[Qgis-user] Google maps kml file won't open

[Alex Mandel]

On 02/25/2012 03:45 PM, Jel Coward wrote:
> Ubuntu 10.04
> QGIS 1.7.4
> 
> kml file exported from google maps
> 
> When I try opening with QGIS I get
> 
>  The layer...../Pemberton Medical Clinic area2.kml is not a valid layer and
> can not be added to the map
> 
> 
> Any thoughts from the here gathered wise folks please?
> 
> 
> I am still a complete nube.....so please accept my apols if the there is
> something obvious that I should be doing that I am not doing :)
> 
> 
> Cheers
> 
> 
> jel
> 

Often times if the kml is downloaded from Google Maps, it's not the
actual data but only a link to the real data which is hosted online.
An easy way to check is to open the kml in a text editor, it will be
quite short and obvious if the actual x,y data is in the file.

See http://sites.google.com/site/gmapstips/export-my-map-as-kml for more
information.

If this isn't the issue and the data is public and you can point us to a
copy to test that would be great.

Thanks,
Alex