Introduction
This chapter explains how to import data into Geocap. Before you start importing data it is important that you have a clear overview of the main Geocap Data Types, and which project folders to use for different types of data.
The most common way to import data into a Geocap project is by right-clicking a project folder and select Import. This will give you several import options depending on your folder type.
Right-click import menu
Most datasets are imported through the #ASCII import or the #Generic import. It is important that you are familiar with these two options before you start importing data into your Geocap project. Please refer to the sub-pages in this chapter, for a more detailed description on how to import a specific dataset.
On this page:
ASCII import
The ASCII import reads data from an ASCII file into the Geocap project. ASCII import can be used for many types text data files, e.g. whether the data columns have fixed or variable width, and also whether the coordinates are in X Y or Lat Lon. When data is read into the project, it can be organized in a number of different ways. It is for example possible to tell Geocap to split the data into different dataset whenever a value in a specific file column changes. There are also options for creating project folders whenever a column value changes.
The ASCII import has the ability to read more fields than X Y Z (text or numbers). In many cases the user will notice that when importing data in Geocap, the ASCII import will appear ready and pre-set to read the data in question. For instance, when reading UKOOA data, the ASCII import will appear properly adjusted to the UKOOA format - saving the user from having to set this from scratch.
Column formats
A number of different data types can be represented as an ASCII file on column format. The word column indicates that the data is stored in columns inside the file. Let us clarify what we mean by columns with two examples. Example 1 uses variable columns while Example 2 uses fixed columns.
A file on variable column ASCII format contains separators that separate one column from the next. A separator is usually some form whitespace character(s), for example TAB.
# Header: Variable columns sample file 101491.0 6760050. 2155.130 100162.0 6760540. 2217.300 98843.0 6761020. 2194.980 97514.0 6761500. 2229.990 96195.0 6761980. 2170.360 : : : : : :
A file on fixed column ASCII format uses column numbers to separate one column from the next. The sample file in Example 2 has Line name in columns 1 through 14.
# Header: Fixed columns sample file LINE-01 1640430.70S 431309.10E 996859.12854609.4 LINE-01 5640432.20S 431254.40E 996654.42854595.4 LINE-01 9640433.80S 431239.80E 996450.62854578.1 LINE-01 10640434.20S 431236.20E 996400.32854573.7 LINE-01 14640435.70S 431222.00E 996202.42854558.5 : : : : : :
In the example above, the columns used for X and Y are, 37-46, and 47-55 respectively
ASCII menu
ASCII import menu
ASCII import is used when:
Generic import
Generic import menu
The Generic import is used to import a number of different formats, such as images, grids, VTK etc. For a complete list of import formats look in the appendix: Generic Import Formats
When browsing in a file, the Generic import should recognize the file format, if the Format option has been set to Automatic. However, sometimes you will need to set the file format in the Format option. The Generic import also lets you select a Schema and an import area of your data set. You can define this import area under the Area of Interest tab.
Generic import is used when: