Import File

Import File allows you to import shapefiles of polygons and points, and Excel files containing address information. You can import Excel files with a maximum of 100 records and a file size limit of 1 MB. Shapefiles can be imported with a maximum of 100 records and a file size limit of 3 MB. Shapefiles must be a single zipped file containing .shp and .prj files. If you simply want to view points on the map, see Import Locations. A larger number of points can be imported there.

When working, the Prev and Next buttons guide you through the workflow. The step that you are on appears and the number of steps is provided along with an indication of what can be done.

You can use the site menu to get reports; edit the site; edit site colors; hide and show labels; and organize, compare, and clear the site.

Steps:

1. Click the Select Location tab and click Import File.

   The Import File pane appears.

2. Click Browse to choose the file that you want to import.

   Once selected, the file name appears in the Select file to import text box.

3. Click Import.

To import an Excel file

The Import Confirmation dialog box appears.

Steps:

1. Confirm the column headings that will be extracted from the selected file. You can choose from Site Name, Address, City, ZIP, State, and/or Latitude and Longitude.

   You can select the column for your site name which is optional.

2. Click Import.

   The Import Locations dialog box appears with the import progress results. Invalid addresses and multiple matches can be corrected in the following dialog box.

3. Click Next.
4. If any corrections are needed for multiple matches and invalid addresses, you can make the corrections.
   • For multiple matches, select the correct address from the options provided. For invalid addresses, type in a new address. Click Find Again.
   • Or if you don't want to make any corrections, click Ignore All.

   The locations successfully found appear and are all checked by default.

5. You can select the location symbol. You can choose from the pin symbol or the customizable symbol. The default is the pin.
6. To use the customizable symbol, click the icon. A pop-up appears for you to choose the shape, size, and color. Click the customizable symbol to close the pop-up.
7. Check Open label for each location after import if you want a label open for each location after importing. By default, this is unchecked.
8. Click Add Selected Locations.

   The symbol for the selected locations appears on the map.

   Click Next in the Find Location pane to add rings, drive times, or donuts.

   The Import File step 2 of 3 pane appears.

To import a shapefile

You can import point or polygonal shapefiles.

Importing a point shapefile

The Import Confirmation dialog box appears.

Steps:

1. Confirm the description attribute that will be extracted from the selected file.
2. To use the customizable symbol, click the icon. A pop-up appears for you to choose the shape, size, and color. Click the customizable symbol to close the pop-up.
3. Check Show label for each location if you want a label shown for each location. By default, this is unchecked.
4. Click OK.

Importing a polygonal shapefile

The Import Confirmation dialog box appears.

Steps:

1. Click the radio button to indicate if you want to create sites from shapefiles as a single site or multiple sites.

   The default is multiple sites.

   Confirm the description attribute that will be extracted from the selected file.

2. Click OK.

   The Find Location step 1 of 2 pane appears. You can use any of the options provided below.

Having trouble importing a shapefile

Here are some tips for importing shapefiles.

• The ZIP archive must contain the .shp, .shx, .dbf and .prj files that comprise the shapefile.
• There should only be one shapefile in a ZIP archive.
• The files must be stored directly in the root (the central directory) of the ZIP archive, not in the directories within the archive. If your ZIP file viewer shows Path information, the Path should be blank.
• You can import standard compressed archive .zip files; other compression formats aren't supported at this time.
• You can't import shapefiles containing multi patch or multipoint geometries.
• The shapefile should contain valid geometries. Currently, self-intersections in polygon shapefiles aren't supported.

  If you have ArcGIS Desktop, you can use the Repair Geometry tool to correct invalid geometries in shapefiles. Click here for information about the Repair Geometry tool.

• The shapefile must have an accompanying .prj file in which the coordinate system of the data is defined. If you have ArcGIS Desktop, you can define the coordinate system of a shapefile, which creates an appropriate .prj file for the shapefile. You need to know the appropriate coordinate system to choose for your data. Click here for more information on defining the coordinate system for a shapefile by selecting an existing coordinate system.

Site Options

Getting reports

This provides you with reports for the location you have created.

In the Import File pane, click Get Reports.

This activates the Get Reports tab.

Comparing sites

This allows you to create on-screen comparisons of your recently created sites.

In the Import File pane, click Compare Sites.

The Compare Sites dialog box appears.

Adding another site

This allows you to add another site.

In the Import File pane, click Add Another Site.

This brings you back to the Find Location pane where you can locate another site.

Saving a site

This allows you to save the site you have created. You can select the folder where you want to save the location, change the site name, or create a new folder in which to save the site.

Steps:

1. In the Import File pane in step 3 of 3, click Save Site.

   The Save Site dialog box appears.

2. For Site name, enter a name for your site.
3. You now have the option to save in an existing folder by selecting one from the Save in drop-down menu.
   • To save in an existing folder, choose one from the Save in drop-down menu.
   • To save in a new folder, click the Create New Folder icon .
If you are working with more than one site in a single log-on session, you can choose to save multiple sites in the same folder or different folders.

Saving to the same folder

Steps:

1. To save multiple sites in the same folder, click the Same Folder radio button.
2. Check the check box next to each of the sites that you want to save.
3. Choose a folder in which to save your sites by doing one of the following:
   • Choose an existing folder from the Save in drop-down menu.
   • Create a new folder by clicking the folder with the plus sign and typing a name in the Save in drop-down menu.
   • Move up one folder level to save in the folder above this subfolder by clicking the folder with the red arrow .
     Note:

     This becomes enabled when a subfolder is selected in the Save in drop-down list.

4. Click Save.

Saving to different folders

If you are saving multiple sites, you can save the sites in different folders.

Steps:

1. To save multiple sites in different folders, click the Different Folders radio button.
2. Check the check box next to the sites that you want to save.
3. Choose a folder in which to save your first set of sites by doing one of the following:
   • Choose an existing folder from the Save in drop-down menu.
   • Create a new folder by clicking the folder with the plus sign and typing a name in the Save in drop-down menu.
   • Move up one folder level to save in the folder above this subfolder by clicking the folder with the red arrow .
     Note:

     This becomes enabled when a subfolder is selected in the Save in drop-down list.

4. Continue this process until you have selected folders for each of the sites.
5. Click Save.