Configuring a shape file data source

Use the data sources tool to configure a data source that acquires data from a shape file.

About this task

A shape file must be a ZIP archive file that contains one of each of the following file types. All the files in the archive must have the same base file name; for example, MyShapeFile.shp, MyShapeFile.dbf, and so on.
SHP file
A shape format file that defines the feature geometry.
SHX file
A shape index format file that defines a positional index of the feature geometry to enable quick forward and backward searching.
DBF file
An attribute format file that defines columnar attributes for each shape in dBase IV format.
The shape file might also contain optional SBN and SBX files that provide a spatial index of the features.

The shape file that you select is copied to the appropriate directory on the application server. In a multi-server environment, the shape file is copied to the appropriate directory on the application server.

Procedure

  1. Create a data source that has a data source definition type of From my own source with my own property mapping.
  2. Complete the data source configuration wizard, and configure the following parameters as indicated in the following list:
    Boundary area
    If you want the data source to be a boundary area, select Yes from the Boundary area list.
    Acquisition method
    Select Upload a shape file.
    Geometry format
    If you selected No for the Boundary area option, select Autodetect. Otherwise, select either Polygon or Multipolygon.
    Connection information
    Browse to the location of the shape file that you want to upload.
    Generate boundary items filter pane
    This option applies only to boundary data sources. To automatically generate a filter pane that displays individual boundary items from the data source, select Yes. Users can select one or more individual boundary items and display the items on the map.
    Data ingestion properties
    In the Step 3 of 3: Data Ingestion window, Location is selected by default. The system automatically creates the Location property, which is used to store location information, for example, coordinates. The Location property must be imported for correct operation of the shape file data source.
  3. On the Minimal Properties tab, configure the settings as appropriate:
    1. Optional: On the Time & Date tab, if start and end dates and times do not apply to the data source, select Make time and date filtering optional for this data source.
    Note: On the Name & Location tab, do not change the value of Location format, which is automatically set to Shape when you configure a shape file data source. The value of Shape is automatically set to Location, and you cannot change it.
  4. Optional: Configure the settings on the Security, Routing, and Appearance tabs according to your requirements.
    1. Click Appearance > Styles, and select a value for Opacity. The default value is 1, which is solid color that completely obscures any layers that are beneath it. To make the map visible beneath shape data items that are displayed on the map, choose a lower value such as 0.2.
    2. On the Styles tab, add extra styles to highlight individual shape data items with different colors.
  5. Use the filter configuration tool to add your data source to a pane in the filter so that you can view data items from the data source in the Operations view. If you selected Yes for the Generate boundary items filter pane option, a filter pane is generated automatically.