The Import/Export SHP file routines convert ESRI SHP files into Carlson GIS links and back. The Import SHP command reads database information from ESRI ArcView SHP files, and loads these SHP files into Carlson with the database information intact. You can read SHP files into Carlson and after completing all mapping convert these GIS features back into ESRI SHP files. The SHP Export command converts drawing entities and GIS links in Carlson into SHP files for input into ESRI's ArcView product.
These routines are useful GIS data collection tools since the majority of surveying and civil engineering maps are created in the AutoCAD drawing (.DWG) format and the majority of GIS produced maps are made in the ESRI shape (SHP) format. Carlson combines these two formats effortlessly and seamlessly. The GIS professional can stay with ESRI's ArcView SHP format while all field and GIS mapping can still be done in the AutoCAD drawing environment.
The Import SHP File dialog displays the Output MDB file to add data to and the source SHP file to be imported. SHP files are similar to entities in one layer in AutoCAD. You must specify the table name to store the data in the MDB database and the layer name for the entities to be created. Typically these names are the same or near equivalent as the SHP file name. Once these names are entered, the Import Polylines from SHP button becomes available. Pick this button to import the SHP files entities and database. You can also assign elevations by a specified data attribute.
ESRI ArcView creates primarily three types of SHP files: Points, Arcs and Polygons. Both Arc and Polygon SHP files are brought into Carlson as polylines in the drawing and data stored in a table in an MDB database file. Point SHP files are imported in a three step process. The first step uses the Import SHP File command to create a coordinate file (.crd) for the points in the SHP file and a corresponding table in the output MDB file for the points database. The second is to use Draw Locate Points to draw the points from the CRD file into the drawing. The third step uses Create Links to select the points in the drawing and link the database to these plotted points. Once the SHP file is selected, Carlson detects the data contents of the file and sets the dialog options for importing either polygons, arcs or points.
Pulldown Menu Location: GIS Data
Keyboard Command: import_shp
File Name: \lsp\gisprt.arx