How to Use a Shapefile Map Data in Google Maps
Geographic Information Systems shapefiles in “.shp” format contain geometric location data. Although Google Maps can’t directly import the map data from shapefiles, you can use another program to convert the shapefile data to a Keyhold Markup Language file, which Google Maps can import. The geometric map data from the shapefile appears as shapes overlaying the map in Google Maps. You can create a new map for the data or import it into an existing map.
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Instructions
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Use a third-party utility to convert the shapefile map data to a KML file. You can download and use the Shp2Kml utility from Zonum Solutions; upload a shapefile to a free GeoCommons account and download it in KML format; or import the shapefile into the professional version of Google Earth, apply a style template and export the imported layer as a KML file.
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Navigate to the Google Maps website, and sign in with your Google account and password.
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Click the “My Places” button, click “Create Map” and click the “Import” link in the sidebar. You can also click an existing map in the list, click “Edit” and click the “Import” link.
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Click the “Choose” button, browse to the “.KML” file on your computer, double-click it and click the “Upload From File” button.
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Enter a name and description for your map, and click “Done.”
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Tips & Warnings
You can also import the KML file into Google Earth. Click the “File” menu in Google Earth and select “Open” to open the KML file.
