How to import data into ArcView

Done using ArcView 3.3

Import data into Excel.
In Excel, Row 1 should contain the headings for each of the columns to be imported into ArcView. Row 2 and below should contain the data. Select cell A1 (beginning of data) and then...

Save as .dbf
Click 'Save As' from File menu.
Choose "DBF 4 (dBASE IV)(*.dbf)" as file type, name the file and click save.

Open ArcView
Open ArcView -> choose "as blank project"
In the Project Box, click on 'Tables' -> click 'Add'
OR
From 'Project' menu, click 'Add Table...'
THEN:
Navigate to your .dbf file, select it, click 'OK'
Once it is open, check data to see if it imported correctly (or that it saved as a .dbf correctly).
In the Project Box, click 'Views'
Choose 'New' (or open a View if one is already open)

Add Event Theme From the 'View' menu, click 'Add Event Theme'
A dialog box will open
Choose your data from 'Table' option
Define X field and Y field (recall, Longitude = X, Latitude = Y)
Click 'Ok'
Turn on data in View.

Convert to Shapefile
Make sure the data is selected in the View box.
From the 'Theme' menu, click 'Convert to Shapefile...'
Name and save the shapefile
Note: It is helpful to incorporate the projection in the file name (i.e. gravity_dd.shp for decimal degrees).
Add the shapefile to your View.


Links
ASU GISLab
Navigate to help files created by the ASU GIS Lab from the main page (above), click 'Student Services,' then 'GIS Tutorials.'

Relavent files to this page (MS Word):
Importing_Tables.doc
point_from_cord.doc



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