Will Google Earth see KML on different versions?

Question

Is there any difference in the KML script to allow different versions of Google Earth to see it ?

If I write

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<kml xmlns="http://earth.google.com/kml/2.1">
<Document>

</Document></kml>

How would the KML file content change if using a different Google Earth version ?

(I would like to be sure that the KML files I create are visible on currently downloadable Google Earth versions, e.g. 5 to 7.03)

I plan to use simplekml (PyPI) to generate the files. They will use GroundOverlay, NetworkLink, Region... (as created by simplekml, which I trust to do a better job than my own brain)

I tried to find any information on version changes (for Google Earth) but have been unsuccessful.

Answer 1

I think you'll be safe with any of those pretty simple, standardised elements. I'd just make it KML 2.2 (definitely supported in Google Earth 5.0 and later - back to 4.2 IIRC).

There are some elements that are "Google extensions" (in the gx: namespace) that are only supported in later versions. You can see these in the KML Reference. For example, Camera and LookAt only support <gx:ViewerOptions> in Google Earth 6.0. Using those extensions shouldn't break Google Earth (or any other KML viewer) - they'll just be ignored.