OT: How to open SHP (Shapefiles)?
Terry Pinnell
me, for my imminent holiday in Canada:
http://www.geobase.ca/geobase/en/index.html
But they are in GML format (Geography Markup Language) and SHP (ESRI
Shapefiles). The latter are probably going to be what I need. But how
do I view SHP files? Searches so far have yielded many technical
articles but so far no freely available program. Anyone here with
suggestions please?
(Also asked in the sci.geo.cartography group.)
--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK
Mike Coon
> I've downloaded various free maps from this site just recommended to
> me, for my imminent holiday in Canada:
> http://www.geobase.ca/geobase/en/index.html
>
> But they are in GML format (Geography Markup Language) and SHP (ESRI
> Shapefiles). The latter are probably going to be what I need. But how
> do I view SHP files? Searches so far have yielded many technical
> articles but so far no freely available program. Anyone here with
> suggestions please?
Copied from Help: "GPS Utility exports/imports GPS data in DBF/SHP/SHX
filesets. Thus 3 files are exported with the same name, but with extensions
*.DBF, *.SHP and *.SHX."
HTH, Mike.
--
If reply address is invalid, remove spurious "@" and substitute "plus"
where needed.
Wayne R.
<terrypi...@THESEdial.pipex.com> wrote (with clarity & insight):
Use ESRI's ArcReader.
<http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis/arcreader/download.html>
Terry Pinnell
>Terry Pinnell wrote:
>> I've downloaded various free maps from this site just recommended to
>> me, for my imminent holiday in Canada:
>> http://www.geobase.ca/geobase/en/index.html
>>
>> But they are in GML format (Geography Markup Language) and SHP (ESRI
>> Shapefiles). The latter are probably going to be what I need. But how
>> do I view SHP files? Searches so far have yielded many technical
>> articles but so far no freely available program. Anyone here with
>> suggestions please?
>
>Copied from Help: "GPS Utility exports/imports GPS data in DBF/SHP/SHX
>filesets. Thus 3 files are exported with the same name, but with extensions
>*.DBF, *.SHP and *.SHX."
>
>HTH, Mike.
Thanks Mike. Might have guessed Alan's ubiquitous GPSU supported them!
But I've so far had no success.
I opened one of the SHPs from Geobase using GPSU 4.9t and then, after
the data had apparently been imported, tried opening the map window.
But GPSU crashed and had to be closed via the XP TM. When I tried
another similar SHP, this time by r-clicking the file and choosing
Open With > GPSU 4.9t, I had a message that the number of trackpoints
had been exceeded. (I didn't try opening the map window this time.)
The only other SHP file I have on my PC (which I have successfully
opened in other viewers, albeit with inconsistent results) was this
1.2 MB one:
World_countries_shp.dbf 32 KB DBF File
World_countries_shp.sbn 9 KB SBN File
World_countries_shp.sbx 1 KB SBX File
World_countries_shp.shp 1,215 KB ESRI shapefile <---
World_countries_shp.shx 2 KB SHX File
That gave the message 'Import error'. Also, the map window shows just
some 'outlines', not a proper map.
I've posted to the GPSU group and if necessary will also seek help
from Alan. But if anyone here has any insights I'd appreciate hearing
please.
---------
Meanwhile, I'm discovering from trying other SHP 'viewers' that this
is a more complex topic than I'd hoped. I have yet to see anything
like decent map ;-(
Terry Pinnell
Thanks Wayne. A little earlier this afternoon I'd found and installed
ArcGIS ArcExplorer, some sort of Java program. Looked pretty daunting
to me and I'm now about to uninstall it.
Hopefully ArcReader will be simpler to use - despite its 205 MB
download.
But see also my reply to Mike. Maybe I should simply order a decent
paper map and scan and calibrate it with Memory-Map. The learning
curve about ESRI shapes, layers etc, etc looks steep!
Terry Pinnell
>Wayne R. <wruf...@KomKast.net> wrote:
>
>>On Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:19:19 +0100, Terry Pinnell
>><terrypi...@THESEdial.pipex.com> wrote (with clarity & insight):
>>
>>>I've downloaded various free maps from this site just recommended to
>>>me, for my imminent holiday in Canada:
>>>http://www.geobase.ca/geobase/en/index.html
>>>
>>>But they are in GML format (Geography Markup Language) and SHP (ESRI
>>>Shapefiles). The latter are probably going to be what I need. But how
>>>do I view SHP files? Searches so far have yielded many technical
>>>articles but so far no freely available program. Anyone here with
>>>suggestions please?
>>>
>>>(Also asked in the sci.geo.cartography group.)
>>
>>Use ESRI's ArcReader.
>>
>><http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis/arcreader/download.html>
>
>Thanks Wayne. A little earlier this afternoon I'd found and installed
>ArcGIS ArcExplorer, some sort of Java program. Looked pretty daunting
>to me and I'm now about to uninstall it.
