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:
- 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.
- Use the Maptitude Layer function to select the layer containing
the feature you want to export.
- 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.
- In the Maptitude Tools menu, select Export.
- In the "Export" option be sure to choose "Selected"
to export only the items you have selected.
- In the "To" option select the Atlas BNA file format.
- 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.
- 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.
- Start the TAP software.
- From the Boundary menu, select the "Convert BNA File
Headers" option.
- For the BNA Input File, select the file you exported from
Maptitude as described above.
- 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.
- 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.
- Click the Start button to create the file.
- When the program is finished, close the form. You can now
use the new file with TAP or SURFER.
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