Shp file! What shp file?

[Anonymous]

I've been given some .shp files to import into a map. I can see .dbf, .sbn,
.sbx, .shp, and .shx files with windows explorer but when I try to import
them I have a blank file. I have an old version of Map3 that can see the
files but, can not open them either. I have gone through the menu route
Map/Tools/Import.., selected [ESRI shape] but, there is nothing there. I
used [mapimport] on the command line, and got the same results. The best
result so far was dropping the shape file into a new dwg from windows
explorer. I get the following message.

Bad shape definition at line 1 of *file name*
Expected '*n,len,name' shape header

I must be missing something.

thanks

PBrown

[Anonymous]

Might get better replies by posting in the MAP newsgroup

--

Chip Harper
Member of the AutoDesk Discussion Forum Moderator Program

[Anonymous]

Paul wrote:

> I've been given some .shp files to import into a map. I can see .dbf, .sbn,
> .sbx, .shp, and .shx files with windows explorer but when I try to import
> them I have a blank file. I have an old version of Map3 that can see the
> files but, can not open them either. I have gone through the menu route
> Map/Tools/Import.., selected [ESRI shape] but, there is nothing there. I
> used [mapimport] on the command line, and got the same results. The best
> result so far was dropping the shape file into a new dwg from windows
> explorer. I get the following message.
>
> Bad shape definition at line 1 of *file name*
> Expected '*n,len,name' shape header
>
> I must be missing something.
>
> thanks
>
> PBrown

shp files are text files that can be compiled into shx files. However, if you
have for instance romans.shp and romans.shx, you don't need to compile the shp
as you already have the shx file. As for the other, I am not familiar with
them.

[Anonymous]

Walt,
In terms of AutoCAD shp files are text files, in ESRI terms shp files are
part of their graphic files. ERSI uses three files (shp,shx,dbf) to display
one type of object. Paul is doing the import right other than the drop and
drag.

Murph


"Walt Engle" wrote in message
news:3F273D06.6CEE62C1@houston.rr.com...
> Paul wrote:
>
> > I've been given some .shp files to import into a map. I can see .dbf,
.sbn,
> > .sbx, .shp, and .shx files with windows explorer but when I try to
import
> > them I have a blank file. I have an old version of Map3 that can see
the
> > files but, can not open them either. I have gone through the menu route
> > Map/Tools/Import.., selected [ESRI shape] but, there is nothing there.
I
> > used [mapimport] on the command line, and got the same results. The
best
> > result so far was dropping the shape file into a new dwg from windows
> > explorer. I get the following message.
> >
> > Bad shape definition at line 1 of *file name*
> > Expected '*n,len,name' shape header
> >
> > I must be missing something.
> >
> > thanks
> >
> > PBrown
>
> shp files are text files that can be compiled into shx files. However, if
you
> have for instance romans.shp and romans.shx, you don't need to compile the
shp
> as you already have the shx file. As for the other, I am not familiar
with
> them.
>
>

[Anonymous]

Type COMPILE at the command prompt and select the .shp file you wish to
compile into a .shx file, then try importing the .shx file.

--
Daniel J. Altamura, R.A.
Altamura Architectural Consulting
and SoftWorx, Autodesk Authorized Developer
DAltamura@compuserve.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------


"Paul" wrote in message
news:2CC29645B6A9ED7BADFF598E8FDA4314@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> I've been given some .shp files to import into a map. I can see .dbf,
.sbn,
> .sbx, .shp, and .shx files with windows explorer but when I try to import
> them I have a blank file. I have an old version of Map3 that can see the
> files but, can not open them either. I have gone through the menu route
> Map/Tools/Import.., selected [ESRI shape] but, there is nothing there. I
> used [mapimport] on the command line, and got the same results. The best
> result so far was dropping the shape file into a new dwg from windows
> explorer. I get the following message.
>
> Bad shape definition at line 1 of *file name*
> Expected '*n,len,name' shape header
>
> I must be missing something.
>
> thanks
>
> PBrown
>
>

[Anonymous]

P.S.
.shp is a Shape file used for fonts and "shapes." Shapes were used way back
in the old days of AutoCAD before blocks were introduced. I hated them.
Type SHAPE at the command prompt to import .shx files, once you have them
compiled from .shp files.

