Digital Datasets - Available Formats

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Digital Datasets - Available Formats

There are three formats for the automatically downloadable versions of the available digital maps and lookup tables. Each is derived from a UNIX ARC/INFO® data set. They are:

1. ARC/INFO® export files made with the 'full compression' option. These files are recommended for users of UNIX ARC/INFO® or NT ARC/INFO® and users of newer versions of ArcView®. The 'full compression' option referred to is an option of the ARC/INFO® 'export' command. The precision of the parent coverage has not been altered prior to export and may be double. Large export files have been further compressed using the gzip compression utility*.

2. ARC/INFO® export files made with the 'no compression' option. These files are preferred for users of pre-5.0 versions of ARC/INFO® and users of PC ARC/INFO® and users of older versions of ArcView®. The 'no compression' option referred to is an option of the ARC/INFO® 'export' command. Double precision coverages have been changed to single precision before exporting. Large export files have been compressed using the gzip compression utility*.

3. ASCII coordinate and attribute files. These files may be of use to users of GIS packages which do not accept ARC/INFO® export files. They are ASCII text files with a very simple structure and have been made with the ARC/INFO® 'ungenerate' command, in the case of coverages, or with the ARC/INFO® 'unload' command, in the case of feature attribute tables and lookup tables. Double precision coverages have been changed to single precision before using the 'ungenerate' command. Small coordinate and attribute files are provided in rich text format**. Large coordinate and attribute files have been compressed using the gzip compression utility*.

With all three formats, supporting material such as explanatory documentation is provided as rich text format files***.

If the three formats offered free of charge are not compatible with your system the Data Sets may be provided in a suitable format for a small fee. (Please note that not all systems may be accommodated.) BRS charges $A200 per data set plus an additional $A10 if your address is outside Australia for one-off data transfers. The charges cover administrative, processing and transfer costs only. Please send any enquiries by email to Dataman.

* The gzip compression utility can be downloaded from http://www.gzip.org/ in a version to suit most operating systems; or follow one of the links provided when you download a data set.
**; You should be able to convert rich text format files to ASCII text files using most, if not all, word processing programs.
***; You should be able to read or print rich text format files using most, if not all, word processing programs.



Last reviewed: 22 Nov 2006
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