Create a palette file with images as custom markers via Avenue

Summary

The script in this article shows how use images to make my own palette in ArcView.

Procedure

1. Open a new script window.
   
   
   A. Activate the Project window.
   B. Click the Scripts icon.
   C. Click New.
   
   
2. Copy the following code into the new window:
   
   

   Code:
   '-- Create a FileDialog that returns image
   '-- types that can be used as icons 
   aList = 
   FileDialog.ReturnFiles({"*.xbm","*.mcp","*.bmp","*.rs","*.nbi","*.gif","*.tif"}, 
                         {"X-Bitmap (*.xbm)","Macpaint (*.mcp)","WindowsDib (*.bmp)",
                         "SunRaster (*.rs)", "Nexpert Object Image (*.nbi)","Gif (*.gif)",
                         "Tiff (*.tif)"}, "Pick your icons to be markers",2) 
   
   '-- Exit program if alist is empty 
   If (alist.IsEmpty) Then 
     MsgBox.Error("No selection made","Exiting") 
     Return nil 
   End 
   
   '-- Make a list to place icons into 
   aListA = {} 
   
   '-- Loop to place above objects of above lists
   '-- into files and then make icons 
   For Each i in alist 
     anIcon = Icon.Make(i) 
     aListA.Insert(anIcon) 
   End 
   
   '-- Make another list 
   alist2 = {} 
   
   '-- Make a marker of the icon 
   For Each i in alistA 
     aBM = BasicMarker.Make 
     aBM.SetStyle(#BASICMARKER_STYLE_ICON) 
     aBM.SetIcon(i) 
     alist2.Add(aBM) 
   End 
   
   '-- Create symbollist 
   aSymList = SymbolList.FromList(alist2) 
   
   '-- Create a palette 
   aPalette = Palette.Make 
   aPalette.SetList(#PALETTE_LIST_MARKER,aSymList) 
   
   '-- Create file 
   aFileName = FileName.Make("$HOME").MakeTmp("marker","avp") 
   anODB = FileDialog.Put(aFileName,"*.avp","Save Marker Palette As") 
   
   '-- Exit script if user cancels file creation process 
   If (anODB.GetName.IsNull) Then 
     MsgBox.Warning("No Selection Made","Exiting") 
     Return nil 
   end 
   
   '-- Create odb object and add anODB to it 
   anODBavp = ODB.Make(anODB) 
   
   '-- Add palette to odb file and then commit it 
   anODBavp.Add(aPalette) 
   anODBavp.Commit

   
   
3. Click the Compile button.
   
   
4. Click the Run button.
   
   

   Note:
   The image file must be in one of the following formats:
   .gif 
   .mcp - MacPaint 
   .bmp - Windows bitmap 
   .rs - Sun Rasterfile 
   .tif - Tag Image File Format 
   .xbm - X Bitmap