>
>Hopefully ArcReader will be simpler to use - despite its 205 MB
>download.
Duly installed ... but it appears that ArcReader opens only PMF files,
not SHP.
Wayne R.
<terrypi...@THESEdial.pipex.com> wrote (with clarity & insight):
>>Hopefully ArcReader will be simpler to use - despite its 205 MB
>>download.
>
>Duly installed ... but it appears that ArcReader opens only PMF files,
>not SHP.
How about Shape Viewer?
Terry Pinnell
That's more like it, thanks Mike! Loads fast and uses few resources.
However, it turns out that the *content* of my downloaded SHP files
wasn't worth the effort. Here's a typical example, (viewed in another
program I found a little earlier):
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s247/terrypin999/SHP-Example-LCC2000-V_084P_1_0.jpg
BTW, if anyone else has used that GeoBase site I'd be interested to
know your views. After persisting for most of the day, I'm finding it
virtually unusable. Apart from its rather obscure UI, it's glacially
slow at every refresh. I have yet to get a single combination of a
target area (say 10 miles square) with all the other elements you
expect on a walking map - like clearly identified names of places,
rivers, lakes, mountains, etc. And for a fortnight's holiday I need
about 13 such maps.
Happy Trails
on top of the area you want? Save your lines as KML/KMZ files and
convert them with one of the many utilities to something you can load
as map lines or tracks into your gps.
Terry Pinnell
Well GE may indeed be what I end up using. (Although I don't yet have
any 'lines' or tracks as I haven't done the walks yet! The rough area
will be good enough.) However, a GE-derived map is far inferior to a
decent topo map, which is what I'm hoping to find.
Happy Trails
You missed the point.
You can draw your own lines in GE - no need to do the walk first -
then d/l them to your gps as your map. You just have to see enough of
the area you want to walk to be able to make out the roads/trails you
want to map. It is not too hard for roads and for hi-res areas, but
difficult for lo-res or no roads.
If you want elevations - as in topo maps - why not use ibycus? (I'm
sorry - did you already rule this out for some reason?)
If you ever want elevations, just get the 90 meter elevation data from
(? can't remember off-hand) and make your own. But of course you need
slightly sophisticated software to do this.
Terry Pinnell
>On Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:35:21 +0100, Terry Pinnell
><terrypi...@THESEdial.pipex.com> wrote:
>
>>Happy Trails <nom...@myplace.com> wrote:
>>
>>>Why don't you just start up Gaggle Earf and draw yourself some lines
>>>on top of the area you want? Save your lines as KML/KMZ files and
>>>convert them with one of the many utilities to something you can load
>>>as map lines or tracks into your gps.
>>
>>Well GE may indeed be what I end up using. (Although I don't yet have
>>any 'lines' or tracks as I haven't done the walks yet! The rough area
>>will be good enough.) However, a GE-derived map is far inferior to a
>>decent topo map, which is what I'm hoping to find.
>
>You missed the point.
No, I think it was you who missed the point! As I said, I don't *know*
the actual 13 or 14 paths we will walk during this fortnight. I have a
brief brochure description for each, in areas I'm totally unfamiliar
with. Here's an example on day 3.
"Banff National Park: Ink Pots
------------------------------
Following Johnston Canyon, beyond the Lower Falls, this trail winds
through a forest of lodgepole pine, spruce and Douglas fir. The trail
opens up onto Johnston Creek meadows where spring fed pools of
striking colour are found.
Distance: 11,8km / 7 miles, loop trail with spur at the far end."
>You can draw your own lines in GE - no need to do the walk first -
>then d/l them to your gps as your map. You just have to see enough of
>the area you want to walk to be able to make out the roads/trails you
>want to map. It is not too hard for roads and for hi-res areas, but
>difficult for lo-res or no roads.
>
>If you want elevations - as in topo maps - why not use ibycus? (I'm
>sorry - did you already rule this out for some reason?)
>
>If you ever want elevations, just get the 90 meter elevation data from
>(? can't remember off-hand) and make your own. But of course you need
>slightly sophisticated software to do this.
A couple of the sites I've found have an elevation layer and GE itself
has elevation data too.
Happy Trails
<terrypi...@THESEdial.pipex.com> wrote:
>No, I think it was you who missed the point! As I said, I don't *know*
>the actual 13 or 14 paths we will walk during this fortnight. I have a
>brief brochure description for each, in areas I'm totally unfamiliar
>with. Here's an example on day 3.
Can . . . you . . . see . . . the . . . trails . . . on . . . GE?
If so, you can map them all, and then pick the ones you want to use
when you are there.
The point that you missed was that MAYBE you can map them ahead of
time from GE - you do not need to walk them first to get the tracks as
you mistakenly thought!
But please don't repost anymore just to answer me - I'm done here.