Displaying Names on the Map using KML

Question

I am able to display polygons, circles, etc etc, using KML. Now i want to display only some Names using KML. Is this Possible ?

Answer 1

If you want to suppress displaying the label of placemarks (via KML) on the map of Google Earth then you can add a LabelStyle to your placemarks with a 0 scale (see sn_hide style in example below). If you want to suppress the label name on the map until you hover over the icon then StyleMaps are your best bet.

The first placemark in example below has its name shown in the places panel but hidden from the map using the LabelStyle. The second placemark #2 uses a StyleMap to hide the label until the user highlights or mouses over the icon in which it activates the highlight style showing the label. The third placemark #3 uses the default style that always shows the label.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<kml xmlns="http://www.opengis.net/kml/2.2">
    <Document>
        <name>Hide and show labels</name>
        <Style id="sn_hide">
            <LabelStyle>
                <scale>0</scale>
            </LabelStyle>
        </Style>
        <Style id="sh_style">
            <LabelStyle>
                <scale>1.1</scale>
            </LabelStyle>
        </Style>
        <StyleMap id="msn_hide">
            <Pair>
                <key>normal</key>
                <styleUrl>#sn_hide</styleUrl>
            </Pair>
            <Pair>
                <key>highlight</key>
                <styleUrl>#sh_style</styleUrl>
            </Pair>
        </StyleMap>

        <Placemark>
            <name>Placemark 1</name>
            <description>Label name always hidden</description>
            <styleUrl>#sn_hide</styleUrl>
            <Point>
                <coordinates>-119.232195,36.016021</coordinates>
            </Point>
        </Placemark>

        <Placemark>
            <name>Placemark 2</name>
            <description>Hover over place to show label</description>
            <styleUrl>#msn_hide</styleUrl>
            <Point>
                <coordinates>-119.2324,36.0155</coordinates>
            </Point>
        </Placemark>

        <Placemark>
            <name>Placemark 3</name>
            <description>Always showing</description>
            <Point>
                <coordinates>-119.232672,36.014837</coordinates>
            </Point>
        </Placemark>
    </Document>
</kml>