Importing ESRI SHP Files
The following material has been developed to serve as a "primer" to describe the initial setup and configuration of Carlson GIS for the purpose of importing ESRI SHP (shape) files.
File Types


Required Files:
Optional File(s):

  
  




SHP
DBF
SHX




PRJ





Procedure
Run GIS Settings

Survey → GIS → GIS Database Settings (or GIS → GIS Data → GIS Database Settings). The GIS Settings dialog box appears.

Click Select Template MDB File and identify a source Microsoft Access Database file.

If a new Access database is created, you will be alerted to run the Define Template Database command.

Click Select Output MDB File and identify a target Microsoft Access Database file.

Click Exit.

Define Template Database (optional)

Survey → GIS→ Define Template Database (or GIS → GIS Data → Define Template Database).

From the Category menu, click New to create a new Category (collections of database tables). Once created, make sure the appropriate Category is selected before creating a Feature.
From the Feature menu, click New to create a new Feature (database tables). Once created, make sure the appropriate Feature is selected before creating Attributes.
Create Attributes (table fields) to house the data you wish to collect about the Feature.

From the Template Database menu, click Exit.

Import ESRI SHP File

Survey → GIS → Import SHP File (or GIS → GIS Data → Import SHP File). The Import SHP File dialog box appears.

If not already specified from the GIS Settings, click Select MDB File and identify a target Microsoft Access Database file.

Click Select SHP File and identify a source ESRI SHP file.
Provide the necessary mappings from the the SHP file.

Click the Import Polylines from SHP button.
As needed, issue a Zoom → Extents.

For More Information on SHP Files
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shapefile