VrOne
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ON-LINE REFERENCE DOCUMENTATION CARDINAL SYSTEMS, LLC 386-439-2525 |
SHAPE OUT (ShpOut)
Type: Translator
Translates VrOne file(s) to ArcView Shapefile format.
The Shapefile format is used by ArcView GIS software sold by ESRI corporation. At the time of this writing, a free Shapefile viewer named ArcExplorer was available for download at the ESRI web site at the following Location.
This description of the shapefile format is taken from ESRI documentation:
A shapefile stores nontopological geometry and attribute information for the spatial features in a data set. The geometry for a feature is stored as a shape comprising a set of vector coordinates. Because shapefiles do not have the processing overhead of a topological data structure, they have advantages over other data sources such as faster drawing speed and edit ability. Shapefiles handle single features that overlap or that are noncontiguous. They also typically require less disk space and are easier to read and write. Shapefiles can support point, line, and area features. Area features are represented as closed loop, double-digitized polygons. Attributes are held in a dBASE® format file. Each attribute record has a one-to-one relationship with the associated shape record
A
shapefile consist of one main file, one index file, and one dBASE table file.
All file names adhere to the 8.3 naming convention. The main file, the index
file, and the dBASE file have the same prefix. The prefix must start with an
alphanumeric character (a–Z, 0–9), followed by zero or up to seven characters
(a–Z, 0–9, _, -). The suffix for the main file is .shp. The suffix for the
index file is .shx. The suffix for the dBASE table is .dbf. NOTE: The 8
character limit on filenames has been removed, and ShpOut supports the longer
filenames.
Example:
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Main file: |
counties.shp |
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Index file: |
counties.shx |
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dBASE table: |
counties.dbf |
Shapefiles may only contain one feature per file. This means that points and lines must be translated into separate files. This also means that the file containing lines will have either all polylines or all polygons (closed areas), but not both. You can create up to four separate files during one translation (these are referred to as Themes in most Shapefile viewers). You may specify a postfix for each file, and also the contents and dimension (2D or 3D) of each file. VrOne symbols will be translated into the point shapefile. VrOne lines will be translated into the polyline and polygon shapefile. VrOne text entities may be translated into a polylines file and represented as 2 point lines.
Example:
INPUT PARAMETERS
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Shape base file name: |
bnd5533 |
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Points postfix: |
pt |
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Polylines postfix: |
ln |
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Text lines postfix: |
tx |
OUTPUT FILES
bnd5533pt.shp
bnd5533pt.shx
bnd5533pt.dbf
bnd5533ln.shp
bnd5533ln.shx
bnd5533ln.dbf
bnd5533tx.shp
bnd5533tx.shx
bnd5533tx.dbf
The attributes assigned to entities in the shapefile may be customized using the cross-reference tables. The translator will try to assign default values so a quick translation can be accomplished without editing the cross-reference tables.
The user may define the field names and types used to hold entity attributes in the shapefile. The fields are taken from the following VrOne attributes; Layer, Graphic Pointer (Line Font/Symbol Name), Non-Graphic Pointer, and Feature Code.
Layer numbers in VrOne may be cross-referenced to attributes names in the shapefile.
Line font names in VrOne may be cross-referenced to attribute names in the shapefile.
Symbol names in VrOne may be cross-referenced to attribute names in the shapefile.
NOTE: Only entities that are on layers contained in the
Layer Cross Reference table will be considered for translation.
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Shape Out
Load Parameters
Loads a previously recorded Shape Out (.sho) parameter file.
Record Parameters
Records current translation parameters to a Shape Out (.sho) parameter file.
Init Parameters
Initializes translation parameters to default values. NOTE: Current translation parameters will be lost.
Edit Parameters
Allows editing of general translation parameters.
Translate each workspace into a separate shape file?
If set to Yes, will write a separate shapefile for each open workspace. The shapefile filename prefixes will be the same as the workspace filename. The theme postfixes will still be appended to each filename.
Shape base file name
The main shapefile name that translated data will be written to. The main shapefile will contain a .shp extension. The shapefile index file will use this name with an .shx extension. The shapefile dBASE file will use this name with an .dbf extension. If any of the shape files exists, they will be overwritten.
Workspaces to consider
When translating VrOne data to a shapefile this parameter defines the workspaces to use. Options are “Current only” or “All open”.
Theme 1-4
Theme postfix
This postfix will be added to the Shape base file name when creating the shape file for this theme.
Search layers
A layer number line that determines what layers are used for this theme. If left blank all layers are considered.
Include all open and closed lines
If this theme contains polylines or polygons, this determines if all lines are written out or only those that match the content type. For example, if the theme content is polylines, then normally onlu open lines are written. If this box is checked, then all closed line will also be written to the polylines file. On the other hand, if the content is polygons, then normally only closed lines are written out. If this box is checked, then all open lines will also be written to the polygons file.
Dimension
This parameter determines the dimension to use for this theme. Options are:
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2D |
2-dimension shape point file. |
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3D |
3-dimension shape point file. |
NOTE: The free ArcExplorer shapefile viewer does not display elevations when viewing 3D files.
