Feature File

Description

Esri Shapefile

A shapefile is a simple, non-topological file format used for storing the geographic location and attribute information of geographic features. This file format, developed by the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), was designed for the Esri GIS and mapping system and consists of the following files:

§  .shp: The main file that stores records of shapes, geometry and vertices.

§  .dbf: The dBASE file type that stores attributes data for each geographic object (points, lines and polygons).

§  .shx: The index file that stores the offset of the related .shp file.

§  .qix: A spatial index file created by TerraExplorer Pro when adding a shapefile as a streaming layer for the first time.

Excel File

A spreadsheet file that contains data for analysis and manipulation using tables and formulas.

Note:   Both *.xls and *.xlsx files are supported.

TerraExplorer can read geographic location elements (points) from an Excel file, which is made possible by the user identifying the geographic fields.

Excel Files Basic Rules:

§  Each sheet in the file represents a single geographic layer.

§  Each row in a sheet represents a single geographic location.

§  Each row in the file should contain, at least: an X and Y coordinate (column).

Coordinate columns should be in a Number Data Type and Double Field Size.

Note:   Opening *.xlsx files on computers running a 64-bit version of Windows requires either Office 32-bit or ACE 32.

Text File

A Text file is a free format file describing geographic locations of elements (points). Text files can be generated manually using a common text editor or loaded from other data forms (e.g., exported files from Microsoft Excel or from a Rational database).

Note:   Both *.txt and *.csv files are supported.

Text Files Basic Rules:

§  Each line in the file represents a single geographic location.

§  Each line in the file contains, at least, an X and Y coordinate, and content data.

§  Every line must have the same number of columns. Corresponding columns must have the same data types (although optional parameters are allowed).

§  Optional parameters may be represented by empty spaces when using a TAB, comma or semi-colon as separators. For example, if the column format is "X, Y, H, P" where only "X" and "Y" are mandatory parameters, "X, Y" is sufficient to set the X and Y values only, but “X, Y, P” is required to set the P value.

§  When using SPACE as a separator, the number of spaces in between columns is irrelevant. Therefore, empty parameters are not allowed in this type of file.

§  It is mandatory that the chosen separator from the Select Text File dialog box is exactly the same as the separator used in the file.

For custom separators, it is required that the characters used are not in conflict with the data. For example, if the data contains a URL in the form “http://<URL>,” using a colon as a custom separator, TerraExplorer distinguishes “http” as one column, and “//<URL>” as another.

Esri File Geodatabase (*.gdb)

A File Geodatabase stores as a folder of files that hold geographic data, attribute data, index files, lock files, and a signature file as well as other files. Each feature class or table in the geodatabase is stored in two or more files.

MapInfo file (Tab, Mif, Mid)

A MapInfo file is a two-dimensional format that stores both feature geometry and attribute information. This file format was developed and regulated by MapInfo.

There are two types of MapInfo files:

§  TAB - MapInfo native format

§  MIF/MID

The TAB format consists of the following files:

§  .tab: The ASCII file which is the link between all other files and holds information about the type of data file.

§  .dat: Stores the attribute data.

§  .id: Stores information linking graphic data to the database information. This file contains an index to the MAP file for each feature.

§  .map: Stores the graphic and geographic information needed to display a map.

§  .ind: Optional index files for tabular data. Which are present if any fields are indexed.

These files must be kept together in the same directory.

The MIF/MID format consists of the following files:

§  .mif: Stores the geometric data.

§  .mid: Stores the attribute data.

These files must be kept together in the same directory.

Microstation DGN

Microstation DGN files can contain points, lines, areas, text, and other object types. Features all have the following generic attributes:

§  Type - The integer type code as listed below in supported elements.

§  Level - The DGN level number (0-63).

§  GraphicGroup - The graphic group number.

§  ColorIndex - The color index from the dgn palette.

§  Weight - The drawing weight (thickness) for the element.

§  Style - The style value for the element.

Note:   TerraExplorer supports v7 or lower of the DGN format.

AutoCAD DXF File

A Data Interchange File or *.dxf is an ASCII file format used to exchange vector-based graphics files. This format was developed, and is maintained, by Autodesk for the AutoCAD system. It is one of the most widely supported vector formats in PC-based CAD products.

A DXF file is composed of graphic entities such as 2D primitives, 3D primitives and blocks (which are groups of entities).

Feature layers based on DXF files are read-only. Layers can contain more than one type of geometry.

TerraExplorer Pro supports the following graphical objects and features in DXF files:

§  Point: An entity with single X, Y, Z coordinates. It can be represented by the “Points Layer Parameters” as listed later in this document.

§  Arc: Any smooth curve joining two points.

§  Circle: A set of points equidistant from a given point.

§  Line: A single line segment.

§  Polyline: A connected sequence of line segments created as a single object.

§  3D Solid: A solid object with free-form surface support.

§  3D Face: 3D triangular or quadrilateral plane section.

§  Text: A single line of alphanumeric characters.

§  Attrib: An object containing text that links to a block.

§  Layers: Any drawing entity can be assigned to any layer of the drawing, allowing separation of portions of the drawing.

