Share and Exchange Tactical Maps: MilX, KML, NVG
Hand off your work to whoever needs it next. MilX is map.army's native exchange format and the primary route for sharing tactical situations with other planners and systems. KML opens the door to Google Earth and many GIS tools, and NVG support brings interoperability with NATO partners. One project, many destinations.
Which format for which system
| You need to | Use | What you get | What is lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keep your work, or give it to another map.army user | MilX (.milxlyz) — export a layer | full fidelity: every symbol, modifier, layer setting and safety distance zone | nothing |
| Let others view or edit online | Share link — create a share | the MilX layers behind a link | image and vector layers |
| Exchange with NATO C2 systems | NVG (ADatP-4778) — NVG | symbols and graphics with their codes and modifiers | some styling and app-specific data, such as safety distance zones — see NVG interoperability |
| Show the situation in Google Earth or a GIS | KML / KMZ — KML export | drawn symbols and graphics for an overview | the military meaning: it is a drawing, not symbology |
| Bring in GIS data, tracks or routes | KML, GPX, GeoJSON, SHP — import a layer | a vector layer you can convert to MilX | styling, depending on the source |
| Brief, print or attach to an order | PDF or image — create an export | exactly what you see, at a chosen scale | editability |
| A georeferenced picture for a GIS | image export with georeference files — create an export | an image that lands in the right place | editability |