MapInfo Professional (MiPro) Version 8 (or a later version) allows users to download a utility that will allow them to map images such as the contents of a thematic map, Map Objects such as custom territory boundaries or a path of a hurricane to Google Earth. This is a one way translation only between the two products. However, if you've convinced yourself (or your management has convinced you) that you really want the visualization tools of Google Earth, this is exactly what you need.

MapInfo Professional Google Earth Link Utility can be downloaded from the MapInfo website.The site also provides instructions on how to download a 20 day evaluation of MIPro v8.0 for customers that do not have MapInfo Professional.

Either vector or raster data within an MiPro map window can be exported (See Figure 1 below; click for larger image). The extents of the window can be exported as raster and it will comprise the viewable area that will be seen using Google Earth. Map data can also be exported as vector data. In this mode, the Link utility will also export associated tabular data.MapInfo developed the utility using KML (Keyhole Markup Language) and exports the data to KML for vector and KMZ for raster files.When executed, the file will launch Google Earth.According to MapInfo's documentation:

"When you want to export a map selection, you have can export it as a vector map into .KML format.If you try to export a selected map object as a raster, the utility ignores the selection and exports the current map view instead.You can export your map selection as a vector map using the Google Maps .kml format.When you use this format, you preserve all of the data associated with those objects and can access that metadata in Google Maps.KML is an object description language similar to GML or XML."