HowTo: Import an ArcInfo interchange file (E00) in ArcGIS

Article ID:	21052
Software:	ArcGIS - ArcEditor 8.2, 8.3, 9.0, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3 ArcGIS - ArcInfo 8.2, 8.3, 9.0, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3 ArcGIS - ArcView 8.2, 8.3, 9.0, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3
Platforms:	N/A

Summary

Instructions provided describe how to import an ArcInfo Interchange file, .e00, into a coverage or grid.

Read the following important information before proceeding:

- The input E00 file cannot be placed in a directory that has a space in the name or in the path to the directory.
- The output coverage or grid cannot be written to a directory that has a space in the name or in the path to the directory.
- The output coverage or grid name cannot be over 13 characters long.
- The output coverage or grid name cannot contain spaces. Underscores are permitted.
- The output coverage or grid name cannot contain special characters; for example, #, @, %.
- The coverage name can be the same as the original E00 file, but this is not required.
- There is no extension for the coverage name. For example, if the E00 file is named 'parcels.e00', the output coverage can be named 'parcels' with no extension.
- The output coverage name is in lower case.
- At ArcGIS 9.2 and earlier versions, folder names in the path to input or output cannot be over 8 characters. At version 9.3, this restriction is removed, so folder names can be over 8 characters long.

If the E00 file is zipped, and being extracted with WinZip, see the link in the Related Information section below for information on how to fix WinZip and avoid corrupting the data during the extraction process.

Procedure

ArcGIS 9.x - All ArcGIS licenses
1. Start ArcCatalog.
2. Navigate to Tools > Customize > Toolbars tab.
3. Check the box for the ArcView 8.x Tools toolbar and click Close.
4. Dock the Conversion Tools toolbar.
5. Click the Conversion Tools drop-down menu.
6. Select Import from Interchange File.
7. For the Input file, navigate to the directory location of the E00 file to be imported, and select the E00 file.
8. Specify a name and location for the output dataset. -show me-

More than one file can be imported in a Batch process. Click on the Batch button. To add additional E00 files for processing, click on the Add Row button. -show me-

Select a new Input file: and a new Output dataset: name. Repeat as needed to import additional E00 files in the same Batch process. When all the E00 files have been added for Batch processing, click OK.
ArcGIS 9.x ArcGIS - ArcInfo ONLY
1. Navigate to ArcToolBox > Coverage Tools > To Coverage > Import from Interchange File.
2. Add the Coverage Tools to ArcToolBox. See the link in the Related Information section, if the Coverage Tools are missing from ArcToolBox.

To determine if ArcInfo Workstation is installed on the computer, navigate to Start > Programs > ArcGIS. If the item 'ArcInfo Workstation' is not listed, the software must be installed to use this import method.
If ArcInfo Workstation is installed on the computer, use the IMPORT command from the ArcInfo Command Line to perform this process.
```
Arc:  import <cover|grid> <file_name>.e00 <output_cover_grid_name>
```
To determine if ArcInfo Workstation is installed on the computer, go to Start > Programs > ArcGIS. If the item 'ArcInfo Workstation' is not listed, the software must be installed to use this import method.
ArcGIS 8.x - All ArcGIS licenses
1. Open ArcToolbox.
2. Open Conversion Tools.
3. Open Import to Coverage.
4. Double-click 'ArcView Import from Interchange File'.
5. Navigate, for the Input file, to the directory location of the E00 file to be imported, and select the E00 file.
6. Specify a name and location for the output dataset. -show me-

More than one file can be imported in a Batch process. Click on the Batch button. To add additional E00 files for processing, click on the Add Row button. -show me-

Select a new Input file: and a new Output dataset: name. Repeat as needed to import additional E00 files in the same Batch process. When all the E00 files have been added for Batch processing, click OK.

Related Information

Fix WinZip configuration and avoid data corruption
{WARN}The issue described in this article can affect all types of GIS data and use of the data in any GIS application.{/WARN}Instructions provided describe how to fix WinZip configuration and avoid data corruption. Data may be corrupted, if the da...
After installing ArcGIS - ArcInfo 9.x the Coverage Tools are missing from ArcToolBox
After installing ArcGIS - ArcInfo 9.x, the Coverage Tools Toolbox is missing from ArcToolBox. {NOTE}To add the Coverage Tools to ArcToolBox, ArcInfo Workstation must be installed on the computer, in addition to ArcGIS Desktop.{/NOTE}

Created: 11/29/2001
Last Modified: 9/12/2008