Using Data in MapInfo
Using Data in MapInfo
Content Considerations in use of data Unzip data Data formats Data conversion Resources Q&A
Considerations
Download data file E.g. ArcGIS or MapInfo, CAD or Image software 1. Unzip the Digimap data file 2. Convert the data to an appropriate format if necessary consider formats and conversion options
Process the data Import data to software Analyse data / Create map
Content Considerations in use of data Unzip data Data formats Data conversion Resources
Unzip Digimap data.zip files Data download facilities (except MasterMap Download):
1. Data.zip file provided 2. Unzip data.zip: Contents.txt, Conditions.txt, Data files
GZip files Windows standard unzip will not work try: Gzip, 7Zip, WinZip May not be necessary to unzip the GZip file, depending on conversion requirements
Content Considerations in use of data Unzip data Data formats Data conversion Resources
Digimap raster data are supplied as TIFF files -mMost GIS or CAD software will accept TIFF image files, with no need for conversion. TFW files also supplied, which contain the geographic location of your TIFF files. Remember to keep the supplied TIFF files and the TFW files in the same folder! Otherwise your GIS software cannot locate the TIFF geographically.
Note that not every product is available in every format Some data formats may be incompatible with software e.g. NTF, GML, DXF
Vector data formats NTF (National Transfer Format) GML (Geography Mark-up Language) DXF (Drawing Exchange Format) SHP (ArcView Shapefile) MID/MIF (MapInfo export format)
For more details on formats, see the EDINA guide OS Collection: data formats and conversion guidance:
http://edina.ac.uk/digimap/support/training/
MID/MIF format
MID/MIF is the MapInfo Interchange Format. It is one of the most commonly used geographic formats and well supported by almost every GIS product. A MID/MIF file physically consists of two files: a .mif which contains the geometry and a .mid which contains the attribute data. Both are in ascii format so they can be viewed with any text editor. The .mid is actually a comma-separated value file. The link between them is rather simple: the first line in the .mid file contains the attributes for the first geometry object in the .mif file.
Source: http://www.fmepedia.com/index.php/MapInfo_MIF/MID February 2010
MID/MIF format
Code Point Polygons, downloaded from Digimaps Ordnance Survey Collection, in MID/MIF format. On Windows systems, the .mid file is often recognized as a midi (music) file and doubleclicking on it usually opens some application like SoundRecorder or WinAmp.
TAB format MapInfo works with TAB (table) files; it is MapInfos native format. MID/MIF files are imported to MapInfo as TAB format. Necessary to name and specify a location for the new TAB file, when importing MID/MIF. Several component files are required to view a data set in MapInfo.
.DAT (The file which stores the attribute data. This usually a dBase III DBF file) .ID (Stores information linking graphic data to the database information) .MAP (Stores the graphic and geographic information needed to display a map on the users screen) .IND (Optional index files for tabular data. This is present if any fields are indexed) .TAB (The ASCII file which is the link between all other files and holds information about the type of data file)
Content Considerations in use of data Unzip data Data formats Data conversion Resources
NTF data
NTF2MIF
http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/users/nnj/translat.htm
GML (MasterMap) data 2 options: Convert to MIF/MID format, using OSM2MIF convertor Convert to TAB format using InterpOse
Note: Necessary to unzip the GZip file for the OSM2MIF conversion! This step not required for InterpOse.
OSM2MIF
http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/users/nnj/translat.htm
InterpOse
Necessary to register first, with *******.ac.uk email address Converts GML data to TAB format
Free download:
http://www.rolta-europe.com/osvector.html
Content Considerations in use of data Unzip data Data formats Data conversion Resources
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