SQLite (*.sqlite, *.db)

Spatial enabled SQLite databases stored in SQLite 3.x database files.

Note:    Although non-spatial tables are also supported, they are not recommended for optimal performance.

GDAL Virtual Datasource (VRT)

A VRT file is an XML file that transforms features read from other GDAL feature sources based on criteria specified in the file. The XML control file is essentially a metadata XML file describing various properties of the actual raster/vector file, like pixel dimensions, geolocation, etc. It is primarily used to derive spatial layers from flat tables with spatial information in attribute columns. It can also be used to associate coordinate system information with a data source, merge layers from different data sources into a single data source, or even just to provide an anchor file for access to non-file oriented data sources. See http://www.gdal.org/drv_vrt.html for more information.

GeoPackage

An Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) standard that at its core, is simply an SQLite database schema. It provides the performance of a spatial database along with the convenience of a file-based data set.

Geospatial PDF

A set of geospatial extensions to the Portable Document Format (PDF) that relate a region in the document page to a region in physical space.

S-57

Vector interchange format used for maritime charts. Base files normally have the extension .000 while the update files have extensions like .001, .002 etc. The S-57 reader will normally read and apply all updates files to the in memory version of the base file on the fly. The feature data provided to the application therefore includes all the updates.

GeoJson

GeoJSON is a format for encoding a variety of geographic data structures. GeoJSON is an open standard format designed for representing simple geographical features, along with their non-spatial attributes, based on JavaScript Object Notation. The features include points, line strings, polygons, and multi-part collections of these types.

Autodesk DWG File

The native file format for Autodesk’s AutoCAD® software. It is automatically converted to DXF before it is loaded into the project.

Server

Description

Web Feature Server (WFS, WFS-T)

WFS is a standard protocol published by the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) for serving geographical features over the Internet. TerraExplorer supports WFS 1.0.0, 1.1.0, 1.1.1, and 2.0.0. A WFS service with transactions (WFS-T) allows WFS clients to apply edits (inserts, deletes and updates) to the data in the source database through the WFS service.

TerraGate SFS (WFS)

Skyline’s TerraGate SFS Server efficiently streams feature layers (Legacy support).

Esri ArcSDE

The Spatial Database Engine (SDE) is a client/server application that enables feature layers to be stored, managed and retrieved from database management systems like Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, Sybase, IBM DB2 and Informix. Loading of layers from ArcSDE is only supported through ArcSDE 10.2 (Esri deprecated the application server connection method after this version). From ArcSDE 10.3 and above, layers can be loaded using the WFS/REST services.

Oracle Spatial

Oracle Spatial (formerly called SDO, and before that MultiDimension), provides a way to store and retrieve multi-dimensional data in Oracle. It is primarily used for Geographical Information Systems to implement geo-reference and solve queries such as how is something related to a specific location.

Note:   In order to load an Oracle Spatial layer you must have an Oracle Client installed on your computer.

SQL Spatial

Microsoft SQL Server Spatial Database provides support for access to spatial tables in Microsoft SQL Server 2008+ which contains the geometry and geography data types to represent the geometry columns.

PostgreSQL with PostGIS

Postgre SQL is an object-relational database management system (ORDBMS). It is released under an MIT-style license and is thus free and open-source software.

It supports a large part of the SQL standard and offers many features:

§  Complex queries

§  Foreign keys

§  Triggers

§  Views

§  Transactional integrity

§  Multiversion concurrency control

PostGIS adds support for geographic objects to the PostgreSQL object-relational database. In effect, PostGIS "spatially enables" the PostgreSQL server, allowing it to be used as a backend spatial database for geographic information systems (GIS). PostGIS follows the OpenGIS "Simple Features Specification for SQL" and has been certified as compliant with the "Types and Functions" profile.

ArcGIS GeoServices REST Server

Esri’s ArcGIS GeoServices REST (Representational State Transfer) Server relies on a stateless (generally HTTP), client-server, cacheable communications protocol. This allows fast performance, reliability, and the ability to grow, by re-using components that can be managed and updated without affecting the system as a whole, even while it is running.

MongoDB

MongoDB is a NoSQL document-oriented database that stores data in JSON-like documents with optional schemas.

Parameter

Activity

Server

The Server Host Name, which is the IP address of the server.

User Name

User name to access the server (mandatory).

Password

Enter the password.

Remember Password

Select this option to save the password. The password will be remembered and will be displayed in asterisks the next time the SkylineGlobe Server dialog box is displayed.

Connection Information

Description

Previous Connections

Displays information from any previous connection you made in the past.

WFS Server

Enter the current URL link if not provided in the Previous Connections field.

WFS Version

Select the WFS version.

WFS 1.0.0, 1.1.0, 1.1.1, and 2.0.0 are the currently supported versions.

User

Enter your WFS Server user name.

Password

Enter your WFS Server password.

Remember Password

Select this option to save the password. The password will be remembered and will be displayed in asterisks the next time the Select WFS Provider dialog box is displayed.

Connection Information

Description

Previous Connections

Displays information from any previous connection you made in the past.

Server

Server name (mandatory).

