Does anyone have any experience with ISGS GIS data?

[bmonk]

Hello,
I am a complete map3d n00b. That being said, on to my question. I have downloaded the free e00 files from ISGS's (Illinois State Geological Survey) website, but when I import them into Map, most of them don't have any text. For example, I DL'd the highway file, and it shows the highways fine, but there is no attributes, or tags, nothing, which makes it difficult to identify the highways.

I was wondering if any of you had experienced this same sort of problem, and if so what did you do to fix it?

Thanks in advance

Brian

[gisdude]

those .e00 files are ArcInfo Interchange files. they are the old(but still out there) file types.

If you have map, and have kept the Object Data(when you did your import), you can label the attributes by doing an attachment(of the original) and querying in what attributes you need. it's kinda funky, but the only way to go at the moment.

[bmonk]

But the original data that I imported from the e00 files doesn't even contain text. So when I run a query, it doesn't have anything to bring over from the attachment. This is the problem I'm having.

So, if e00 files are the old files, what are the new files, and where can I find em?

Thanks

B

[mohobrien]

I'm using Map2000i and the only trick? I use is to make an object data table having fields that have the same name as the fields in the dbf file. First, I change the e00 files into shp, shx and dbf files using the free utility import71 . I understand acad can handle e00 files directly now. Then I make sure to select the option to map data elements to object data. Works for me.

[bmonk]

Ok, from what i can tell, when I import these e00 files, and the dialogue box pops up, there is only one layer...the line layer...no text layers. So now my questions is this...where can I find GIS info that contains the layers that I need...linework, text, polys. I have been looking for free data, but if there is a site to get complete data, and it costs money, thats ok too.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

B

[jim.dahl]

My curiousity has been getting to me on this one so I downloaded the Illinois Interstates and used Import71 which I always use to convert, good advice mohobrien. From there it was a quick import to Cad as a coverage. It took just a few minutes and data was present. So my guess is the INFO folder got separated from the ARC folder. For coverages, they need to be together and don't mix with other coverages because it is looking for the INFO folder.

It would help if you gave a link or posted the E00 file to be sure.

regards,
Jim

[bmonk]

Ok, like in my original post, I am a Map n00b.

-What is "import71"?

Anyway a little background info on what I'm using here...I currently have Autocad 2006 (vanilla)...I ordered Map 3d 2006, but its not here yet...however I am using a trial version of Map 3d 2007, to get my feet wet, while I'm waiting.

Here are the steps in which I was taking to get the info...

1. Clicked on the interstate data icon from the ISGS website...which brings up a web page with a bunch of text...then I clicked File>Save page as...>and stuck the e00 file in a folder on my C: drive.

2. Open AutoCAD map>map pulldown>tools>import (this is in the classic view)...select e00 file from step 1, select a coord system, and click ok. This brings in all the linework but no text.

This is as far as I've gone, basically because I know no other way.

I appreciate your guys' input on all of this so far, thank you

**pulling hair out**

B

[bmonk]

Oh, and here is the link I used...


http://www.isgs.uiuc.edu/nsdihome/browse/statewide/intstate.e00

[gisdude]

i just downloaded that .e00 file and converted to .dwg. there is no attribute data that comes with it. there are 4 tables:1.ilinst.att(8records) 2.ilinst.doc(1 record of the person who digitized this) 3.il.inst.nar(a narrative that explains the process)4. ilinst.ref(the reference DLG that it was digitized from)

[gisdude]

i downloaded some better data.
http://www.isgs.uiuc.edu/nsdihome/webdocs/st-admin.html

converted this .e00 to a shape and then got the attributes connected.

i uploaded it. i put the anno on as well.

good luck

[bmonk]

The dwg you uploaded is exaclty what Im looking for, the text isnt perfect, but a thousand times better than having to create it from scratch. However, the link you provided saying that you got better data from, appears to be the same link I posted. I dont know if this was just a mistake, or what.

But, you said you converted the e00 file to a shp file, ok, how exactly do you do this?

Thanks again

[jim.dahl]

Oh, and here is the link I used...


http://www.isgs.uiuc.edu/nsdihome/browse/statewide/intstate.e00

I also tried this link and saved the export file, but am using Map2007. You have the right steps. It comes in with the attributes if you CHOOSE them in the dialog box, otherwise you just get the linework. If you are not interested in the metadata, this would be your quickest way to go about it. Following the advice of rlong.96213 is good too.


The quickest way to download some of these files are to right click on them and save instead of opening and saving them.

Looks like you are on your way.

jim

[bmonk]

Well, using everyones suggestions, I still dont get the results you guys did. I wonder if its because Im using a trial version of map2007. I wouldnt think so, but I dont have any other explanation. Thank you guys for trying to help me.

