Skeleton Map Data file (.MDF) for the mythical country of Popstan. It includes two geographic levels: Province and District. When you open a .MDF file, the program will determine that the file contains delimited data. Click the buttom "Finish" to load the file.
| Description | |||
| Row 1: | [MapDataFile] | - | identifies the file to the IMPS software |
| Row 2: | Version= | - | identifies the IMPS version |
| Row 3: | MapFile= | - | name of the map (.MAP) file |
| Row 4: | AreaLevels= | - | number of geographic levels |
| Row 5: | Variables= | - | number of variables included in this file |
| Row 6: | Thousands= | - | convention to display the numbers in thousands in Map Viewer. You can choose comma, dot, or space |
| Row 7: | Decimal= | - | convention to display decimal numbers in Map Viewer. You can choose comma, dot, or space |
| Row 8: | NoValue= | - | indicates the text to use if there are missing values in the geographic unit. This text must appear in the cells with missing values. |
| Row 9: | MapLabel= | - | name of the map |
| Row 11: | [Data] | - | identifies the data section |
| Row 12: | first column(s) | - | identifies the name of the geographic level(s). The number of columns must match the number of levels in Row 4 |
|   | next column | - | is labeled "Area Name" |
|   | next column(s) | - | lists the name of the variable(s) |
| Rows 13 - n: | first column(s) | - | lists the code(s) for the geographic unit(s) in hierarchical order. The country always has code "0" under all the geographic levels; the Provinces have code "0" under District |
|   | next column | - | under "Area Name", lists the name of the areas for the different geographic levels |
|   | next column(s) | - | lists the values for each geographic unit under each variable |
To add your own variables you only need to delete the column for the test variable, add the name(s) of the column(s) for each value, enter the values, and change the number of variables next to Row 5. "Save as" text (tab delimited, *.txt) file. You may change the file name, but the file extension must remain .MDF. The first time you open the .MDF file in MapView, the program will display a message. Click OK.
The Map Data file of Popstan after adding 5 variables.
