Uploading a Shapefile

Note: This functionality is available to admins and sub-admins only.

A shapefile is an Esri vector data storage format for storing the location, shape, and attributes of geographic features.

A Shapefile is made up of a collection of files. To upload your data in Shapefile format you will need the .shp, .dbf, and .shx files. Optionally, you can also select .prj, and .cpg files.

To upload a .shp file:

  1. Click or touch the Add icon on the upper right corner of the map to open the Add panel.
  2. Click or touch the Add layer icon.
  3. Choose Upload Files to Spectrum Spatial (.TAB, .shp, .csv, .xls)
    The Upload files panel opens. This panel will guide you through the upload process. Follow the instructions given under Checklist before Upload to avoid error.
  4. Click or touch the Choose file ... to browse your computer and select your data files.
    Base file Associated file
    .shp
    • .dbf (required)
    • .shx (required)
    • .prj (optional)
    • .cpg (optional)

    After you select the files, Spectrum Spatial Analyst verifies the selected files. In case of any validation error, you can click Choose other files to select the correct files. You can click Files chosento see the details of the selected files.

    If you select incorrect files, for example two .shp files, Spectrum Spatial Analyst displays Incorrect file selection error. You may click View Checklist to see the details.

    Note: When uploading a shapefile, if you choose .prj file along with other required files Spectrum Spatial Analyst reads the projection information from the .prj file, else you need to specify the projection. Click Select and choose a projection from the drop-down list.
    The Upload table panel opens and displays the name of the file that you have selected.
  5. Click or touch Next on the Upload files panel.
    The Table details page opens.
  6. Choose Create new table or Replace existing table to specify whether you want to create a new table or replace an existing table on the spatial repository. Based on your selection, follow the sub-steps given in the table.
    Options Sub-steps
    Create new table

    If you choose Create new table, follow these steps.

    1. From the Named Connection drop-down list select a named connection type. There are two types of named connections, file-based and database.

      • Choose the file-based connection for uploading data as TAB files.
      • Choose the SQL-based connection for uploading data as SQL table.

    2. Click to specify the File system path.

      • For file-based connection Spectrum Spatial Analyst displays the root folder. By default, Spectrum Spatial Analyst displays the name of first folder in the list on which the user has the write-access.
      • For SQL-based connection, it shows the list of schemas. For more information see, Browsing the Spatial Repository.
    3. In the Datasource table name field, displays the name of the data source. If the name already exists, you can edit the table name.
    4. In the Named table name field, the name of selected table displays. If the table name already exists, you can edit the name.

    5. Click to specify the path of the repository folder on the Spatial Spectrum server. Your table will be saved in this folder.

      Note: While browsing the repository folder, if you cannot locate a folder, check with your administrator to determine if restrictions have been placed at the file-server level. You must have Write permission to the folder that you select.

    6. Click Upload. You get a message that the files have been uploaded. If you wish, you can view the new named table by clicking the hyperlink in the message.

      After the file is uploaded, you can choose to create layer and save it to repository with the default layer style or with your custom styles.

      • The Add layer to project checkbox enables you to add the layer to your map project. By default, it is checked.
      • If required, click to browse the Spatial Spectrum repository and select another folder.
    7. (Optional) Select Define style override, to modify the style for the layer.
    8. Click or touch the Create Layer button to add the layer to the current map. When you save map project, the new layer is also saved.
    Replace existing table

    If you choose Replace table, follow these steps.

    1. In the Named Connection field, click to browse the Spatial Spectrum repository and select the named table that you want to overwrite.

      The selected named table should have the same column structure as the table being uploaded.

    2. Spectrum Spatial Analyst detects the Datasource name to which the table belongs and populates the Named connection and Datasource table name fields.
    3. Click Upload. You get a message that the files have been uploaded and the selected named table is updated. If you wish, you can view the updated named table by clicking the hyperlink in the message.
    4. Click Done to return to the Map legend panel. If a layer in your current map is based on the updated table, the map gets refreshed.