How To: Open Shapefiles from the Data & Maps CD

Procedure

How do I open shapefiles from the Data & Maps CD set?

There are 2 methods that can be used. The first method will save the files to your hard drive. If you are limited in the amount of space you have on your hard drive, use method 2.
Method 1:

a) Place the required Data & Maps CD into the CD drive.

b) Open Windows or NT Explorer.

c) View the contents on the CD.

There are several file extensions (that have the same prefix) associated with each data set.

Note: A .prj file is an ArcView projection file, not an Atlas GIS project file.

d) Copy the desired files into a folder on your hard drive.

e) Open that folder and highlight the files.

f) Right click and choose Properties. Remove the check in the read only box.

g) Close Explorer.

h) Open Atlas GIS.

i) Go to File | Open and navigate to the location of the saved files.

j) Go to Files of Type and select Shape (.shp).

k) Double click on the shapefile.

l) You will see a dialog box to create a new geo file.

m) Enter a file name and a layer name. Click ok.

Atlas will create a .agf geo file from the .shp shapefile and display it on the
screen.
Atlas will automatically link the corresponding .dbf table to the new
geo file.
Method 2:

a) Place the required Data & Maps CD into the CD drive.

b) Open Atlas GIS.

c) Go to File | Open, and navigate to the location of the files located on the CD.

d) Go to Files of Type and select Shape (.shp).

e) Select the file you want to open and click open.

f) In the New Geo File window on the first line for File Name, click the 3-dot
button.

g) Navigate to the location where you want to save the file.

h) Give the File a unique name different than the one of the shapefile, and click ok.

i) At the New Geo File window, give the file a layer name and click ok.

Atlas will create a geo file from the shapefile and will draw it on the screen.

It is not necessary to save the files to your hard drive.

Article ID:000001604

Software:

Legacy Products

Get help from ArcGIS experts

Contact technical support

Download the Esri Support App

Go to download options

Open shapefiles from the Data & Maps CD

Procedure

Discover more on this topic