PQ´s into - Google Earth, Label/Icon text switch off

[+Ricke 59]

I'm trying to find a way by which I can switch of the Google Earth Label/Icon text. I have made a KML file where several PQ´s GPX´s have been appended into one file and then converted into the KML format. When loading this file into Google Earth all Icons are more or less hidden by the individual text decriptions. I would like to see the Icons only.

Does anyone know how to "switch off" the text. Under Settings there's the possibility of setting the text size, but that function is only partly helping me.

The reason for this is to be able to see the mapcoverage of my PQ's, I'm quite shure this would be a handy way.

I'm hoping there´s someone who knows how to.

[+StarBrand]

BTW - no need to combine and convert anything - Google Earth can open Geocaching GPX files directly.

 

 

'just sayin.........

[+Ricke 59]

Thanks, not going to argue about that. Fact remains, they'll all be covered with text.

Reason for appending PQ´s GPX´s is to have a file where duplicates can be cleaned out.

[+Markwell]

In google earth you can set the label transparency to 100% (it defaults to %).

 

The problem I have is in changing the label format, you have to make all of the points in the GPX the same, and you lose the "Type" icon that's different for each cache type.

[+Ricke 59]

Many thanks Markwell. By setting the label transparency value to 0% and keeping the Icon transparency value at 100% all text was hidden and only Icons are visible. Your concern about different Cache type icons being lost is not a problem since the KML format already took that away.

[robertlipe]

Earth uses GPSBabel to read GPX and inherits its PQ mojo from that program. There isn't a large amount of customization you can do in a pointy clicky way on the KML that's generated for geocaches, but you can always modify GPSBabel to do whatever you want.

 

Current GPSBabel (and thus, Earth) makes heavy use of the styling and extendeddata features in KML. You can look at the KML and edit it using any of the KML features described in http://code.google.com/apis/kml/documentat...lreference.html A label style with a scale of zero would hide the labels, I think. Do it in the non-hoverstate and you'll still see them when hovering over the icons but before popping the balloon.

[robertlipe]

GPSBabel's KML writer knows how to build cache icons - and does so with Groundspeak's blessing.

[+Walts Hunting]

I was able to click one cache in GE and set the transparency. How would you select all of them. I tried the window standard (click one, go down, hold shift and click again and no results).

 

I would actually like a way to just show the smart name. Now when i load a GSAK exported GPX file it shows name and by which covers everything. Any thoughts.

[robertlipe]

With GPSBabel's (and thus, Earth's) KML, it's easy to tweak the KML to give you the best of both worlds.

 

The style of all geocaches is set in this block:

 

<Style id="geocache"><BalloonStyle><text><![CDATA[
  <a href="http://www.geocaching.com"><img src="http://www.geocaching.com/images/nav/logo_sub.gif"> </a>
  <p><a href="http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?wp=$[gc_num]"><b>$[gc_num]</b></a> <b>$[gc_name]</b>
  a $[gc_type], by <b>$[gc_placer]</b> [<a href="http://www.geocaching.com/profile?id=$[gc_placer_id]">profile</a>]<br/>
  (ratings out of 5 stars. 1 is easiest, 5 is hardest)<br/>
 .... 

 

If you want the labels to be just plain gone, put

<LabelStyle>
<scale>0</scale>
</LabelStyle>

right before <BalloonStyle>.

 

If you want to apply for the bonus round and make labels disappear except when you hover over them, it's only slightly more complicated. We rename the existing Style ID to "geocache_h" (for highlight) with LabelStyle with a size of 100% and create a "geocache_n" (for normal) with the set the size to zero. Make it look like:

 

...
  </Pair>
</StyleMap>
<Style id="geocache_n">
<LabelStyle>
<scale>0</scale>
</LabelStyle>
</Style>
<Style id="geocache_h">
<LabelStyle>
<scale>1</scale>
</LabelStyle>
<BalloonStyle><text><![CDATA[
  <a href="http://www.geocaching.com"><img src="http://www.geocaching.com/images/nav/logo_sub.gif"> </a>
  <p><a href="http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?wp=$[gc_num]"><b>$[gc_num]</b></a> <b>$[gc_name]</b>

...

 

and then at the closing of that BalloonStyle, define a new pair that's referenced by all the geocaches in the KML. Tweak it to look like:

 

  $[gc_short_desc]
  $[gc_long_desc]
]]></text></BalloonStyle></Style>
<StyleMap id="geocache">
<Pair>
  <key>normal</key>
  <styleUrl>#geocache_n</styleUrl>
</Pair>
<Pair>
 <key>highlight</key>
 <styleUrl>#geocache_h</styleUrl>
</Pair>
</StyleMap>
<Folder>
  <name>Waypoints</name>

 

I've intentionally left-shifted the new hunks to make them stand out and left a few lines before and after the new stuff to show you the context for it.

Edited July 14, 2010 by robertlipe

[+Ricke 59]

Hej Walts Hunting,

 

In Google Earth, open the Side Panel, Under My Places I right mouse click on the folder with the KML file. I can then choose properties and set them as I like for all places.

[+Walts Hunting]

Thanks got that about doing a folder instead of one.

 

Any suggestions about the smart name label.