Converting MapInfo for ArcGIS

RollYerOwn

I'll start with saying I'm not the most proficient in GIS, but I'm trying.

I have some MapInfo files that I once used in MI 8.5 - I don't have access to it anymore.

I want to convert them for use in ArcGIS 9.3 and have gone through the ArcCatalog>ArcView tools>MIF to Shapefile... but I haven't had any joy.

When I open the folder they are in in the "Input MIF file:" they are not recognised. They are not .mif files - they are .map, and .tab files - which I resume means they are parts of a .mif file like the component parts of a .shp file?

Any help out there? Not sure what to do....!

muckish

The Mapinfo files should consist of a .tab, .map, .dat, .id files. Once converted to MIF there should be a .mif & .mid file. How many files have you got to convert?

RollYerOwn

Ah yes. All of those are present - I couldn't see them in ArcCatalog but they are there in WE.

So are you saying that I somehow have to convert them to .mif & .mid files before I can bring them into ArcGIS for conversion to shapefiles? If so pointers how to go about that would be appreciated.

I have a number of files but these are just practice for an upcoming project which'll be much bigger.

YoureATowel

The Mif/Mid format is the MapInfo export format. It's a method of sharing data between MapInfo and ArcGIS users. A MapInfo user would export their Tab file to Mif/Mid format and an ESRI user could then import that format to create a shapefile.

It's now somewhat outdated as, since release 8.5, MapInfo can interact directly with ESRI shapefiles as if they're native format. If you still had access to MapInfo you could also use it's Universal Translator tool to export your Tab files to shapefile format.

Conversely, if you have the ArcGIS Data Interoperability extension then, by turning it on, you can interact with MapInfo Tab files in ArcGIS. Click the Tools menu, followed by Extensions. If the option exists to turn on Data Interoperability then do so. If you have it then you can now access your Tab files in ArcCatalog.

Failing that you could download and install a trial version of FME. Click on this link and then Download the 14 day trial.

You could also try this product, GeoTranslate. I've seen this recommended but haven't used it myself. After downloading you have to contact them via the email address provided to get an evaluation license.

There's probably similar evaluation versions of products available online if you check.

RollYerOwn

Thanks.

I have the Data Interoperability extention in ArcCatalog but I'm not having much luck with it.

I have added an interoperability connection for the TAB file (only MapInfo options in the Formats Gallery are MIF or TAB). This establishes a connection here and lets me preview the data (it gives the connection a .fdl extention).

(Does reading the tab file alone provide access to the other component files - .map, .id, .dat?)

It will not, however, let mew drag this connection into the layers menu and use the data "Could not add the specified data object to the map".

Frustratingly difficult trying to become a less-spatially-unaware-professional.

RollYerOwn

Tried the Quick import too, which has a good pop at a TAB file then tells me:

"TAB files referencing raster data cannot be read through the MapInfo reader. Instead, use an appropriate raster reader"

I just want the data from these files to register my TIFF files.

RollYerOwn

For any future reference...

I got around the immediate problem there by opening the TAB files in Word (they appear to be just text which references the corner co-ordinates of each raster file) and georectifying each file manually. Worked well even though it meant a lot more work than it should.

Thanks for the help guys.