Importing Spatial Data

The GIS Spatial Data Importing Window

The GIS Spatial Data Importing window provides an interactive facility for importing spatial data from other formats into SAS/GIS spatial databases. You use the GIS Spatial Data Importing window to specify the type of spatial data to import. To open the GIS Spatial Data Importing window, select File Import from the GIS Map window's menu bar, or select Import from the map pop-up menu when no map is displayed.

GIS Spatial Data Importing Window

[GIS Spatial Data Importing Window]

Elements of the Importing Window

The GIS Spatial Data Importing window is divided into the following areas:

Import Type
Input
Output
command buttons

The Import Type Area

You use the Import Type field to specify the type of data you want to import. Click the arrow to the right of the Import Type field to display a list of available data types. Select a data type from this list to display it in the field.

The Input Area

You use the Input area of the window to specify the location of the spatial data files that you want to import. Additional information about each type of data is presented later in this chapter.

The Input area contains the following three elements:

A list, which can contain the names of variables you can select as ID variables or LAYER variables. ID variables apply only to SASGRAPH and GENPOLY import types. LAYER variables apply only to GENLINE and GENPOINT import types.
A filename field, which displays the name of the spatial data file. You can either type the name in the field, or click the arrow to display the Open window and then select the file.

Note: If you are importing an external file, the arrow opens the Open window. However, if the import type is SASGRAPH or generic (SAS data set), the Select a Member window appears so that you can select a SAS data set.
An Other Files button, which allows you to select other files that are associated with the main spatial data file.

Note: The Other Files button usually applies only to the TIGER, MAPINFO, and DYNAMAP import types. Other data types might not have any additional spatial data files.

The Output Area

The Output area of the window contains the following two sections:

Map Entries

You specify the storage location of the spatial database in this area.

In the Library field, you specify a name for the library that you want to contain the catalog and its entries. You can type the name of an existing library in the field, use the drop-down menu to select an existing libref, or use the pull-out menu to assign a new libref.

In the Catalog field, you specify a name for the SAS catalog that you want to contain the spatial database entries. You can type the name of a new catalog to be created, type the name of an existing catalog, or use the drop-down menu to select an existing catalog.

In the Name field, you specify a name for the GIS map. By default, the Name field contains the name of the spatial data import type, for example, TIGER, ARC, DXF, and so on. You can supply your own GIS map name. This name is also used for the coverage entry and as the base name of the polygonal index data set by using the first three letters of the name, and then by adding up to the first five letters of the layer name.

In the Action field, you select options regarding the catalog entries. The drop-down menu to the right of the field contains the following options:

CREATE: creates new catalog entries.
REPLACE: overwrites existing catalog entries. REPLACE will create new catalog entries if no entries exist for it to overwrite.
UPDATE: updates existing catalog entries.

Spatial Data Sets

In this area, you specify the name of the SAS library in which the chains, nodes, details, and polygonal index data sets are stored along with the base name for the chains, nodes, and details data sets and spatial entry.

In the Library field, you specify a name for the library that you want to contain the data sets. You can type the name of an existing library in the field, use the drop-down menu to select an existing libref, or use the pull-out menu to assign a new libref.

In the Name field, you specify a base name for the data sets. The chains, nodes, and details data set names are formed by adding a C, N, or D, respectively, to this base name. The base name is also used as the name for the spatial entry in the catalog.

In the Action field, you select options regarding the data sets. The drop-down menu to the right of the field contains the following options:

CREATE: creates new data sets.
REPLACE: overwrites existing data sets. REPLACE creates new data sets if no data sets exist for it to overwrite.
APPEND: appends to existing data sets.

Command Buttons

The command buttons appear in a row along the lower edge of the GIS Spatial Data Importing window. You use these buttons to perform actions on your data sets, open the SAS/GIS online help, or close the window. The following list describes the different functions of the command buttons:

Import: starts the importing process, provided that all required information has been supplied.
Modify Composites: opens a window to view and modify the default composites that are created during the import.
Modify Layers: opens a window to view and modify the default layer definitions that are created during the import.
Close: closes the GIS Spatial Data Importing window and returns to the GIS Map window with the imported map displayed.
Cancel: closes the GIS Spatial Data Importing window. If a map was imported, it is not displayed in the GIS Map window.
Help: opens the online Help facility for the GIS Spatial Data Importing window. The Help provides details on the steps for importing the corresponding type of spatial data.

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