Points, better version
The simple version of plotting points on GeoYukon is somewhat limited in that you cannot associate any data (metadata) with them. But so what, and what does that mean?
The easiest way of understanding this is to try the simple version and this better version, and then compare the results.
Step 1: Gather your data
You still have to gather your data, the same as in the simple version for plotting points.
Step 2: Prepare the KML file
In this method, you prepare your data in KML format (not CSV) using a text editor (not a spreadsheet).
Copy this text into a simple text file. You can cut/paste using a text editor. This could be Notepad in Windows or even Microsoft Word in a pinch.
<kml xmlns="http://earth.google.com/kml/2.2">
<Document>
<Placemark>
<name>Point 1</name>
<description>Landfill road junction</description>
<snippet>This is Snippet One.</snippet>
<ExtendedData>
<Data name="URL"><value>http://url1.com</value></Data>
<Data name="notes"><value>further north</value></Data>
</ExtendedData>
<Point>
<coordinates>-135.14349,60.74879,0</coordinates>
</Point>
</Placemark>
<Placemark>
<name>Point 2</name>
<description>Fish Lake road junction</description>
<snippet>Snippet Two goes here.</snippet>
<ExtendedData>
<Data name="URL"><value>http://url2.com</value></Data>
<Data name="notes"><value>middle</value></Data>
</ExtendedData>
<Point>
<coordinates>-135.14004,60.74538,0</coordinates>
</Point>
</Placemark>
<Placemark>
<name>Point 3</name>
<description>Entrance to Ravens Ridge</description>
<snippet>Snippet Three this is it.</snippet>
<ExtendedData>
<Data name="URL"><value>http://url3.com</value></Data>
<Data name="notes"><value>further south</value></Data>
</ExtendedData>
<Point>
<coordinates>-135.13465,60.74444,0</coordinates>
</Point>
</Placemark>
</Document>
</kml>
Save that file with a .kml file extension. If you are using Word, ensure you save your data (File, Save as) as a plain text file. You might have to save it as .txt and then change the file name extension to .kml as a separate step.
Or you can download the KML file here: 3pts_points.kml 
. (Right-click and "Save as".)
Things to note:
- Spaces and blank lines in the file are not critical. They are there only to enhance readability.
- Each point and associated information items are between individual <Placemark> and </Placemark> tags. The actual geographical coordinates are in between the <coordinates> and </coordinates> tags: longitude first, comma, then latitude, comma, then a zero.
- You can customize name, description, snippet, Data URL, and Data notes values to anything you want. Their relevance will become clear once you have uploaded this file to GeoYukon.
Step 3: Upload the KML file to GeoYukon
The process for uploading the KML file is similar to Step 4 in the simple version: File tab, "Upload Data," browse to your KML file, and click "Upload." You won't encounter as many intervening confirmation boxes (no Table Mapping Details, no Table Record Results) but you will still have the same opportunity to change the layer name and customize the way your points appear.
Once your points appear on GeoYukon, try clicking on one of them and then on "View Additional Details." This will bring up the name, description, snippet, URL, and notes for that point that you included in your KML file.
Step 4: Go further
With some work, you could associate an online webpage or photo with each point by putting an appropriate link in the URL part of the KML file. You could then click on the point in GeoYukon and click on the URL to see that associated webpage or photo, and thus use GeoYukon as a front-end geographical interface to an information project.
You can associate other info with your points in addition to, or in place of, URL and notes. You can create just about anything you want as extended data. Just add the appropriate <Data> lines when you create your KML file using appropriate names and values. These could be something like:
- <Data name="alternateURL"><value>http://url3.com</value></Data>
- <Data name="Summary"><value>This is where we turned off the highway to take some photos.</value></Data>
- <Data name="photo"><value>http://url4.com</value></Data>
- <Data name="Population density"><value>42</value></Data>
Creating KML files by hand is cumbersome if you have many points or need to update things often. You could keep all your data (e.g., long, lat, name, description, URL, etc.) in a spreadsheet. Then write a script (brief computer program) that takes a CSV export of your spreadsheet data and generates an appropriate KML file from it. Yes, this requires a bit of programming expertise in any one of many scripting languages that can read and write simple text files.
You can load KML files that you create into the free Garmin BaseCamp software. BaseCamp will also export KML files created from groups of selected points. Exporting KML files from BaseCamp for upload to GeoYukon could easier than creating them from scratch using the method above except that:
- you may have a harder time customizing some of the metadata in BaseCamp whereas you can control it directly using the method above.
- GeoYukon sometimes has problems digesting KML files created by BaseCamp. More research required.
You can load KML files that you create into Google Earth Pro. Google Earth Pro will also create KML files. Experiment!
Next...
Plot lines on GeoYukon
TimmiT History Exploration Notebook