Saving feature layers

Changes made to groups and layers can be saved in the following file formats:

§  Esri shapefile

§  TerraExplorer project file (*.fly)

Note:       When saving to a FLY, the files used by the FLY are not collected (as they are when publishing a TerraExplorer project), and the paths remain the same as the original FLY. Use this option if you intend to use the exported FLY in the same location as the current FLY file you are using.

§  KML/KMZ file

Modifications to a layer can be made to the original source file or to a new file. 

Saving layer changes to the original data source

To save layer changes to the original source file:

Note:   These commands are only available for shapefiles, File GeoDatabase files, KML/KMZ files that were created by TerraExplorer (by exporting a layer or project to KML/KMZ), and WFS-T. 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. See "Export to KML/KMZ" in the "Basic Concepts" chapter for more information on exporting to KML/KMZ.  

§  In the Project Tree, right-click the required layer and select Save Layer from the shortcut menu.

or

§  On the Feature Layer tab, in the Load and Save group, click Save Layer.

A warning dialog is displayed cautioning you that you are about to modify the original source file. Click Yes to continue or No to cancel.

Saving layer changes to a new file

You can save a layer to a new local file. This can be particularly useful if a layer is located on a slow accessed remote server; by saving to a local file, you speed up access.

Note:   A layer can be saved to a new file when the Entire Layer was loaded (fully or partially), as well as when a layer was streamed.

You can save to the following file formats:

§  SQLite (.sqlite)

§  File Geodatabase (.gdb)

§  GeoPackage (.gpkg)

§  Shapefile (.shp)

§  AutoCAD DXF (.dxf)

§  Geospatial PDF (.pdf)

§  Microsoft Excel (.xlsx)

Note:   Only point layers can be saved to Microsoft Excel.

Note:   Layers saved as Geospatial PDF or Microsoft Excel files are read-only when loaded back into TerraExplorer (i.e., their Save command is unavailable).

Note:   Layers saved as AutoCAD DXF have an Entities layer  with each of the geometry types included in the layer. See "AutoCAD DXF File" in the "Feature Layers" chapter for more information.

 

To save a layer to a new file:

1.      Do either of the following:

§  In the Project Tree, right-click the required layer, point to Export Layer, and select the Save as option from the shortcut menu.

§  On the Feature Layer tab, in the Load and Save group, click the arrow next to Save Layer, and select Save as.

      The Save As dialog is displayed.

2.      Browse to the required Save location and in the File name field, enter the file name.

3.      From the Save as type dropdown list, select a file type (.sqlite, .gdb, .gpkg, .shp, .dxf, .pdf, or .xlsx).

4.      If you are saving the layer as an .sqlite, .gdb, .gpkg, or .pdf file, type a Layer name.

5.      Click Save.

Converting layers to groups

Layers can only be converted to a group if the Load Option was set to All Features. See "Setting General Layer Settings" in the "Feature Layers" chapter for information.

To convert a native feature layer to a group:

§  In the Project Tree, right-click the required layer, point to Export Layer, and select Convert to Group from the shortcut menu.