Tobin to GeoGraphix Import Utility

Introduction

GeoGraphix has developed a new utility, called Tobin to GeoGraphix, that converts Tobin Data Graphics Property Ownership and Lease Tract files into GeoGraphix .cdf (cartographic data format), and .ldf (lease data format) files.

Installation

Download the program by right-clicking on the link and saving to your computer:
TobinToGeoGraphix.zip (724k)

To install the Tobin to GeoGraphix utility, use the following procedure:

Create a new directory on your hard disk drive (we suggest naming it Tobin).
Unzip the file in this folder. You will see the following four files:
- Tobin16.exe (the utility)
- Tobin16.hlp (the online Help file)
- County.cde (a file containing the API county codes)
- Tobin.doc (utility documentation)

Data Access

Tobin provides datasets containing complete counties or parishes only. In the Tobin directory, create a sub-directory for each county or parish for which you purchased data, and then copy the Tobin datasets into the appropriate sub-directories. If you prefer, you can read the data files directly from the Tobin floppy disk or CD-ROM.

Project Creation

Before using the Tobin to GeoGraphix utility, set up a new GES project according to the following procedure:

Launch GES.
From the GES WorkBench, choose Project>>Select.
When the Select a Project dialog box appears, click the Create button.

The Create a Project dialog box appears.

Type a new Project Name and Drive\Path for your project.
Specify the appropriate Map Projection by clicking the Coordinate Systems button.
When the Coordinate Systems dialog box appears, if necessary, set Project Spheroid to Clarke 1866.
To set the project display projection, click the Display Projection button. The most common Display Projection for these datasets is Universal Transverse Mercator (Meters).
When the Select Coordinate System dialog box appears, in the Select Projection/Coordinate System list, click the Universal Transverse Mercator (Meters) option. (Although this option appears selected by default, click it to specify the coordinate system.)
When the Select Coordinate System dialog box appears, select a coordinate system from the Select UTM Zone list.

Zone 13 (-108W to -102W), 14 (-102W to -96W) or 15 (-96W to -90W), are the most likely selections for counties or parishes.

Note: You can also use UTM (U.S. Survey Feet) as the display projection for the Gulf Coast region. An alternative for UTM is State Plane Coordinate System with a State Plane Zone of Louisiana North, Louisiana Offshore, or Louisiana South for Louisiana; or Texas Central, Texas North, Texas North Central, Texas South, or Texas South Central for Texas, respectively. Contact Tobin if you have questions regarding the display projections for your data.

Using the Tobin to GeoGraphix Utility

After installing the Tobin to GeoGraphix utility, setting up the Tobin data, and creating a GES project, you can export data to a GeoGraphix format using the following procedure:

From Explorer (for Microsoft® Windows 95™ users) or File Manager (for other Windows users), open the Tobin Utility by double-clicking Tobin16.exe.

The Tobin to GeoGraphix window appears.
Choose File>>Export to display the Tobin Export dialog box.
For Directory Path, type the location of the Tobin data files or click the adjacent Browse button (...) and use the Open dialog box.
For Common Prefix, type the alphanumeric string common to all files in the dataset for that county. For example, if your dataset covers Crockett County, Texas, the Common Prefix is TX105. If your dataset covers Cameron Parish, Louisiana, the Common Prefix is LA023. The county.cde file, included with the Tobin to GeoGraphix utility, includes a list of all the counties and parishes and their respective codes. You can obtain the Common Prefix from this list, or use Explorer or File Manager to view to the contents of the data subdirectory.

Note: The Common Prefix field requires five characters. The first two are the two-character alpha state abbreviation. The following three are the numeric code for the county or parish. Precede any two digit codes with a zero.

Tobin to Geographix 3 Tobin Export 2

Select the check box(es) of GeoGraphix file format(s) to create: GeoGraphix LDF format (Leasehold) and/or GeoGraphix CDF format (Ownership). The file names you create contain the Common Prefix with the appropriate .cdf or .ldf extension.
A .cdf file includes Property Ownership information. The .cdf provides a display layer only. (A display layer provides the capability of capturing polygons from LeaseMap.) Use this option to create a layer for import into the LandNet module
An .ldf file includes Lease Tract information. In LeaseMap, the .ldf file provides an Alias ID, Gross Acres, the actual Legal Description, a Lessee and Expiration Date, and polygon for each record.
Identify the Destination Path for the GeoGraphix files you create. Either type the path or click the adjacent Browse button (...) and use Open dialog box to indicate the path.
To export the data to the GeoGraphix format(s), click the Export button. This process takes a few minutes. When the Tobin Export dialog box closes and the pointer changes from the busy pointer to the normal, the export is complete.

For instructions on importing a .cdf file into LandNet, refer to your GES User's Guide. For instructions on importing an .ldf file into LeaseMap, refer to your LeaseMap User's Guide.