Unpacking HDMapper Files

Unpacking HDMapper™ Files

Q: How do I use a "packaged" map file from HDMapper?

A: Since most HDMapper maps consist of a number of files, often in different folders, the Package function is used to collect all the needed files into a single compressed file. This file can be added to HDMapper with the UnPack function.

HDMapper Package files are files compressed in the common ZIP format and can be viewed and extracted with any of the UnZIP utilities available. However, the UnPack function in HDMapper is the best method, since it will help integrate the map into the standard HDMapper file structure.

To unpack a file that was packaged with HDMapper, click the UnPack button from the toolbar:

(If you already have a map displayed in HDMapper, you can still open a map package. After the package has been successfully opened, you will have the option to load the map into HDMapper.)

Select the file you want to unpack. The MAPPING\MAP PACKAGES folder is the default location, but you can browse to select the file from any folder.

The file extent will be .ZIP, and if you select a ZIP file that was not created by the HDMapper Package function a message will be displayed to warn you that the file cannot be opened with the HDMapper UnPack function.

Only ZIP files created with the HDMapper Package function can be opened with the UnPack function.

When you click the Open button (and the selected file was created by HDMapper), the files in the Package file will be unzipped:

After the files have been extracted, you will have the option to open the map file:

If you click Yes, the map will be opened:

The files contained in the Package file are unzipped to a folder with the same name as the Package ZIP file, in the MAP PACKAGES folder.

If a folder with the same name already exists, you will be prompted to either overwrite the existing files, or browse to select or create a new destination folder:

While the program will allow you to overwrite existing files in an existing folder, this is not recommended. Since most maps consist of a number of Shapefiles, and each Shapefile consists of three or more separate, interrelated files, overwriting files may cause data corruption or other unpredictable results.