Import ArcGIS Shapefiles

Use the  Import ArcGIS Shapefile(s) option (IMPORTARC GX) to import an ArcGIS shapefile into an Oasis montaj map or add it to a 3D View.

ArcGIS Shapefile(s) dialog options (3D View)

ArcGIS shapefile(s)

Select one or more ArcGIS shapefiles to import. Script Parameter: IMPORTARC.FILES (Multiple items separated by the ‘|’ character.) For further details see the Application Notes below.

ArcGIS Shapefile(s) dialog options (Map)

ArcGIS shapefile(s)	Select one or more ArcGIS shapefiles to import. Script Parameter: IMPORTARC.FILES (Multiple items separated by the ‘|’ character)
Import data to	Specify how to import the database information contained in the ArcGIS shapefile. The accompanying attribute data stored in the associated .dbf file can be saved to a new or current database, or ignored. Script Parameter: IMPORTARC.DBOUT Options: 0 : Current Database, 1: New database (default), 2 : Do Not Import, 3 : Current database with shape database(s), 4 : New database with shape database(s)
Plot map to	Select whether to import the geographic information (i.e., arcs, lines, points, polygons) of the ArcGIS shapefile to a new map, to one that is currently open, or to not import. Script Parameter: IMPORTARC.MAPOUT (0 : Current map, 1: New map (default), 2 : Do Not Import)

Import to a New Map dialog options (Map)

Project data as

If the default option, "Plan", is selected, the data will be displayed as a simple plan map. Select "E-W Section" to present and project the data as an East-West vertical section. Select "N-S Section" to present and project the data as a North-South vertical section. Script Parameter: IMPORTARC.ORIENT (0 : Plan, 1 : E-W, 2 : N-S) When the data is projected to a 2D View (plan or section), some 3D information can be lost. See the Application Notes below for more information.

Map scale

The map scale is optional for 2D views. If not specified, a new map is created with a default size of 30 cm by 30 cm, and the scale is automatically determined to fit the data Script Parameter: IMPORTARC.MAPSCALE (default = not defined)

Create a New Map dialog options (Map)

Map name

Specify the name of the new map. By default, it is automatically pre-populated with the same name as the input ArcGIS shapefile. Script Parameter: IMPORTARC.MAP

Create a New Database dialog options (Map)

Database name

Specify the name of the new database. By default, it is automatically pre-populated with the same name as the input ArcGIS shapefile. Script Parameter: IMPORTARC.DB

Application Notes

• An ArcGIS shapefile contains a single type of shape data, such as polygons, points, or lines. Each ArcGIS shape object may have associated data values, meaning each shape and its corresponding data value have an analogue in an Oasis montaj map or database object. The linkage between features and data is maintained by storing the X and Y location values for each shape in the Oasis montaj database, along with the data. Use the shadow cursor as usual to identify the correspondence between database rows and map features. ArcGIS features are stored in the "ArcGIS" view within a map, with the group name matching the ArcGIS shapefile's name (excluding the file type suffix).

• Shapefiles do not contain graphical attributes such as color, line type, line thickness, symbol type, symbol size, or pattern fills. As a result, shapes are rendered in black, with default values applied when creating the map. For example, point data is represented as filled black circles with a diameter of 1 mm.

• The associated data for each point is stored in the database, where the X and Y values correspond to the center of the bounding rectangle for ArcGIS shape objects. The number of database rows matches the number of shapes in the shapefile.

• ArcGIS shapefiles use PRJ files to define coordinate systems. If a PRJ file with the same name as the shapefile is present in the same directory, the projection defined by the PRJ file is used by the GX. If no PRJ file exists, the GX prompts the user to define a projection for the shapefile. A PRJ file is generated upon successful projection creation.

• If ArcGIS shapefiles are imported into a current map, the data is projected onto the plane of the current Data View. If the view is a normal "Plan" view, any Z-dimension information is lost. If the view is a "Section" view (such as those created for drillhole sections in Target), the data is horizontally projected onto that plane.

• 2D ArcGIS shapefiles imported into a 3D View are plotted on the current default plane. If no plane exists, one is created above the existing 3D objects. 3D ArcGIS shapefiles are imported, projected, and rendered in a 3D View as true 3D objects.

ArcGIS Shape	Oasis montaj Map Object	Notes
Point PointZ PointM Multipoint MultipointZ MultipointM	Symbol	A 1mm black filled circle is plotted at each point location. For PointZ or PointM data, the "Z" coordinates information, or "M" data value is imported to the database, as channels "Z" or "MData". For MultipointZ and MultipointM shapes, these values are ignored, because there is one value per vertex, not one value per shape. In a 3D view, a black point is plotted.
Polygon PolygonZ PolygonM	Polygon(s)	Any "Z" coordinate information or "M" data value is ignored when plotted to a plan map. The polygons are not filled.
Arc ArcZ ArcM	Lines(s)	Any "Z" coordinate information or "M" data value is ignored when plotted to a plan map.
MultiPatch MultiPatchZ MultiPatchM	Not imported.	An error message will appear, and the importation will terminate.
ArcGIS Shape Data	Oasis montaj Data Type	Notes
string	string	A character variable of width N is converted to one of width N+1 in Oasis montaj.
Integer	long	A 4-byte integer.
Double	double	An 8-byte floating point number.