B

[jim.dahl]

I know it is frustrating being on the end of the discussion where things are not working. I have been there on most of my posts for another piece of software. So I feel like we can find a solution. Are you familiar with object data in Acad? It is not a separate table like in shape files, but you can view the data in the properties window, and there are probably other ways of viewing it I am not aware of. What I prefer is to attach it as a shape file and then you can easily symbolize or label the data. Use the Display Manager window and the Data button within it to browse to the file, I prefer shape. However, you may want to try this first.

1. Right click on the link and save the file on your hard drive.
2. Make sure there is only one suffix on the file which is .e00.
3. You can open it in a text editor to read and see what is in it.
4. In Map 2007, use menu Map>Tool>Import and browse to file *.e00 with the Type set to ESRI ArcInfo Export (E00) (*.e00).
5. Make sure you click somewhere on the Data column in the Import dialog window to request the tabular data also. Like rlong said, there are other tables in the file you can view those in the text editor or paste them into anothe doc.

I would convert to shape files because I am primarily an ESRI user.

Maybe we can start here with URLs:

http://spatialnews.geocomm.com/education/tutorials/e00data/
http://www.isgs.uiuc.edu/nsdihome/webdocs/faq.html
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/services/gis/faq/faq.htm
http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/~anp/gms/e00.htm

So you have several forum posters that can help it you need.

good luck

jim

[bmonk]

**the frustration mounts**

I DL'd the import71 program. I dont see anywhere in there where I can "change" the e00 files to a .shp, or .shx., or .dbf file. It just creates a folder "from which I named" and an "info folder. Ok, so then I tried importing a coverage from the folder which was created using the import71, and it just brings in the linework, again. The same result happened when I changed the options in the data tab in the import dialogue. I hate to even ask for anymore suggestions, but could you give me a detailed breakdown of how You are taking these e00 files and "converting" them to .shp files to use in Autocad, not Arcview.

[bmonk]

Ok, i guess what Im trying to say Jim is that, Im new to the whole GIS world...and I dont have any preferences as to a way to handle the info thats out there. So, you say that you prefer to convert to a .shp file. Ok, thats cool, I can go that route, but the problem is, how exactly do I "convert" it. Do I just simply give it a new file extension. or is there a utility to convert e00 to shp.

[bmonk]

Ok, I think I'm getting closer here...after watching some tutorials on importing, I am able to import the interstates.e00 (for example) and see the linework, and see the object data in the properties box. I was trying to create the object data on the intstate.att layer because I was thinking "Hey the attributes must be on the .att layer, it only makes sense." Well, now I know that that isn't true, and I'm now seeing the att info in the prop dialogue box...however, now I need to know, if there is a way to make AutoCAD label the objects on the screen, or do I need to do this manually, by looking at each line in the prop dialogue, and typing it out?

Not quite there...but getting closer

B

[mohobrien]

To clarify:

from: http://mappingitout.blogspot.com/2006_03_01_mappingitout_archive.html

... Most shared data is in ESRI format called shape files, not to be confused with AutoCAD shape files. ESRI shape files consist of at least three files with the extension of shp, dbf, and shx. They will all have the same file name but different extensions. Other format are E00 files, these are another type from ESRI that is in a folder/ directory structure.... So now that you have the data downloaded and figured out how to import it into AutoCAD MAP what is it? Well most of the data is either point, lines/polylines or polygons objects. Points may be a bus stop or a city location on a map, lines(plines) are usually streets or road center lines, and polygons may be the boundary for parks, city limits or footprints to buildings. The data behind all the lines and points like the street names, property owners and etc. are hidden and takes a little work to get into the map but with the right know-how and guidance you can get it.....

So you've got the drawing file now with attached object data.
Maybe this won't make any sense to you but reading up on query and property alteration will open up this world to you.
A quick synopsis that will become clear as you read the help files or just try it.
1) Open a new drawing.
2) Attach the drawing that you imported the e00 data in to.
3) Define a new query. In the menu: Map->Query->Define Query
Location - choose all for now. OK
Property - Layers - choose the layers that have the roads with object data on.
Alter Properties - Text - Data - choose the table and field that has the information you want and the text settings you want. - OK
4)Change query mode to draw.
5)OK to take a breath or Execute Query to run. If you hit OK, your query will disappear but another Query - define query will bring it back. You can save it as an external query and reload it at another time.

If there is a lot of data it will take a while. It took 1/2 hour to import 89000+ roads and draw the road names from a source file (attached drawing file) of 200000+ roads. Old 1.8GHz Pentium4 with 512 M ram. It might be a good idea to practice on a subset of your drawing.

Good luck.

[bmonk]

Thank you mo, jim, rlong. I think I have a pretty good handle on importing the info, and querying the object data from the originals.

Sorry it took me so long to grasp what you all were trying to say, but once I got it, I was like "duh, thats what they were talking about."

Thanks again for the help and info.

Brian