This led me to discover KML (a file format and schema based on XML) – though initially developed for use with Google Earth, it is now able to be used with google maps.

And by recreating my maps using KML and various tools (see below) I now have this instead of this.

Previously, I needed to struggle with javascript and the Google Maps API to feed data from XML files.

Now it’s as simple as this:

1 – create your KML file in the format, and using the elements, described by Google

2 – upload your KML file to some server space

3 – if you use your own icons, upload them (as 32 x 32 size thumbnails) too

4 – go to Map Channels and create a free account

5 – generate your map by creating a map channel and inserting the url to your KML file

6 – Map Channels will then give you some code to paste into your web page in order to embed into it a google map based on the data in your KML file

Very easy!

And here are some tools to improve the quality of your maps:

* KML Tool: a tool for finding the KML Point co-ordinates and KML polyline co-ordinates of any given location

* Feed Validator: for validating your publicly hosted KML code

* KML Colour Converter: A downloadable tool for converting a html colour code (in format “#9E7658″) into a KML colour code (in format “7d58769e”)

Google does it again – nice and simple.