Documentation | Help File | UI | 2D Mode | Menu | Data | Import data

Clicking on the Data/Import data menu item provides the means for importing additional attributes to the attribute table of a vector layer. The attributes can be imported from the following sources:

• files of the following formats: Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet (XLS), Data Base File (DBF), Microsoft Excel 2007 Spreadsheet (XLSX),
• databases by the Open DataBase Connectivity (ODBC) interface.

After the importing procedure is finished the imported attributes become a part of the layer and are displayed in the Data panel where they can be edited. When the user saves the layer the additional attributes are saved in the same file. The source from which the additional attributes were imported is not affected in any way.

To import additional attributes from a file into the attribute table of a vector layer

1. Activate (highlight) the desired layer. Do this by clicking on its name in the Legend.
2. Click on the Data/Import data menu item - this invokes the Import data dialog box.
3. Within the Import data dialog box, click on the File database (dbf, xls) option in the Select data list.
4. Click on the Next » button - this invokes the Open dialog box.
5. Within the Open dialog box go to the drive on which the file is stored.
6. Enter the directory which contains the file.
7. Double-click on the file - this brings back the Import data dialog box.
8. Within the Import data dialog box choose the table to be imported from the Select table list.
9. Define how the imported records are to be assigned to shapes by selecting layer attribute (Layer ID list) and database column (Database ID list).
10. Click on the Next » button.
11. Select which columns from the database table are to be imported.
12. Click on the Next » button.
13. When the progress bar reaches 100% the procedure is complete - click on the OK button.

To import additional attributes via the Open DataBase Connectivity (ODBC) interface into the attribute table of a vector layer

1. Activate (highlight) the layer to which the attributes will be imported. Do this by clicking on its name in the Legend.
2. Click on the Data/Import data menu item - this invokes the Import data dialog box.
3. Within the Import data dialog box click on the ODBC option in the Select data list.
4. Click on the Next » button - this invokes the Data Link Properties dialog box.
5. Within the Data Link Properties dialog box define the ODBC link according to the configuration of your database.
6. Click on the OK button - this brings back the Import data dialog box.
7. Within the Import data dialog box choose the table to be imported from the Select table list.
8. Define how the imported records are to be assigned to shapes by selecting layer attribute (Layer ID list) and database column (Database ID list).
9. Click on the Next » button.
10. Select which columns from the database table are to be imported.
11. Click on the Next » button.
12. When the progress bar reaches 100% the procedure is complete - click on the OK button.

Initial (data source) appearance of the Import data dialog box.

Table selection appearance of the Import data dialog box.

Attribute selection appearance of the Import data dialog box.

Data Link Properties dialog box.

• To preview and use the attributes stored in a database, use the Join Database feature.
• To add a layer stored in a database, use the Add from server feature.

• The user can always go back to the previous settings by clicking on the « Previous button.