Parent Topic: Data File Manipulation

File Creation

The New File Type selection panel allows the user to select the type of database file to create. If the user does not want to create a file, the Cancel button should be pressed.

This panel is invoked from the File Selection panel by entering the name of a file that does not exist, or from the main menu bar by selecting the ``New'' entry from the ``File'' pull-down menu.

To create a new database file, select the type of file desired and hit "OK". A panel specific to the desired file type will be popped up, allowing for the setting of specific creation information.

Once the file is created, it will become the currently selected file and data may be saved in it. The action of creating a file does not write any data to the file, this must be done explicitly using the various save panels. Newly created files are not necessarily written completely to disk till the program is exited, or another file is selected.

The ARC/Info Generate, AutoCAD DXF, and DLG-3 file types require no additional information and will be created immediately after the OK button is selected.

PCIDSK File Creation

The PCIDSK File Creation panel allows you to enter the desired filename, description, size, channel data type, and georeferencing information for a new PCIDSK database file.

In the "Name and Identification" Area of the panel the Facility and Description fields contain optional comment information to be stored in the file header.

The organization of the raster data within the PCIDSK file can be controlled with the "Format Options" option menu. The value of the different options is further described in the description of PCIDSK format.

The "Geo-Referencing Information" area of the panel allows the user to input the size of the file in pixels and lines, together with the pixel size. The option menu indicates the manner in which the file is created regarding the variation of the input parameters. If "Use pixels/lines and bounds" is selected then "pixel size" will be varied so that a file is created with the requested pixels, lines, and bounds. Similarly, the bounds will be varied if "Use pixel/lines and resolution" is selected. Finally the pixel and lines will be varied if "Use bounds and resolution" is selected.

The georeferencing system and bounds of the new file are specified with the GeoEdit control which is described in more detail in the GeoEdit topic.

The user will be prompted for confirmation before the file is created.

TIFF File Creation

The TIFF File Creation panel allows the user to enter the desired file name, size, and configuration. A TIFF file may be in one of three configurations. It may be an RGB file (three channels, TIFF R), a single 8-bit channel with an optional Pseudocolour Table (TIFF G or P) or a single bitmap (TIFF B).

Georeferencing information for the TIFF file may be specified using the GeoEdit control. Note that the georeferencing will be placed in an additional text file (with the extension .aux) and will not be recognised by any package except EASI/PACE.

After the file name, configuration, and database size have been set, the "Create" button will proceed to create the requested file.

It is not possible to create compressed TIFF files. The PACE task FEXPORT, or the File Utility Export panel should be used to do that.

See Also: TIFF Details, GeoEdit, File Utility

Laser-Scan File Creation

The Laser-Scan File Creation panel allows the user to enter the desired file name, size, and configuration. A Laser-Scan file may be in one of the five supported types. It can be an uncompressed greyscale, compressed pseudo-coloured, uncompressed RGB, uncompressed bitmap and uncompressed pseudo-coloured. It is not possible to create the type 1 and 6 (compressed bitmap) formats of Laser-Scan files.

Note that there is only one opportunity to save to compressed Laser-Scan files using the "Save Imagery" panel.

X Window Dump File Creation

The X Window Dump File Creation panel allows the user to enter the desired file name, size, and configuration. An X Window dump file may be in one of four configurations. It may be an RGB file (three channels) with LUTs, or a single 8-bit channel with a Pseudocolour Table.

After the file name, configuration, and database size have been set, the "Create" button will proceed to create the requested file. It will then become the currently selected file. The "Cancel" button may be used to abort file creation; control will be returned to the file selection panel.

Sun Raster File Creation

The Sun Raster File Creation panel allows the user to enter the desired file name, size, and configuration. A Sun Raster file may have either one, or three image planes.

If the created file has one image plane, it will also have an associated PCT. If an RGB file is created each band will have an associated LUT, though many packages may ignore it.

Erdas .LAN and .GIS File Creation

The Erdas File Creation panel allows the creation of 8-bit or 16-bit Erdas .LAN or .GIS files with a requested file name, size, and number of channels.

When .LAN files are created, only one channel should be selected. Note that it is not possible to create Erdas 4-bit files, and that all files created are the Erdas 7.4 format. The new version 8.0 format is not supported.

After the file name, data type, database size, and number of channels have been set, the ``Create'' may be used to create the requested file. It will then become the currently selected file. The ``Cancel'' button may be used to abort file creation.

Generic Vector File Creation

The Generic Vector File Creation panel is used for all formats in the ``Other Vector Format'' option menu on the type selection panel. The panel only contains two fields for entering values, the Filename field is used to enter, and modify the name of the file to create.

The Options field can be used to enter options to be applied when creating the named vector file. Option values are listed in the online help for each format. Very few vector formats offer options, but the Options text field is always displayed on the panel.

When the user presses the ``Create'' button the named file will be created. Then the File->Save Vectors panel can be used to save vector data to the file.

Generic Raster File Creation

The Generic Raster File Creation panel is used for all formats in the ``Other Raster Format'' option menu on the type selection panel.

The ``Options'' field can be used to enter options to be applied when creating the named file. Option values are listed in the online help for each format. For instance, the interleaving mode of Raw Binary format files can be controlled using options values of "LINE", "BAND", "TILED" or "PIXEL".

The ``Data Type'' radio buttons can be used to select the type of raster channels to be created. Some formats support only one data type in which case these radio buttons will not be offered. In some cases 16U, and 16S data types will be offered, while in fact only one of them is supported.

The ``Channels'' text field can be used to specify the number of channels (or bands) for the file to be created. Some file formats allow only one, or three bands. If another value is selected, an error will occur when the user hits the Create button.

The ``Geo-Referencing Information'' area of the panel allows the user to input the size of the file in pixels and lines, together with the pixel size. The option menu indicates the manner in which the file is created regarding the variation of the input parameters. If ``Use pixels/lines and bounds'' is selected then ``pixel size'' will be varied so that a file is created with the requested pixels, lines, and bounds. Similarly, the bounds will be varied if ``Use pixel/lines and resolution'' is selected. Finally the pixel and lines will be varied if ``Use bounds and resolution'' is selected.

The georeferencing system and bounds of the new file are specified with the GeoEdit control which is described in more detail in the GeoEdit topic.

When the user presses the ``Create'' button the named file will be created. There are illegal combinations of data type, number of channels, options, and projection definition which can only be detected when the user tries to create the file. In this case an error dialog will be displayed indicating what value is illegal.

Parent Topic: Data File Manipulation
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