ZIP files and KMZ files are extremely similar. They compress the contents to speed up downloads and let you bundle multiple files together. This enables you to include images in your KML file if you so choose.
You can choose to save your content as a KML or KMZ file when you save a placemark or folder from your Places panel. Making a KMZ file does not require the inclusion of images. All that a KMZ file contains is a compressed KML file devoid of any multimedia files. You’ll create a smaller file that downloads more quickly, at the very least.
You’ll need a web-dependent project if you want your KML file to reference images on the internet. You will require a self-contained project if you plan to distribute your content to a private group or present your project without internet access.
Occasionally, you may want your placemarks to link to online images. This could be useful if you want to include attributed images from another website, update the images on a regular basis, or just minimize the size of your KMZ file download.
Ensure that the hard drive of your computer contains any images you wish to include in your KMZ file. Make sure your placemarks refer to the images on your hard drive and not the originals on the web if you downloaded photos from the internet and saved them to your drive.
The above advice is intended to assist you in avoiding some of the typical problems and queries that may arise. When creating your KMZ, every decision you make has trade-offs.
Images on your website that are referenced by one of your placemarks using relative URLs ("images/myphoto.jpg") will not appear correctly in Google Earth. Relative paths should generally only be used to refer to images that are part of the KMZ file.
The only images that will be included in a KMZ file created in Google Earth using the SAVE AS option are those that are on your computer. Nothing on the internet will come packaged with media.
Your placemarks will link to the images in the original KMZ file if you download a KMZ file and save it as a KML file. Seeing as the images are on your hard drive instead of contained in a KMZ file, anyone else attempting to use your new KML file won’t be able to see anything.
Let’s investigate what KMZ Google Earth is.
ZIP files and KMZ files are extremely similar. They compress the contents to speed up downloads and let you bundle multiple files together. This gives you the option to bundle images with your KML file if you so desire.
You can choose to save your content as a KML or KMZ file when you save a placemark or folder from your Places panel. This is comparable to how you can save entire web pages—complete with style sheets and images—or just the HTML for a single page in your web browser.
When you’re ready to share your content with others—for example, by emailing a colleague an attachment, posting a file on the internet, or getting ready to give a live presentation—save your KML file and any images you wish to include as a KMZ file.
Consider the project’s objective before beginning any new Google Earth project: You’ll need a web-dependent project if you want your KML file to reference images on the internet. You will require a self-contained project if you plan to distribute your content to a private group or present your project without internet access.
Occasionally, you may want your placemarks to link to online images. This could be useful if you want to include attributed images from another website, update the images on a regular basis, or just minimize the size of your KMZ file download.
Consider including any images your placemarks reference in your final KMZ file if you intend to distribute your content to a private group or present it in an area with spotty or nonexistent internet access. If the photos you use for your placemarks are stored on your computer’s hard drive, Google Earth will take care of this automatically for you.
The aforementioned advice is intended to assist you in avoiding some of the typical problems and queries that may arise. Every decision you make when creating your KMZ has trade-offs. The following cautions are meant to help you reduce potential issues:
We’ll then discover the distinction between KMZ and KML files.
The main difference between the two is that while KMZ is a compressed file format that holds one or more KML files along with their related resources, KML is a file format for storing geographic data in XML format.
Geographic data can be displayed in three dimensions using the KML (Keyhole Markup Language) file format, usually on virtual globes like Google Earth.
Many geographic elements, including points, lines, polygons, and three-dimensional models, can be defined using KML.
A compressed file format called KMZ (Keyhole Markup Language Zipped) is used to store geographic data, such as KML files, along with resources related to them, like images, icons, and other files.
A KMZ file is created by compressing one or more KML files along with the resources that go with them into a single file that ends in ".kmz."
In addition to geographic data, KMZ files can include features like styles, screen overlays, and network linkages.
A table summarizing the primary distinctions between KML and KMZ is provided below.
| KML | KMZ |
|---|---|
| File format for storing geographic data in XML format | Compressed file format that holds one or more KML files along with their related resources |
| Can display geographic data in three dimensions | Can store geographic data, images, icons, and other files |
| Used for virtual globes like Google Earth | Created by compressing KML files and resources into a single file |
| Can define points, lines, polygons, and three-dimensional models | Can include features like styles, screen overlays, and network linkages |