. Please note that the URL, username, password and the the Google Earth map file itself are confidential information for the personal use of the eligible MDAH member that received them. They are not to be shared with other persons or distributed by any means.

There are two ways to use the MDAH GE map: from a local map file that has been downloaded to your computer or by way of a 'network link' that you establish in GE. The first method is by far the most convenient one so it is the only one described here.

Download the MDAH GE map file

Using your Internet browser navigate to the map file URL provided in email if you are an eligible member (or mouse click the hyperlinked URL to the .kmz file in the email).

In the Enter Network Password window, enter the User Name and Password from the email.

One of two things will happen after you use the Enter key or mash the OK button: the Google Earth will start up and display the MDAH map, or you will be presented with the File Download window. It all depends on how your computer is set up to handle .kmz files. If your Folder Options>File Types> Advanced is set to open .kmz files with GE without confirmation, then you get the first possibility. If the 'Confirm open after download' box is checked in the Advanced (Edit File Type) window, you get the second possibility. It doesn't really matter - you can get where you want to go either way.

If Google Earth opened with the file after you completed the Enter Network Password window, then skip to here, otherwise continue with the next paragraph concerning the File Download window.

In the File Download window, select the Save button then using the Save As window, place the .kmz file in some handy directory on your computer.

Open the GE map file

Start up Google Earth and from the File menu, pick Open then specify the location and .kmz file you just downloaded to your local hard drive.

This will create an MDAH Members Placemark (theme) under the Temporary Places folder in the Places list (to left of image window). At this point, the MDAH Members theme in the Places list is collapsed, but house icons for the member locations should be visible in the image window. From here, playing around by mouse clicking is the best way to learn how things work, but in brief:

• Mouse click the plus icon on the left side of the Places list to expand or collapse the member list.
• Mouse click the checkbox on the left side of the Places list to make member location icons visible or hidden.
• Single mouse click hyperlinked member names in the Places list or house icons in the image window to display the associated information balloon. MDAH members are arranged alphabetically by first then last name under the MDAH Placemark in the Places list. If you find that the information balloon has obscured the feature it is associated with, then maximize the size of the GE window so you can see both.
• Double click hyperlinked member names in the Places list or icons in the image window to zoom the view to that feature and display the information balloon.
• Drag with the mouse in the image window to pan the view.
• Navigate (zoom in/out, change perspective and look direction) using the Navigation Control at the top right of the image window.
• Single click the the MDAH Members theme hyperlink to display version date and to link to full metadata for the MDAH Member map.
• Add additional themes such as roads by activating them in the Layers list.

Tidy up

Unless you have already moved the MDAH Members Placemark to the My Places folder in the Places list, when you attempt to Exit the Google Earth application, it will remind you that you have unsaved items (the MDAH members Placemark) in the Temporary Places folder and ask if you want to move them to the My Places folder. You will probably want to select Yes at this prompt - that way the next time you start up Google Earth, the MDAH map data is immediately available (so you don't have to go through the File>Open process for the .kmz file again).

To remove the MDAH Members placemark from your My Places folder, select it on the Places List, and right click to bring up a menu that allows the Placemark to be deleted.

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