How to import a shapefile into a record Landscape
A lot of conservation work is map based, and so it's important that Landscape allows you to import and export map data as needed. There are many formats and methods that you can use to import the map data, but they all begin with the same basic step. This article covers the process for linking map data to a single property or work item. For information on adding bulk background data (such as county parcels, watershed information, town boundaries, etc.) see this article on importing custom map data.
Step 1: Navigate to the source of the layer in Landscape.
Map data editing in Landscape is context dependent. Meaning you need to create a record to actually house the map data that you want to upload. In other words, you can't simply import a site visit track without first having a site visit record to import it to. If you're importing a shapefile associated with a site visit (like a GPS track), you want to start from that site visit record. To edit or import an issue, you'll need to be in that issue record. Similarly, to update the boundaries of a property, you should start from that property's main page.
Step 2: Import the map data
Once you've navigated to the correct context, click on the edit button on the map toolbar. Then click on the import button.
"What if I don't have the map data in a format that Landscape can import?"
If you don't have the map data in a format that Landscape can import, or if it's not available to copy from another map service, then you can always simply draw the shape on the map to approximate the location by using the draw tools. You can then note that the shape was approximated by using a simple note.
The initial imported boundary file must be an area feature. It cannot be a point or line. It can be made up of multiple polygons. If you need to track different parcels within the property for management purposes, then you may want to add parcels to the property so you can track each one separately.
From the 'Import Geography' menu, select the type of data that you want to import, and then click on 'Choose File' to select the file you want to upload.
Select the file you want to upload and click 'OK'. You'll see a message saying the file was imported successfully.
The data will now appear on the map. **Click Save to save your edits.**
FAQ: 'What projection should the shapefile be in?'
Landscape will automatically convert the shapefile into WGS1984 (web standard) using an internal conversion process. If you want to perform the transformation yourself prior to import, that's fine. However, it's not necessary.
Quick How-to: Zipping a Shapefile (with Windows) Shapefiles must be zipped in order for Landscape to import them. A zipped shapefiles contains all of the component files that Landscape needs including .shp, .prj, .dbf and .shx. After you generate the feature, navigate to the folder containing that feature, highlight all of the necessary files, right click and select 'Send To' --> 'Compressed (zipped) folder'. The zipped folder that you generate will be what you import into Landscape.
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Importing Attributes
If you want to import data into the geography text fields (Name, Label, Status, Type or Description) then you can do so by giving your shapefile attribute fields the names of 'name','label','status','type', and 'descriptio' respectively. Note that the field names must match exactly.