Export options in ArcGIS
I'm attempting to spatially join the point data to the polygons. I'm having trouble with the exporting data from the table section. When the table is open for the points file, there is an "export" button at the bottom of the screen and it initially seems to work just like the right click option that we used to change CAD data into a shapefile. However, the points aren't coming up as shape files. it converts them to dbf files but there seems to be no spatial data associated with them. The same problem is happening with regards to the tables for the polygons.
posted by John Hinchman @ 8:50 AM
1 Comments:
have comfort in knowing that you are making a mistake that I think everyone who has ever used Arcview has made ,and I think is a bit of a design flaw in the software (or perhaps a bit of a confusion).
When you want to make a shape file from any pre-existing shape file you will always want to right click on the title of that shape file from thelist of shapefiles shown on the left side of the ArcGIS interface which is known as the table of contents. Since you now have a digital file which works both in the plan view (the map) as well as the table view (the attributes table), the common misconception is that the way to make a shapefile when working with the plan is to use the export data option from the right click option and the way to make the shapefile when working with the table is to use the export option found in the table options. Unfortunately the result of exporting from the table option (and the one that I think you are having the problem with) is that it actually exports the table to an outside location where you will be able to open it in Access, Excel or any other table software.The choose you are making is intended not to make a new shapefile but is instead intended to actually export the table. When you make this selection, the table is copied to an outside location (it is not removed from the current shapefile but is instead just copied). This new table you have copied is no longer attached to any graphic representation of your data. It is the option you would use if you were trying to get data out of ArcGIS into Access ( or any table software) so that you could link it to other tables from outside resources.
To make this simpler the best thing to do is to always remember that whatever way you are choosing your cells (either by choosing from the table or choosing from the map) you will always need to right click on that shapefile in the TOC to the left side of the map and choose DATA > EXPORT DATA option to create a new shapefile from a pre-existing one.
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