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Working with Spatial Data Using SAS/GIS Software

Importing ARC/INFO Data

ARC/INFO software supports several different spatial data formats, but SAS/GIS software can only import spatial data that have been exported from ARC/INFO software in uncompressed transport format (sometimes called E00 files because the transport files have the extension .e00 by default). If you do not know whether a file is compressed, try to read it with a host editor. If you can read the file, it is not compressed.

To import spatial data in uncompressed ARC/INFO format using the GIS Spatial Data Importing window:

  1. Select ARC using the Import Type pull-down control.

    The title of the file name field in the Input area changes to ARC/INFO Coverage export file name.

  2. Specify the path to the desired ARC/INFO file, either by typing the path in the file name field or by using the pull-out control to display a file requestor window, and then choosing the file from that window.

    By default, SAS/GIS expects ARC/INFO files to have an extension of .e00.

  3. SAS/GIS allocates the SAS fileref ARCIN to the import path you specified in the file name field. If you allocate the fileref ARCIN to the desired file before beginning the import process, the file name and path will appear in the file name field automatically.

  4. Modify the destination information for the catalog and the spatial data sets, if needed. See The SASHELP.GISIMP Data Set for more information.

  5. Modify the default layers and composites, if needed. See Common Importing Procedures for more information.

  6. Select [Import] to import the data. When the import process is complete, a message is displayed in the 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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