KML Screen Overlay

AppSheet Tips & Tricks
1

In column types like Address, LatLong, XY we can add an Optional Url for KML File.

This can be used also for Screen Overlay. You know the Google Logo in Map View: This is a Screen Overlay.

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So why don’t use your own Logo?
(Note: No, we can NOT overlap the Google Logo with our own branding )
Screen Overlay is an Image that will not move, when you move the map.

At first here are some Documentations:
Screen Overlay
KML Tutorial
KML Reference

We can do funny things:

Logo / Info / Legend

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Animated GIF

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We can even use a Google Drawing as the Image Source.
This means: If you change the Google Drawing, it will change the KML Screen Overlay.
(This is not working with Animated GIF)

The KML File should look like this:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<kml xmlns="http://www.opengis.net/kml/2.2" xmlns:gx="http://www.google.com/kml/ext/2.2" xmlns:kml="http://www.opengis.net/kml/2.2" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
<ScreenOverlay>
	<name>My_Screen_Overlay</name>
	<Icon>
		<href>URL_To_The_Image</href>
	</Icon>
	<overlayXY x="0" y="1" xunits="fraction" yunits="fraction"/>
	<screenXY x="0" y="1" xunits="fraction" yunits="fraction"/>
	<rotationXY x="0" y="0" xunits="fraction" yunits="fraction"/>
	<size x="200" y="200" xunits="pixels" yunits="pixels"/>
</ScreenOverlay>
</kml>

Please read the Documentation above to learn more about overlayXY, screenXY, rotationXY and size.
You can download also a KML Samples File to study.

Here is a Demo Video:
https://www.loom.com/share/c4d07c9541e04f9cb74a2b225724b4c1?sid=bd1d289d-994d-4e30-97be-77652258c5b0

4 Likes
2

If we could use expressions in “Optional Url for KML File”, we could use different Screen Overlays.
For example: When a user added 10 Pins, the Map will not allow any more adds, and a Screen Overlay says: “Thank you - no you can have a beer”.

3 Likes
3

Fabian:

This means: If you change the Google Drawing, it will change the KML Screen Overlay.

Awesome! Great find, @Fabian!

1 Like
4

Very cool!
I love the legend idea!

1 Like