Documentation | Help File | UI | 2D Mode | Menu | Layer | Add

Clicking on the Layer/Add menu item provides the means for opening an individual vector or raster (image, grid) layer stored on a local disk. The opened layer is automatically drawn by the Map area. The new layer is added to the current project and appears on the list of layers in the Legend. If no map project or other layer is currently open, the first-opened layer becomes a one-layer project to which additional layers can be added.

The program automatically reads the coordinate system of the newly opened layer and, if different than the Map area coordinate system, reprojects the layer display on-the-fly to the Map area coordinate system. If no map project or other layer is currently open, the program uses the coordinate system of the first-opened layer as the map area coordinate system.

If a coordinate system for the newly opened layer is not recognized (because coordinate system information is missing, corrupted, or the layer does not reflect a coordinate system), the program presents the Rectify Layer warning message box with the option to Rectification and/or georeference the layer to a coordinate system.

To open a layer file and add it to the current project

1. Click on the Layer/Add menu item - this invokes the Open dialog box.
2. Within the Open dialog box, go to the drive on which the layer is saved.
3. Enter the directory which contains the layer.
4. Double-click on the layer file name.

• The icon on the Standard toolbar.
• The Add item in the Legend context menu.

• To add a layer file stored on a remote server (such as via the web using an OGC protocol), use the Add from server feature.
• To add a map layer stored in a database on the local computer or via a network, use the Add from server feature.
• The Open feature can also be used to open a vector or raster layer, if there is no currently open project or layer. Open cannot be used to add a layer to a current project.

• To close (remove from the Map area) a layer, use the Remove function.

• The Ctrl+Ins key combination.

• By default, the Open dialog box filter isCommon files. This presents a list of files of common types (formats), but not all supported types. The file list display can be customized by changing the filter using the Files of type list.
• The program recognizes thousands of coordinate systems and looks for layer coordinate system information (i) embedded natively in the layer and (ii) contained in an external file(s) associated with the layer. For vector layers, the program checks for the presence of an external PRJ or TRN file file. (PRJ and TRN files have the same file name as the map layer file but with the *.prj or *.trn name extension.) For image layers, the program also checks for an associated TAB registration or World File with coordinate system information. (A World File has name extensions such as *.pgw for a PNG image, *.bpw for a BMP image, *.jgw or *.jfw for a JPG image…) External coordinate system files are prioritized over layer embedded information and the PRJ file is prioritized over other external coordinate system files.
• The Add feature can be also used to import point data with attributes that are stored in a Comma Separated Values (CSV) type file. The CSV file can be opened as a CSV layer. Because some programs (such as Microsoft Excel) export CSV files using a semicolon as the value separator (instead of a comma) and a comma as the digit separator (instead of a dot) for numeric values, there can be some format deviations concerning CSV files. The Editor is designed to auto-detect the arrangement of a CSV file and import the data correctly. However, when saving to a CSV file, the Editor always uses comma as the value separator and dot as the digit separator. It also automatically determines if the values are integers, floating point numbers, or character strings. Others, such as dates, are treated as character strings.