KML to ArcMap Converter

Link – A little KML to CSV converter

I wrote a quick and dirty XSLT-hack to convert a KML-file to a very basic CSV-structure, which I could later import as X/Y coordinates to ArcGIS.

OK, its not really a KML to ArcGIS converter, but it will allow any ArcGIS Desktop user to import KML point files into ArcMap as a CSV file. It really hasn’t been developed yet, but there are plans to enhance the converter to support GML and lines and polygons. There has been a huge focus on ArcGIS to KML, but not much on the reverse.

24 Comments

  1. tteal says:

    im looking for a hack/tool that can convert kml file to xls/xlm and vis versa. Ive been looking for quite a while now but have yet to find anything that dose what it says. would you be able to help me in any way?

    Thnx

    thomas

  2. Dhiraj Sakumalla says:

    Hi, I am a Research Assistant at Temple University. I wrote the similar thing as a small application in VB.NET. But for some reason it does not read the kml document if the tag in the begining is present. And also how can we interpret lines and polygons from a kml file and pull it into ArcGis. Thank for taking time to read this. Hope to hear a reply soon. Thank you.

  3. Paul says:

    Very interested in any developments you make in this. I would like to see this used to place cooridnates into a CAD program like Microstation

  4. Murali says:

    need kml to shp converter

  5. Richard says:

    How about we start a campaign to convince ESRI that KML needs to be a readable format in ArcMap? And without paying more!

  6. Dave says:

    The link you provided no longer works. Is there a new link?

  7. The kml to shp issue has been tackled by Valery35 on is available as a low-cost ArcGIS extension at http://xbbster.googlepages.com/kmler

  8. Mr. Parkay says:

    Hey Guys, here is a good way convert .kml files to .shp files without paying anything. Maybe I’m slow, because it took me about 10 hours to figure this out!

    Step 1: Download the Free Version of GPS Track Maker Here: http://www.gpstm.com/
    Step 2: Load the Google Earth .kml file into GPS Track Maker then save the file in the OziExplorer .plt format.
    Step 3: Download the Free Trial/Freeware version of Oziexplorer here: http://www.oziexplorer.com/
    Step 3: Load the .plt file into OziExplorer to then Export it to .shp format. Now you can use it in Arcview!

  9. mfd says:

    Here’s another way to do it:

    1. Open up Manifold
    2. File -> Import -> Drawing -> KML File Type
    3. Right-click on the imported drawing, and then click Export.
    4. Select the .SHP extension and Manifold will export the KML to a shapefile that you can use in ArcGIS

    pretty easy, and only $245! If you buy a $100 runtime, I can write you a script to do it automatically.

  10. Ng says:

    when i tried open KML into trackmaker it says invalid file, how to open kml into trackmaker

  11. Hi fellas! I just put kml2shp in Google and found this amazing-free-simple-basic application! Take a look!

    http://www.zonums.com/kml2shp.html

  12. mrblizzard says:

    works perfectly, thanks a lot

  13. Cdp says:

    Hi there,
    The kml2shp didn´t recognize any of kml´s i have…
    some guy posted on ersi site a small script (http://arcscripts.esri.com/details.asp?dbid=14569 ), but i could´t load it to arcgis 9.2 sp1

  14. evospearhawk says:

    i was trying to load the arcscript in arcmap but i wasnt able to find the extension folder where all the arcmap extension are kept. could anybody help me point to the arcmap extension folder…thanks

  15. David says:

    thanks Ishiba Ranoli Oñajosle it´s a really amazing program………

  16. You’re welcome David, in fact, you should thank the guy who develop it. Is great, isn’t it?

  17. Antonio Almeida says:

    Hi,

    Try the following extension for ArcView 3.x:

    http://arcscripts.esri.com/details.asp?dbid=14988

  18. Lauren says:

    Hello,
    I was also having problems with the free Zonums “kml2shp” software. Fortunately, I just discovered from a colleague that there is a free ESRI kml to shp converter to be used in ArcMap Toolbox. Visit this site to download it:

    http://arcscripts.esri.com/details.asp?dbid=15603

    Be sure to get the version created by Jason Parent (because there are other versions that may not work for your purpose: one created by Srinivasa Rao that does not have a tbx file, and one created by Antonio Sobral Almeida).

    Follow the pdf Installation Guide that comes with the download. The converter script (python) assumes that ArcGIS is installed on the C drive, so if your ArcGIS is not on the C drive, you will have to edit the path in the script. Good luck.

  19. Hi, yes i have problems with the converter by Zonums, even with the new version but i consider this program as good as any converter. Actually, when i have problems transforming a KML file, is curious but the file generated by the new versión of Google Earth is the real problem. I don’t know why but a modification in GE in combination with Zonums is annoying.

    I haven’t used the Script from ESRI, but i suppossed is time to use it. My solution for the last days was to open the KML is GPSTrackMaker and then Save it as GPX file which is actually recognized by GE.

    Anyway, problems are problems are problems

  20. Gidday from Down Under Mate!

    Many thanks for this script link James, I am working with a local indigenous group, who are ace on Google Earth. We are using it to locate traditional resources etc, and then I take their data and transform it within ArcGIS for other purposes like Resource Management applications, planning etc.

    Great Blog, as always.

    Kind regards
    Duane Wilkins
    New Zealand.

  21. Amanda says:

    Thanks Lauren for the info. That script works great in 9.2!

  22. jayu07 says:

    If you have Global Mapper, just Open .kml or .kmz file, and export to shapefile. Done.