How To: Convert grid colormap file ( .clr ) into an ArcView scheme

Summary

Since ArcView Spatial Analyst does not apply colormap files (.clr) to grid themes, you can use the following script to create a new legend classification scheme based on a colormap file. The new scheme will be available in the grid theme's legend editor.

Procedure

1. Make a backup copy of ..\esri\av_gis30\arcview\etc\nc_ramps.odb file.
   
   

   Note:
   This script modifies the nc_ramps.odb file. You can reset the legend schemes by replacing the new file with the original.

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

   Code:
   '-- This script will read a grid colormap (.clr) file and
   '-- create a new scheme out of it.  After restarting ArcView,
   '-- the new scheme can be applied to the grid in the legend editor.
   '
   ' Warning: This script will modify the default color schemes for ArcView.
   '          Make a backup copy of $AVHOME/etc/nc_ramps.odb before running
   '          this script.
   
   NewScheme = SymbolList.Make
   
   rgb_name = FileDialog.Show("*.clr", "Grid .clr files", ".clr to Scheme")
   if (rgb_name = nil) then exit end
   
   rgb_file = LineFile.Make(rgb_name, #FILE_PERM_READ)
   num_syms = rgb_file.GetSize
   for each s in 1..num_Syms
     buf = rgb_file.ReadElt
     if (buf = nil) then
       continue
     elseif(buf.contains("#")) then
       continue
     elseif(buf = "") then 
       continue 
     else
       if(buf.contains(",")) then
         atoken = ","
       else
         atoken = " "        
       end    
       tokens = buf.AsTokens(atoken)    
       r = tokens.Get(1).AsNumber
       g = tokens.Get(2).AsNumber
       b = tokens.Get(3).AsNumber
       nc = Color.Make
       nc.SetRGBList({r,g,b})
       NewScheme.Add(nc)
     end
   end
   rgb_file.close
   
   NewSchemeName = Msgbox.Input("Enter a Name for your new Scheme:",
   "Add a Scheme","New Name")
   NewScheme.SetName(NewSchemeName)
   Schemes = ODB.Open("$AVHOME/etc/nc_ramps.odb".AsFileName)
   Schemes.Add(NewScheme)
   Schemes.Commit
   
   msgbox.info("Please restart ArcView for this new scheme to be" +
   " recognized.","Restart ArcView")
   

   
   
4. Click the
   
   button to compile the script.
5. Click the
   
   button to run the script.