KML vm Generator (Mac OS X)

KML vm Generator

About the KML vm Generator:
The KML vm Generator is a simple application that will create the velocity template ¹ files you need to make your blog work with Google Earth. You will only need to run KML vm Generator application once, as after it has created its two files, you just simply copy and paste the contents into Blojsom when you set up your Blojsom theme for Google Earth.

Download:
To download the KML vm Generator for Mac OS X + source files click here v1.2.3
You'll need QuickTime Player to view the tutorials click here to download.

Installation:
After downloading you can move the KML vm Generator to your /Applications folder.
(For the purpose of the video tutorials I'll be running KML vm Generator from the Desktop)

Fast track setup:
If your a confident Blojsom user and have generated your templates KML vm Generator then you might want to check out this check list.

Stage 1 - Pick your home location

In this step, we set the datum or default location point (home) of your Geo-Blog, this also applies to any posts for which you don't specify a location: they will appear here also.

Stage 1 - KML vm Video tutorial

Stage 2 - Create your KML vm (velocity template) files

After you've saved your home location, that is, a Placemarker as a KML file, you'll convert that to your velocity template for Blojsom.

Stage 2 - KML vm Video tutorial

Stage 3 - Configuring Blojsom

Once you have your kml.vm and kml-category.vm we can show you how to get them into Blojsom.

Stage 3 - KML vm Video tutorial
Tips on Blojsom Plugin Settings for KML

Settings recap note: You add new blojsom templates called: kml2.vm and kml2-category.vm You add a new blog flavors: kml2 points to the blog template kml2.vm and kml2-category points to kml2-category.vm For the plugin chain mapping - ensure meta is at the head of the chain, and remove conditional-get from the chain

Stage 4 - How to view your blog in Google Earth

Now we have done the hard bit of configuring our Blojsom settings, we can test out our handiwork in Google Earth. We'll subscribe to our blog in Google Earth and view some of our entries to see if all is well.

Stage 4 - How to view your blog in Google Earth

You URL that you'll enter into your 'Network Link' location with in Google Earth will some thing like this:
http://blogs.rave.ac.uk/blojsom/blog/<your college login ID>/?flavor=kml2

For students eg. - http://blogs.rave.ac.uk/blojsom/blog/91234567/?flavor=kml2
For staff eg. - http://blogs.rave.ac.uk/blojsom/blog/jsmith/?flavor=kml2