To Create a User Point File Format

When you create a user point file format, you specify the information that is included in the point data file, the layout of the information in the file, and the character that is used to separate the individual pieces of information, such as a comma or a space.

As you create a user point file format, you can view the file that contains your point data for reference.

Note: If you are importing point data from and ASCII file that contains user defined columns, you must create a user defined classification for each column. For more information, see To Import Point Data from an ASCII File Containing User Defined Columns.
  1. In Toolspace, on the Settings tab, right-click the Point File FormatsNew.
  2. In the Point File Formats - Select Format Type dialog box, click User Point File. Click OK.
  3. In the Point File Format dialog box, specify a name and file extension for the format.
  4. Click Load to load a point data file so that you can refer to it as you create the format.
    Note: At any time, you can click the Parse button and the loaded file is displayed in the dialog box using the format you are building.
  5. Optionally, specify a comment tag character and a coordinate zone transform.
  6. Specify the format options for the file.
  7. Click a column name heading that is labeled <unused>.
  8. In the Point File Formats - Select Column Name dialog box, select a column name from the Column Name list. Specify other parameters as needed, and click OK.
  9. Repeat the previous step for each column in the point file format.
  10. Click OK.