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GIS data formats

Canvas GIS+ supports the import export of the most popular GIS data formats, including but not limited to TIGER files, Shapefiles, USGS DLG, MrSID, and TIFF.

The following table lists the file formats that can be opened in or exported from Canvas GIS+.

Extension	In	Out	Description
TIFF			GeoTIFF TIFF/World File image — A world file carries pixel scale information and the location, in real world coordinates, of the (typically) northwest pixel (.TFW extension); on export, Canvas generates a TFW file
SHP			Shapefile — on export, Canvas creates both SHX and DBF files.
DLG (.do, .opt)			USGS Digital Line Graphs
E00			ARC/INFO interchange file format
RT1			Tiger (Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing system)
SDTS			USGS Spatial Data Transfer Standard
MIF			MapInfo Data Interchange Format
S57			A standard defined by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) for the exchange of digital hydrographic data.
ECW			Enhanced Compressed Wavelet images (export is Windows only)
SID			MrSID image format (Windows only)
GML			Geography Markup Language
Geo JPEG			JPEG with projection information; on export Canvas creates a JGW file and PRJ file
Geo BMP			BMP with projection information; on export Canvas creates a world file and PRJ file
Geo PNG			PNG with projection information; on export Canvas creates a world file and PRJ file
Geo GIF			GIF with projection information; on export Canvas creates a world file and PRJ file
GIS Text			Opening/Exporting TXT file with GIS data
GPS Garmin			Open TXT file containing GPS Garmin data

Opening or placing geo-referenced files

The starting point for GIS users is the successful importation of a geo-referenced file. As noted in the previous table, Canvas can open a multitude of GIS file formats, including vector- and raster-based formats. This section provides an overview of each file format.

Shapefiles consist of the following three separate file entities:

The main file, a Shape file (.SHP), which contains geographic objects.
An index file (.SHX), which contains an I’th record. The I'th record in the .SHX file stores the offset and content length for the I'th record in the main file (.SHP).
A dBASE table (.DBF), which contains attribute information about the geographic objects found in the Shapefile.

To open or place Shapefiles:

Choose File | Open or File | Place. You can open or place multiple Shapefiles by Shift-clicking or Ctrl-clicking the required files.
Select .SHP as the file type.
Navigate to the .SHP file in the Open or Place dialog box and click Open or Place.

In the Files/Layers List dialog box, select the options you want to use.

Files/Layers List dialog box

Files/Layers	This list indicates all the shapefiles that you are opening or placing.
Add/Remove	Click the Add button to open or place another shapefile. To delete a file from the list, select the file in the list and click the Remove button.
Projection	Click this button to open the File Coordinate System dialog box.
Properties	Select a file in the list and click this button to open the Layer Properties dialog box.
Move Up/ Move Down	Use these buttons to shuffle the files within the list.
Sort by type	Click this button to arrange the files according to type; i.e., area, line, or point.

File Coordinate System dialog box

Unknown Open	As X/Y. If the projection information is unknown, choose this option and then select the Linear Units from the menu.
Geodetic Lat/Long	Select this option if you wish to select the angular units.
Projected	Click Select to open the Select Map Projection dialog box, which contains predefined projections. Select one from the list. The related property and parameter values are displayed on the right. Click OK to return to the File Coordinate System dialog box. Click the Edit button to open the Map Projection dialog box. Select a projection from the list. Further customize the projection by entering the necessary values in the Parameters section.
Geographic Coordinate System	You can select the earth model. The default earth model is WGS 1984. Click Select to open the Select Geographic Coordinate System dialog box. Select one from the list. The related property and parameter values are displayed on the right. Click OK to return to the File Coordinate System dialog box. Click Edit to open the Edit Geographic Coordinate System dialog box.
Select	Click Select to open the Projected Coordinate Reference Systems dialog box. Choose one from the list and click OK.
Load	Click Load from file to obtain the projection information from a PRJ or TXT file.
Save	Click Save to file to save the current projection in a PRJ file.
Use For All Files	Select this check box to apply this projection to all files being opened or placed.

Layer Properties dialog box

If you are opening more than one file, select the file in the Files/Layers List dialog box and then click the Properties button.

Layer Type

This reflects the type of object in the Shapefile. It can either be Line, Area, or Point. The following attributes will change according to object type.

For Lines, you can select the pen stroke width.

For Area, you can select the outline color or eliminate an outline altogether.

For Point, you can choose the point size and shape. To change the shape, open the Draw As menu and select an item. If you select Symbol Object, the Select Library Item dialog box opens.

Colorization

In the Method menu you will have the option to select either No Fill, Solid Color, Color Range, or Color Array.

Select Library Item dialog box

The Select Symbol dialog box, available when you import file types such as GIS Text files, lets you select a symbol from the Symbol Library, and replace points on the map with the symbol.

To select a symbol:

In the Select Symbol dialog box, select one of the symbol categories in the left pane.
In the right pane, select a symbol.
Click OK.

See Working with the Symbol Library palette.