'txt2shp.ave

'Sample script demonstrating the import of ASCII non-delimited data
'into a point shapefile

'Assumes a file with the following format:

'LAT N    LON W     MAG TIME
'dd mm.mm ddd mm.mm d.d hhmm

'For example:

'35 59.97 120 34.06 1.2  905
'38 49.45 122 47.91 1.7  924
'38 30.49 122 36.13 1.5  948
'38 49.73 122 49.74 1.6 1707
'38 49.86 122 49.62 1.4 1731

'Mark Cederholm
'plp@pierssen.com
'http://www.pierssen.com/arcview/arcview.htm
'http://www.pierssen.com/PC/arcinfo.htm

'=======================================================================

'**** get input file

txt_name = FileDialog.Show("*.*", "Input ASCII File", "Import ASCII")
if (txt_name = nil) then
  exit
end

'**** get output file

out_name = txt_name.clone
out_name.SetExtension("shp")
out_name = FileDialog.Put(out_name, "*.shp", "Output Shapefile")
if (out_name = nil) then
  exit
end

txt_file = LineFile.Make(txt_name, #FILE_PERM_READ)

'**** create shapefile and fields
'**** seach online help: Field (Class) for supported field types

LShape = FTab.MakeNew(out_name, Point)
fields = List.Make
fields.Add(Field.Make("id",#FIELD_LONG,1,0))
fields.Add(Field.Make("magnitude",#FIELD_DECIMAL,3,1))
fields.Add(Field.Make("hour",#FIELD_BYTE,2,0))
fields.Add(Field.Make("min",#FIELD_BYTE,2,0))
LShape.AddFields(fields)

'**** process records

id = 0
record = txt_file.ReadElt
while (record <> nil)

   '**** get coordinates and convert to DD
   '**** search online help: String (Class) for string functions

   d_lat = record.Middle(0,2).AsNumber
   m_lat = record.Middle(3,4).AsNumber
   lat = d_lat + ( m_lat / 60 )
   d_lon = record.Middle(9,3).AsNumber
   m_lon = record.Middle(13,4).AsNumber
   lon = (d_lon + ( m_lon / 60 )).Negate
   thePoint = Point.Make(lon,lat)

   '**** get attributes

   id = id + 1
   mag = record.Middle(19,3).AsNumber
   hour = record.Middle(23,2).AsNumber
   minute = record.Middle(25,2).AsNumber

   '**** create shape entry

   recno = LShape.AddRecord
   LShape.SetValue(LShape.FindField("shape"),recno,thePoint)
   LShape.SetValue(LShape.FindField("id"),recno,id)
   LShape.SetValue(LShape.FindField("magnitude"),recno,mag)
   LShape.SetValue(LShape.FindField("hour"),recno,hour)
   LShape.SetValue(LShape.FindField("min"),recno,minute)

   '**** read next record

   record = txt_file.ReadElt

end

txt_file.close
MsgBox.Info("Done."," ")

'=======================================================================