Theme contents
Defines how lines will be translated to the shapefile.
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None |
This theme will not be used |
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Points |
This theme contains points. VrOne symbols will be written to this file. |
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Polyline |
This theme contains polylines. By default only open lines will be written to this file. The “Include all open and closed lines” option can be used to override this. |
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Polygon |
This theme contains polygons. By default only closed lines will be written to this file. The “Include all open and closed lines” option can be used to override this, in which case lines that are open in VrOne will have a segment added from the last point to the first point in the shapefile. |
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Text Lines |
This theme contains 2 point polylines representing text entities. Each VrOne text entity is translated as a 2 point line passing horizontally through the center of the text label. |
Edit Vr Feature Names
Allows editing of feature name fields that correspond to VrOne entity attributes. Layer, Graphic Pointer (Line Font/Symbol Name), Non-Graphic Pointer, and Feature code attributes may all be mapped to feature attributes in the shapefile database. For instance, if the VrOne Layer attribute is mapped to a shapefile feature named "LAYER", then the shapefile database will contain a LAYER field for each entity, and it will be filled with the value specified in the Layer cross-reference.
VrOne Attribute
This list box displays the VrOne attributes that can be cross-referenced to shapefile feature fields. Clicking an entry will copy the settings to the Shape File Feature fields where they may be changed. Always press the “Change” button after completing any edits.
Type
Defines the type of shapefile database field used for the selected VrOne attribute. This may be Numeric or Character.
Name
Defines the name of the shapefile database field used for the selected VrOne attribute. Any name longer than 10 characters will be truncated.
Length
Defines the maximum length of the field. A maximum value of 19 is allowed for numeric fields, and 255 for character fields. Don't specify a larger length than needed, as this affects the size of the .dbf output file.
Use Angle Conversions
If this is on and the field type if Float, then the attribute will be treated as a rotation angle and converted according to the Angle settings below. If your viewer supports the display of symbols with rotations, then you may need to experiment with the angle conversion settings to get the correct settings to match the rotation of symbols in VrOne.
Angle Units
Defines the output units when converting attributes to angles. This can be Degrees or Radians. Only used if “Use Angle Conversions” is on.
Angle Direction
Defines the output angle direction when converting attributes to angles. This can be CW (clockwise) or CCW (counter-clockwise). Only used if “Use Angle Conversions” is on.
Angle Start
Defines the output angle starting direction. This can be North, East, South, or West. Only used if “Use Angle Conversions” is on.
Cross Reference Layers
This dialog defines the settings for the cross-referencing of VrOne layer numbers attribute values in the shapefile database. The attribute field name for Layers is defined in the Edit Feature Names dialog.
An easy way to define this table is supplied by using the “Add Layers” option. This scans the current VrOne file(s) and creates a layer cross-reference entry for each layer used. NOTE: If layer names have been defined in VrOne then those layer names will be used in the table. If a layer name has not been defined in VrOne then the layer number will be used with the word “Layer” before the number.
VrOne Layer
This parameter specifies the VrOne input layer.
Feature Value
Value to put in the Layer feature field of the shapefile database.
Layer on
This parameter specifies if the current VrOne Layer will be translated or not.
Cross Reference Line Fonts
This dialog defines the settings for the cross-referencing of VrOne line fonts to attribute values in the shapefile database. The attribute field name for Line Fonts (also known as Graphic Pointer) is defined in the Edit Feature Names dialog.
VrOne Line Fonts
This list box displays the VrOne line font names for the current VrOne symbol file. Clicking an entry will copy the settings to the Shape FIle Feature fields where they may be changed.
Feature Value
Defines the value to be placed in the line font graphics pointer attribute field for each occurrence of this line font.
Cross Reference Symbols
This dialog defines the settings for the cross-referencing of VrOne line fonts to attribute values in the shapefile database. The attribute field name for Line Fonts (also known as Graphic Pointer) is defined in the Edit Feature Names dialog.
VrOne Symbols
This list box displays the VrOne line font names for the current VrOne symbol file. Clicking an entry will copy the settings to the Shape FIle Feature fields where they may be changed.
Feature Value
Defines the value to be placed in the symbol graphics pointer attribute field for each occurrence of this symbol.
Add Layers
Scans open VrOne file(s) and copies the layers used to the layer cross-reference table. “Cross Reference Layers" may be used to cross reference VrOne layer numbers to shapefile attribute values. If layer names have been defined in VrOne then those layer names will be used in the table. If a layer name has not been defined in VrOne then the layer number will be used with the word “Layer” before the number.
Quick Translation
The following may be done to translate VrOne file(s) to a DXF file in the fewest possible steps. The result will be a translation in which all lines will be translated as solid. Symbols will be translated as blocks and text labels will be translated with the proper text font styles.
- Init Parameters
- Define the “Shape base file name”, and the "Theme Postfix" setting for points and lines in “Edit Parameters”
- Add Layers to Layer Cross Reference Table
- Translate