--
Daniel J. Altamura, R.A.
Altamura Architectural Consulting
and SoftWorx, Autodesk Authorized Developer
DAltamura@compuserve.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------


"Daniel J. Altamura, R.A." wrote in message
news:38CB177044DCF423A122BDAE1C8D624D@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Type COMPILE at the command prompt and select the .shp file you wish to
> compile into a .shx file, then try importing the .shx file.
>
> --
> Daniel J. Altamura, R.A.
> Altamura Architectural Consulting
> and SoftWorx, Autodesk Authorized Developer
> DAltamura@compuserve.com
> -----------------------------------------------------------------

[Anonymous]

In AutoCAD terms YES I agree with you on them being fonts/shape/symbols,
However if terms of ESRI i.e.. ArcView, ArcInfo, and a list of their other
software they are not the same. Whenever there is ABC.dbf, ABC.sbn, ABC.sbx,
ABC.shp, and ABC.shx files all together in a fold they are part of a GIS
project. The shp file is the geometry of a drawing, the dbf is the data
that goes with it, the shx is the file that links the two together, the sbn
& sbx are the two files that tell it how to appear on the screen. And that's
just for 1(one) type of object now if you think in ACAD terms one layer
would equal all those files then take into account 15-20 layers in your
project it can get to be a pain for document management. One reason I push
AutoCAD Map over ESRI software.

The error was way back in the early days when their was no "Standard" or
"ANSI" or whatever to file naming of extension. The big question is who was
first ADSK or ESRI.

I took me a few days to figure it out and get used to both file extensions
when I started using ArcView with AutoCAD so I'm not picking on you Daniel
or anyone else for that matter just trying to clear things a little.


Murph

[Anonymous]

P.S.
AutoCAD Map can import those shp file that are ERSI files format and
convert them to layers/lines/blocks & etc as requested by the user by using
the Mapimport commands. They are not autocad shapes as we know them.


"Murph" wrote in message
news:8F6AAB7382F3D8D906E0C98A368D288B@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> In AutoCAD terms YES I agree with you on them being fonts/shape/symbols,
> However if terms of ESRI i.e.. ArcView, ArcInfo, and a list of their other
> software they are not the same. Whenever there is ABC.dbf, ABC.sbn,
ABC.sbx,
> ABC.shp, and ABC.shx files all together in a fold they are part of a GIS
> project. The shp file is the geometry of a drawing, the dbf is the data
> that goes with it, the shx is the file that links the two together, the
sbn
> & sbx are the two files that tell it how to appear on the screen. And
that's
> just for 1(one) type of object now if you think in ACAD terms one layer
> would equal all those files then take into account 15-20 layers in your
> project it can get to be a pain for document management. One reason I push
> AutoCAD Map over ESRI software.
>
> The error was way back in the early days when their was no "Standard" or
> "ANSI" or whatever to file naming of extension. The big question is who
was
> first ADSK or ESRI.
>
> I took me a few days to figure it out and get used to both file extensions
> when I started using ArcView with AutoCAD so I'm not picking on you Daniel
> or anyone else for that matter just trying to clear things a little.
>
>
> Murph
>
>
>
>

[Anonymous]

Paul,

If I read you correctly, you are asking why autodesk map does not list the
files in a folder where ESRI shape files are stored despite choosing the
file of types as ESRI shape.

If you see the title of the dialog it states "Import Location" which means
you navigate to the folder where your shape files are located and just click
ok, this should read all the valid shape files and list them subsequently,
then you can choose which shape file to import.

On the other hand, if you meant after importing you're not seeing the data
which is suppose to be there, then you might want to check the shape file
itself. Autodesk supports shape 3.x and 8.x formats.

Hope this helps....Mickey.


"Paul" wrote in message
news:2CC29645B6A9ED7BADFF598E8FDA4314@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> I've been given some .shp files to import into a map. I can see .dbf,
.sbn,
> .sbx, .shp, and .shx files with windows explorer but when I try to import
> them I have a blank file. I have an old version of Map3 that can see the
> files but, can not open them either. I have gone through the menu route
> Map/Tools/Import.., selected [ESRI shape] but, there is nothing there. I
> used [mapimport] on the command line, and got the same results. The best
> result so far was dropping the shape file into a new dwg from windows
> explorer. I get the following message.
>
> Bad shape definition at line 1 of *file name*
> Expected '*n,len,name' shape header
>
> I must be missing something.
>
> thanks
>
> PBrown
>
>

[Anonymous]

Paul,
I see what you mean I cannot see shape files either and these are files that
I could see with the previous version

g
"Paul" wrote in message
news:2CC29645B6A9ED7BADFF598E8FDA4314@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> I've been given some .shp files to import into a map. I can see .dbf,
.sbn,
> .sbx, .shp, and .shx files with windows explorer but when I try to import
> them I have a blank file. I have an old version of Map3 that can see the
> files but, can not open them either. I have gone through the menu route
> Map/Tools/Import.., selected [ESRI shape] but, there is nothing there. I
> used [mapimport] on the command line, and got the same results. The best
> result so far was dropping the shape file into a new dwg from windows
> explorer. I get the following message.
>
> Bad shape definition at line 1 of *file name*
> Expected '*n,len,name' shape header
>
> I must be missing something.
>
> thanks
>
> PBrown
>
>

[Anonymous]

Paul,

Give MAPIMPORT4 a try. It's the old/original translator.

Mark Martinez
The D.C. CADD Company