Instance

Instance name.

Port

Port number.

You must fill in either the instance name or the port number.

Database

Database name (optional).

ArcSDE 8.x, 9.x

Select the ArcSDE 8.x check box to indicate connection to an ArcSDE 8 or an ArcSDE 9 database.

User

User name to access the server (mandatory).

Password

Enter the password.

Remember Password

Select this option to save the password. The password will be remembered and will be displayed in asterisks the next time the Connect to ArcSDE Server dialog box is displayed.

Parameter

Activity

Previous Connections

Displays information from any previous connection you made in the past.

User

Enter the user name.

Password

Enter the password.

Remember Password

Select this option to save the password. The password is remembered and displayed in asterisks the next time the Oracle Spatial Server dialog box is displayed.

Service

The Net Service name.

Parameter

Activity

Previous Connections

Displays information from any previous connection you made in the past.

Server

The Server Host Name, which is the IP address of the server.

Database

Database name (optional).

Use Windows Authentication

When the Use Windows Authentication check box is selected, the SQL Server OLE DB provider will request a secure (or trusted) connection to a SQL Server running on Microsoft platform. The SQL Server will use integrated login security to establish connections using this data source, regardless of the current login security mode at the server. Any login ID or password supplied is ignored. The SQL Server system administrator must associate your login with a SQL Server login ID.

When cleared, the SQL Server will use standard login security to establish connections using this data source. You must specify a login ID and password for all connection requests.

User

User name to access the server.

Note:   If the Use Windows Authentication check box is selected, the User name field is unavailable

Password

Enter the password.

Note:   If the Use Windows Authentication check box is selected, the User name field is unavailable

Remember Password

Select this option to save the password. The password will be remembered and will be displayed in asterisks the next time the SQL Server dialog box is displayed.

Parameter

Activity

Previous Connections

Displays information from any previous connection you made in the past.

Host

The Server Host Name, which is the IP address of the server.

Database

Database name (optional).

Port

Port number.

User

User name to access the server (mandatory).

Password

Enter the password.

Parameter

Activity

Previous Connections

Displays information from any previous connection you made in the past.

Host

The database host name, which is the IP address of the server holding the database.

Database

Database name (optional).

Port

Port number.

User

User name to access the server (mandatory).

Password

Enter the password.

Parameter

Description

Reprojection

Reproject

If the coordinate system of the layer is different from the coordinate system of the terrain, do the following:

1.      Select the Reproject check box. See “Coordinate System Dialog Box” in the “Basic Concepts” chapter for information.

2.      Click the Set Coordinate System button to open the Coordinate System dialog to specify the coordinate system of the layer.

Note:   If TerraExplorer automatically recognized the layer's coordinate system, the Reproject check box is automatically selected and the Layer Coordinate System section is populated.

Options

Load Option

Select the required option:

§  Stream - Information from the remote layer file is retrieved, added to the terrain, and then removed dynamically based on the camera's position. This option enables you to fly without waiting for the entire layer to load.

§  Entire Layer - The entire layer is loaded from the server when the FLY file opens.

Create Annotations

Select the Create Annotations check box to automatically add a point annotation object in the center of each layer feature, which can be used to convey information, textually or graphically, relating to the feature. The center point is determined according to the type of feature layer:

§  Point – Same point.

§  Polygon – Center of polygon (center of gravity, normally inside).

§  Polyline – Center along the line.

Advanced

Click to set advanced streaming parameters. See “Setting Advanced Streaming Parameters” in this chapter for further information.

Predefined Visibility

Globe/ Continent/ Country/ State/ City/ House

Select the viewer altitude from which visibility distance and scale is set to optimum.

Advanced Streaming Property

Description

Bounding Box

The loaded feature layer area is bounded within the coordinates of a fixed rectangular area.

These coordinates are retrieved from the source file or the source server. You can change the coordinates of the layer bounding box only if the Load Layer parameters are set to Streaming.

The coordinates parameters are as follows:

§  Upper Left X and Upper Left Y: The coordinates of the upper left corner of the required bounding box.

§  Lower Right X and Lower Right Y: The coordinates of the lower right corner of the required bounding box.

Optimization

This option is available only for streaming layers.

Block Width

You can change the geographic block width of the stream requests that are sent from TerraExplorer to the remote server.

Changing the block width can improve performance, For example, a block width that is about double the average line feature size, or covers about 50 point features, can improve streaming behavior. This field is enabled when the Load option in the Options section of the General Settings dialog box is set to Streaming.

Select one of the following options:

§  Auto: TerraExplorer Pro calculates dynamically the request block width according to performance related criteria.

§  Predefined Set of Block Width Suggestions: Select the block width in meters or kilometers.

Label Annotation for Polylines

This option is available only for streaming layers, when you are creating a polyline and an annotation symbol.

Dynamic Placement

When the Dynamic Placement option is selected, annotations are dynamically moved along the polyline object to which they are assigned, to a visible area in the 3D Window.

This applies only to polyline objects whose altitude method field value is set to On Terrain.

Minimize Duplications

When the Minimize Duplications option is selected, repeating labels, with the same text or image, are removed from the view.