Boundary Files from Maptitude

Q: I would like to use boundary information for highways from Maptitude in TAP and SURFER mapping. How can I export the features I want?

A: Maptitude allows you to export an Atlas .BNA file. With a slight modification (described below), these files can be used like other .BNA files in both TAP and SURFER.

To export selected features from Maptitude:

  1. First, draw a map in Maptitude showing the features you want. This may be a function of the AutoScale feature in Maptitude based on the scaling of the map you draw. For example, the highway information may not be displayed until you zoom in to a certain map scale. Be sure the feature you want to export is shown on the map, or adjust the zoom level to show the level of detail you want to export.
  2. Use the Maptitude Layer function to select the layer containing the feature you want to export.
  3. Use the Maptitude Selection functions to select the feature you want to export. For example, you can use the circle or shape select to select the highways in the area you want.
  4. In the Maptitude Tools menu, select Export.
  5. In the "Export" option be sure to choose "Selected" to export only the items you have selected.
  6. In the "To" option select the Atlas BNA file format.
  7. Click the OK button and enter the name of the new file you want to create to contain the exported features. You may want to use a temporary file name, since this will be an intermediate file. The final file you will use in TAP and SURFER will be created by a further step using this intermediate file.
  8. After the file has been exported, you can close Maptitude. It is not necessary to save the map used in the export process, since the exported features have already been saved.
  9. Start the TAP software.
  10. From the Boundary menu, select the "Convert BNA File Headers" option.
  11. For the BNA Input File, select the file you exported from Maptitude as described above.
  12. In the BNA Header Fields section, the program will display the contents of the first object in the file exported from Maptitude. (The Maptitude export typically includes four items in the header for each BNA object. The TAP and SURFER programs expect two header fields, such as a name for a county or highway number.) Select any two of the four items listed to be included in the new version of the BNA file to be written.
  13. In the BNA Output File, enter a name for the file you want to write. This is the file that you will keep for use with TAP and SURFER.
  14. Click the Start button to create the file.
  15. When the program is finished, close the form. You can now use the new file with TAP or SURFER.

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