Import an ArcInfo interchange file (E00) in ArcGIS

Summary

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

Note:
The ArcInfo interchange file format (.e00) is not compatible with ArcGIS Pro. For more information, refer to ArcGIS Help: Tools that are not available in ArcGIS Pro.

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, contain spaces (underscores are permitted) or 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 ArcGIS 9.3 or later, this restriction is removed.

Warning:
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

1. ​​Open ArcMap.
2. Click the ArcToolbox icon.
3. In ArcToolbox, expand Conversion Tools.
4. Expand 'To Coverage'.
5. Double-click 'Import from E00'.
6. In the 'Input interchange file' (E00 file) entry box, click Browse. Navigate to the desired directory and select the file. Name the output dataset.

Note:
File naming restrictions outlined at the beginning of this article still apply at ArcGIS 10.x.

7. Click OK. A dialog window appears and indicates the process has completed. Click Close.
8. Click 'Add Data'and navigate to the selected directory.

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 to ArcCatalog.
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.

Note:
More than one file can be imported in a batch process.

1. Click the Batch drop-down menu. To add additional E00 files for processing, click the Add Row button.
2. Select or type a name for the new input file.
3. Type the name of the new Output dataset.
4. Repeat as needed to import additional E00 files in the same batch process.
5. When all the E00 files have been added for batch processing, click OK.

Warning:
This tool only works if ArcInfo Workstation is also installed on the computer.

• Navigate to ArcToolbox > Coverage Tools > To Coverage > Import from Interchange File. Please see the link in the Related Information section if the coverage tools are missing from ArcToolbox.
• If ArcInfo Workstation is installed on the computer, use the IMPORT command from the ArcInfo Command Line to perform this process.

Code:
Arc:  import <cover|grid> <file_name>.e00 <output_cover_grid_name>

Note:
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.

1. ​Open ArcToolbox.
2. Open Conversion Tools.
3. Open Import to Coverage.
4. Double-click 'ArcView Import from Interchange File'.
5. For the input file, navigate 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.

Note:
More than one file can be imported in a batch process.

1. Click the Batch button. To add additional E00 files for processing, click the Add Row button.
2. Select or type the name of the new input file.
3. Select or type the name of the new output dataset.
4. Repeat as needed to import additional E00 files in the same batch process.
5. When all the E00 files have been added for batch processing, click OK.