Import MapInfo TAB or MIF File(s)

Use the  MapInfo TAB or MIF File(s) option (IMPORTMI GX) to import a MapInfo TAB or MIF file into an Oasis montaj map or to add it to a 3D View.

A MapInfo TAB or MIF file contains both "attribute" data and geographical information. When importing TAB or MIF files, Oasis montaj stores the attribute data into the current (or a new) database and displays the geographic information on the current or a new map.

The option is available from the following locations: 

  • Main toolbar menus: Database > Import and Map > Import

  • 3D Viewer menu: Add to 3D >  Imports

Import MapInfo TAB or MIF File(s) dialog options (3D View)

MapInfo TAB or MIF file

Select one or more MapInfo TAB or MIF file(s) to import.

Script Parameter: IMPORTMI.TAB (Separate files with the "|" character).

Import MapInfo TAB or MIF File(s) dialog options (Map)

MapInfo TAB or MIF file

Select one or more MapInfo TAB or MIF file(s) to import.

Script Parameter: IMPORTMI.TAB (Separate files with the "|" character).

Import data to

Select whether to import the database information of the MapInfo TAB or MIF file to a "New database", "Current database" or "Do not import".

If you selected to create a new database, the system will prompt you to specify a new database name.

Script Parameter: IMPORTMI.DBOUT (0 : Current Database, 1 : New database (default), 2 : Do Not Import)

Plot map to

Select whether to import the map (geographical) information of a MapInfo TAB or MIF file to a "New map", "Current map" or "Do not import".

If you selected to create a new map, the system will prompt you to specify the data range to map name.

Script Parameter: IMPORTMI.MAPOUT (0 : Current Map, 1 : New map, 2 : Do Not Import)

Map scale

Optional map scale for 2D views. If not specified, a new map with default size 30cm by 30cm is created, with a map scale determined to fit the data.

Script Parameter: IMPORTMI.MAPSCALE (default = not defined)

Create a New Map dialog options (Map)

Map name

Specify the name of the new map. Automatically pre-populated with the same name as the input MapInfo TAB or MIF file name.

Script Parameter: IMPORTMI.MAP

Create a New Database dialog options (Map)

Import file

Not editable.Set to the input MapInfo TAB or MIF file name.

Import to new database

Specify the name of the new database. Automatically pre-populated with the same name as the input MapInfo TAB or MIF file name.

Script Parameter: IMPORTMI.DB

Application Notes

A MapInfo TAB or MIF file contains a list of geographic "features"; each geographic "feature" has a corresponding row of "attribute data", and each feature and attribute has its analogue in an Oasis montaj map or database object. The linkage between the feature and the data is maintained by writing the X and Y location values for each shape to the Oasis montaj database, along with the data. Use the shadow cursor, as normal, to find the correspondence between rows in the database and features on the map. MapInfo features are written to the "MapInfo" view in a map. The group name is the same as the MapInfo file name (without the ".TAB" or ".MIF" suffix).

All files will be imported into the same map. Each MapInfo file that has an associated database will be imported into separate groups of the same Geosoft database.

Oasis montaj supports all the projections in MapInfo. When you import a MapInfo TAB file into Oasis montaj, the system will use the existing MapInfo projection contained in the TAB file. The data from the TAB file is automatically imported into the database and the graphics into a map file. However, MapInfo has an "unspecified" projection setting for data that has not had any projection associated with it. It is a good idea to check the projection information whenever you import data or graphics from MapInfo. To display MapInfo data or graphics on a map, follow the instructions for displaying located data or grids and images on a map.

MapInfo

Feature

Oasis montaj

Map Object
Notes

Point

Symbol

In MapInfo, a point is indicated with a symbol, which may be a MapInfo custom symbol, from a True Type font, or a user-defined bitmap. Geosoft now includes a complete GFN font based on the standard set of MapInfo symbols, so standard MapInfo symbols will appear very nearly identical in Oasis montaj. Those symbols derived from a standard True Type font are also imported correctly. If no equivalent Geosoft symbol is available, a default circle will be drawn. In addition, in MapInfo symbols remain a constant size (i.e. 12pt), while in an Oasis montaj map symbol size scales with the map size.

Line Objects

Lines & Polylines

The X and Y values written to the Oasis montaj database represent the centre of the bounding rectangle for MapInfo line objects.

Arc

Arc

Oasis montaj now supports arc objects, and translates MapInfo arcs exactly.

MultiPolyLine

Polyline

The "MultiPolyline" feature has no direct analogue in Oasis montaj; these are plotted as a series of polyline objects.

Region

Polygon

The X and Y values written to the Oasis montaj database represent the centre of the bounding rectangle for MapInfo region objects. Regions can be filled with a solid pattern or colour. An attempt is made to find a similar pattern, but this is at best approximate.

Text

Text

Text is now imported faithfully into Oasis montaj.

None

(nothing)

The "Null" feature is used when data is stored in a TAB file without a corresponding geographic feature. In this case, of course, nothing is plotted to the map in Oasis montaj.
MapInfo
Attribute
Oasis montaj
Data Type
Notes

Character

string

A character variable of width N is converted to one of width N+1 in Oasis montaj.

SmallInt

short

A 2-byte integer.

Integer

long

A 4-byte integer.

Float

float

A 4-byte floating point number.

Decimal

float or double

A Decimal type in MapInfo is a number represented by a string. If the represented size is 8 characters or less, it is converted to a float (4-byte) floating point value; if more than 8 characters, it is converted to a double (8-byte) floating point value.

Logical

byte

A single byte is used to store the TRUE (1) or FALSE (0) value.

Date

date

The Geosoft YYYY/MM/DD format is used.