Introduction
This free Google Maps™ tutorial has been produced by White Rock Solutions as part of a series of complete and comprehensive step by step guides to using Google Maps™ to add a searchable interactive Google™ location map to your web site.
Overview : View Custom Google Maps™ in Google™ Earth
After signing in to Google™ with your Google™ account you can download your custom Google™ Map as a KML file. THe KML file can be opened and viewed with Google™ Earth.
Part 1 – Pre-Requisites for Using My Maps
Part 2 – View a Custom Google™ Map - “Created by me” in Google™ Earth
Pre-Requisites for Using My Maps.
1.1 – Google™ Account
To use the My Maps feature of Google Maps™ you will need an existing Google™ account. Alternatively, you can create a new Google™ account.
1.2 - Sign in to Google Maps™ with your Google™ Account
(a) Open the Google Maps™ website in your web browser.
(b) Click the Sign in link in the top right hand corner of the page to sign in to Google™ with your Google™ account.
(c) Enter your Google™ account Email and Password details and click the 
button.
View a Custom Google™ Map - “Created by me” in Google™ Earth
If not already signed in, sign in to Google™ with your Google™ Account. Open the Google Maps™ website in your web browser and select the My Maps <tab>.
(a) In the “Created by me” list of maps, ensure the Map you would like to view in Google™ Earth is selected (
). If not, click using your left mouse button the check box () to the left of the Map title in the list to select the Map.
(b) To view the currently displayed custom map in Google™ Earth, click “View in Google Earth” above the top right hand corner of the map.
(c) Google Maps™ generates a kml file for the custom map that will need to be downloaded to your PC. Depending on your web browser settings you may be prompted to “Save” or “Open” the file. Click “Open” or “Open with” to download the kml file and automatically launch Google™ Earth.
Important Note
To use this feature you will first need to download and install Google™ Earth from
http://earth.google.com/
(d) The Google™ Earth application will open and automatically load the downloaded kml file. Click the 
button to automatically zoom in and “fly” in turn to the location of each of the placemarks, lines and shapes on your custom Google™ Map.
(e) Use the Google™ Earth navigation and zoom controls to zoom in to view the custom map in more detail.
(f) To open an individual placemark, line or shape info window, click the hyperlinked title of the respective placemark, line or shape in the Places section to the left of the map.
Notes
- If the Google™ Earth navigation and zoom controls are not visible, hover the mouse cursor over the top right hand corner of the map to display the controls.
- To "hide" a placemark, line or shape, click the check box () to the left of the respective hyperlinked title and remove the tick (
) . To "re-display" a placemark, line or shape that has previously been hidden, click the check box () to the left of the respective hyperlinked title and re-instate the tick () .