Description
Some interchange files may not import properly. This article recommends procedures to help ensure interchange files import successfully.
Cause
Improper handling of the files.
Solution or Workaround
- Exporting files: Use compression NONE in PC ARC/INFO or Workstation ArcInfo when creating the interchange files.
- Transferring files from Windows to a UNIX:
IBM: doswrite
HP: dos2ux
SGI: tounix
Solaris: dos2unix
True64: dos2unix
Ultrix: dos2ult
If your system does not offer such command, you may use one of the following methods:
tr command:
tr -d '\015\032' < dosfile.txt > unixfile.txt
nawk command:
nawk '{ sub("\r$", ""); print }' dosfile.txt > unixfile.txt
Perl language:
perl -p -e 's/\r$//' < dosfile.txt > unixfile.txt
Check with your system administrator for further help.
- If you use FTP to transfer interchange files, make sure you use ASCII mode.
- If you don't use FTP, you need to use a DOS to UNIX utility before attempting to import the files.
DOS and Windows text files contain invisible carriage return and line feed characters where the Enter key was pressed (either end of a line or end of a paragraph). UNIX text files contain only line feed characters.
The carriage return characters in DOS or Windows will appear as a ^M when the text file is loaded in a UNIX editor. Your UNIX system may offer a shell command to strip the ^M:
- Transferring files from UNIX to Windows:
- If you use FTP to transfer interchange files, make sure you use ASCII mode.
- If you don't use FTP, you need to use a UNIX to DOS conversion utility before transferring the files.
DOS and Windows text files contain invisible carriage return and line feed characters where the Enter key was pressed (either end of a line or end of a paragraph). UNIX text files contain only line feed characters.
The absence of carriage return characters in UNIX files may cause the text to wrap in a single line when viweing in a DOS or Windows editor (such as Notepad). Your UNIX system may offer a shell command to add the carriage return:
IBM: dosread
HP: ux2dos
SGI: todos
Solaris: unix2dos
True64: unix2dos
Ultrix: ult2dos
If your system does not offer such command, you may use one of the following methods:
nawk command:
nawk '{ sub("$", "\r"); print }' unixfile.txt > dosfile.txt
Perl language:
perl -p -e 's/$/\r/' < unixfile.txt > dosfile.txt
Check with your system administrator for further help.
Note:
If you are on a Windows platform and don't have access to a UNIX machine, click the link below under Related Information.