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You are here: Menu Commands > File > Export > String to ARC/Info shape files
GEOVIA Surpac

Export String to Arc/Info shapefiles

You use this function to create shapefiles (.shp, .shx, and .dbf) from a string file.

Function Name:

  • STRING TO SHAPEFILE

To run this function: Choose File > Export > String to ARC/Info shape files, or...

  • In the Function Chooser, type STRING TO SHAPEFILE, and press ENTER.

String files are converted to shapefile features in the following ways:

  • Point

    Each Point in the string file is output as a Point feature, with individual attributes stored in a record of the dBASE table.

  • Arc

    Each string is output as an Arc feature, with individual attributes stored in a record of the dBase table. Each segment of the string is output as a PolyLine of the Arc.

  • Polygon

    Each string is output as an Polygon feature, with individual attributes stored in a record of the dBase table. Each segment of the string is output as a Ring of the Polygon. The rules for Polygons described below are enforced within Surpac.

    A Polygon shapefile feature consists of a number of Rings. A Ring is closed, non-self intersecting loop. A Polygon may contain multiple outer Rings. The order of vertices (points) for a Ring indicates which side of the Ring is inside the polygon. As for Surpac, the neighborhood to the right of an observer walking along the Ring in vertex order is the neighborhood inside the polygon. All Rings must be closed and no Rings of a polygon may intersect, although the Rings may touch each other at vertices.

    For Arcs and Polygons, attributes for each feature are taken from the first point of the first segment of each string.

  • MultiPoint

    Each segment is output as a MultiPoint feature, with individual attributes stored in a record of the dBASE table. Attributes for each feature are taken from the first point of the segment.

Define the string files to convert
Location, ID range

Enter the Location and ID range of the string files to be converted.

Shape type determine by

Enter whether the shape type of a string is to be determined by a d-field or by a string range. For string files which were created from shapefiles and have a shape type d-field, this field should contain the word ` field'. For string files which do not have a shape type d-field, the range of strings which are of each shape type must be specified.

File Prefix

For each shape type to be exported, enter the file prefix from which the shape file names will be created. The names of the shapefiles which will be created are formed from the specified prefix, the string file id and the relevant extensions.

Only shapes with a specified file prefix will be exported.

String Range

The string range fields must be completed for each shape to be exported if shape type is to be determined by string range.

Complete the STRING TO SHAPEFILE form and choose Apply to display the STRING TO SHAPEFILE - ATTRIBUTES form.

D-field

The d-fields which are to be exported as attributes are displayed. Valid entries include: X, Y, Z or a d-field reference (e.g. D1). Unless Z is explicitly specified here, Z values will not be exported.

Type

The type of the field is displayed. Valid entries are: character, real or integer.

Attribute name

The name of the attribute is displayed.

Result

One shapefile consisting of a `.shp', `.shx' and `.dbf' file is created for each string file in the specified range. Each shape file will have the given prefix, the relevant id and the shapefile extensions.

For example:

String files to convert:
Location: site
ID range: 0;1

File Prefixes:
 Point.....: point
 Arc.......: arc
 Polygon...: 
 MultiPoint: multi

The following files will be created:
point0 (.shp,.shx,.dbf)
arc0 (.shp, .shx, .dbf)
multi0 (.shp, .shx, .dbf)
from site0.str

The following files will be created:
point1 (.shp,.shx,.dbf)
ar10 (.shp, .shx, .dbf)
multi1 (.shp, .shx, .dbf)
from site1.str

Warning

String 1 has intersecting segments

For a string to convert to a valid Polygon feature, it must be no-self intersecting. That is, no segment of the string is allowed to cross itself or any other segment of the same string. Each segment must be closed and not share two or more consecutive points with any other segment of the same string. If a string does not satisfy these requirements, it will not be output as a Polygon feature.

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