Importing Spatial Data

Importing DXF Data

Drawing Interchange File (DXF) files are typically output from CAD systems. DXF files often contain only lines and points. If you want to create polygons in the imported SAS/GIS map, then you must ensure that the boundary lines for the closed areas in the DXF file are topologically correct. Although the lines might appear to form a closed polygon in the CAD system, the polygon creation process will fail if the end point of one boundary line is not the same as the beginning point of the next line.

The SAS/GIS import process does not support DXF symbols or blocks. If parts of the imported drawing do not appear as expected, then examine the source of the DXF file. If it contains AutoCAD blocks, then the data provider can explode these blocks into separate elements and then export a new DXF file.

To import spatial data in DXF format using the GIS Spatial Data Importing window, complete the following steps:

Select DXF from the Import Type drop-down menu.

The title of the filename field in the Input area changes to DXF filename.
Specify the path to the desired DXF file, either by typing the path in the filename field, or by clicking the arrow to display an Open window and then selecting the file from that window.

SAS/GIS allocates the SAS fileref DXFIN to the import path that you specified in the filename field. If you allocate the fileref DXFIN to the desired file before beginning the import process, the filename and path appear in the filename field automatically.
Modify the destination information for the catalog and the spatial data sets, if needed.
Modify the default layers and composites, if needed. See Defining Composites in Imported Data and Defining Layers in Imported Data for more information.
Click Import to import the data. When the import process is complete, a message is displayed in the window message bar to indicate whether the import was successful. You can proceed with another import or close the window to display the newly imported map.

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