Importing ESRI Shapefiles into RockPlot2D

RockPlot2D | File | Import | SHP (ESRI ArcView Shapefile)
or
RockWorks | Utilities | Grafix | 2D Utilities |
Import | SHP (ESRI ArcView Shapefile)

This program will import point, line, or polygon data from ESRI "Shapefiles." 

Menu Options
Step-by-Step Summary
Tips

Menu Options

• ESRI Shapefile: Click on this item to browse for the name of the Shapefile to be imported. 
• RockPlot File: (Grafix menu only) Click on this item to type in a name for the Rw2D file that will be created.
• Points: Point data will be converted to RockWorks symbols. Expand this heading to select the color, symbol number and size for the symbol to be used to represent the Shapefile points.
  ! If you would like to view the symbol library to determine the symbol numbers that belong to different symbol designs, expand the Misc. Tables heading in the Project Manager pane (along the left of the main RockWorks program window) and double-click on the Symbol table's name to view the available symbols. (See also Symbol Tables Overview.)
• Lines: Line data will be converted to RockWorks lines. Expand this heading to select the line color, thickness, and style for the lines. This setting will also apply to polygon borders if they are being imported.
• Polygons: Polygon data will be converted to RockWorks polygons. Expand this heading to establish their settings. 
  • Background: Click here to choose the fill color for solid filled polygons (see Fill Type, below), or the background color for pattern-filled polygons.  
  • Foreground: For pattern-filled polygons, click here to choose the pattern line color. 
  • Fill Type: The polygon can be set to un-filled, to solid fill, or to pattern fill. 
    • Pattern Number: Choose the pattern design by typing the Pattern Number into that prompt.
      ! To view the pattern library for index numbers and density settings (below), expand the Misc. Tables heading in the Project Manager pane, and double-click on the Pattern table's name to view the available patterns. (See also Pattern Tables Overview.) 
    • Density: This establishes how often the pattern repeats, with the lower the number the denser the pattern.  Refer to the samples in the pattern select window, referenced above.

Step-by-Step Summary

1. From RockPlot2D:  Be sure there’s a RockPlot2D window open. (See Creating a New RockPlot2D Window.)  Select the Import command from the RockPlot2D File menu, and select the ESRI Shape File option.
   - OR -
   From the RockWorks Utilities, select the Grafix | 2D Utilities | Import | SHP (ESRI ArcView Shapefile) option.
2. Enter the requested information, described above.
3. Click the Process button to continue.
4. Now, you need to tell RockPlot what kind of drawing this is and how to assign the coordinate system (if known).
   
   
   • Choose None if you don't know (or don't particularly care) what kind of drawing this is. This just tells RockPlot that there is no need to geo-reference the image.
     
     
   • Choose Map if this is a map drawing.
     Next you'll be prompted to tell the program what the XY coordinates (map units) are in the SHP file.
     • Choose Undefined if you don't know what coordinate system is represented or if you don't wish to geo-reference the map. The map's coordinates will be brought into the RockPlot window as-is, and without any coordinate projection information.
       ! Without any projection information, you will not be able to export the map from RockPlot2D to Google Earth.
       
       
     • Choose from the other coordinate systems if you know the source coordinates for the drawing; these will be stored in the Rw2D file's metadata. This allows you to geo-reference this image, for output to Google Earth or other software. See Coordinate Systems for more information.
       
       
   • Choose Section or Profile if this is a cross-section drawing.
     As above, you'll be prompted to tell the program whether your XY coordinates (your map units) are.
     • Choose Undefined if you don't know what the original units represent or if you don't wish to georeference this image.
     • Choose from the other coordinate systems if you would like to geo-reference this drawing, for output to Google Earth or other software.
       
       
   • Choose Chart if this is a generic diagram, which has no coordinate reference.
     
     
   • You can click on the Coordinate Summary tab to see the horizontal and vertical diagram extents.
     
     
5. Click OK when you're ready to import the file.

The Shape importer assigns the same symbols to all points, the same line styles to all lines and the same polygon colors to all polygons. The imported image will be displayed in the RockPlot2D window.

Tips

• Use the File | Save command to save the image as a RockPlot "Rw2D" file.
• Use the File | Append command to combine the imported image with an existing Rw2D file (assuming the same coordinate system).
• Use the Utilities | Convert Map Coordinates option to reproject the map to a different coordinate system.
   
  

See also:  Working with Layers

Back to Import menu

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