Transcript How to Create Shapefiles For NiJel Using QGIS:

How to Create Shapefiles For
NiJel Using QGIS:
Before you start creating shapefiles make sure you
have OpenOffice install, QGIS, and File Transfer
Protocol FTP. In addition you would might want to
install Skype for regular voice conversations.
OpenOffice:
http://download.openoffice.org/
QGIS:
http://download.qgis.org/downloads.rhtml
FTP: http://www.cuteftp.com/downloads/
Skype:
http://www.skype.com/download/skype/windows/
Know you are ready to get
started.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Collect data (raw data)
Create spread sheet
Run Geocoder
Create a different spread sheet with
coordinates
5. Make Shapefile
6. Uploaded using File Transfer Protocol
(FTP)
Collect data (raw data)
• Usually Nijel will provide the raw data in
Word Document format (.doc) or
OpenOffice – Write (.odt)
Create spread sheet
First there are a couple of ways you can go about
creating a spread sheet:
• Using Microsoft Excel
• Using Google docs spread sheet
• Using OpenOffice – Calc
However we extremely recommend to use the
Google docs or OpenOffice rather than Excel
since its format tends to be difficult to work with
when Geocoding.
Using Google docs:
•
Simply go to the start.nijel.org page and scroll down to Google docs.
You can create and share documents. This is a good tool to use when beginning to
record data since it automatically saves changes, it is easier to see mistakes, and others
can add content to it. However you will need export the file as .ods format that will open
in OpenOffice.
Using OpenOffice – Calc:
Using Write is another way to do this and you simply uses like excel. To share the
document you simple double click on the google docs tab like above. Then click upload
Then simply browse for your file then click the “Upload file” button.
To share your file click on the tab next to “upload” that say “share”. A
small window will appear where you can choose people from contacts.
Add comments and subject then click on the “Send invitation” button.
Run Geocoder:
Once you have all your data save on OpenOffice – Calc (.ods) format you are ready to run
batchgeocode. From your (.ods) file select “all” by pressing Ctrl + A then copy Ctrl + C. Go to
http://www.batchgeocode.com/ next. In step #2 paste data in the space provided, then make sure
data look correct then click “Validate Source” button on step #3. On step #4, make sure that the
Location Fields are correct (that is to say they match your first row).
On step #5 click on “Run Geocoder” button, then wait for all the information to
appear on step #6. Once all the information has been transfer copy Ctrl + C
and paste Ctrl + V into a clean OpenOffice Calc spread sheet.
Create a different spread sheet with
coordinates
Before you save the document make sure
“bg_lat” and “bg_long” are added to the new
spread sheet, information is located in the right
place, and finally coordinates are match the
desired area (that is to say all coordinates seem
to be around the same place and not one or two
located on the other side of the world. This is
likely a mistake and you will need to run
batchgeocode for such location one by one).
Read only if you need to look up address one by one:
So if coordinate seem to be off copy full address for that single entry then go to
http://www.batchgeocode.com/lookup/ then paste the address in the box provided
the click on the “Map it” button. Once it is mapped, copy and paste longitude and
latitude into to your spread sheet where it belongs.
Make Shapefile
After you save the file in (.ods) format then you want to save another copy by
clicking “save as” then change the file format to “Text CSV .csv” the click save.
When you do that a small box will appear that will say “click yes if you want to
save in csv format” then click “yes”.
Then for the “field delimiter” leave as a comma or change it to “|” pipe character by Ctrl +
“backlash” key under “backspace” key. A warning box will come up right after you click
ok in the window below say “OK”.
After doing all the above open QGIS then click on “Add Text
Delimiter Layer” a small window will appear. You want to then click
on the Browse button and add your .cvs file. Once you added you
might see that the delimiter box has your delimiter character “|” or “,”
if not go ahead and type your delimiter character. Click on “Parse” if
you see “bg_long” for X and “bg_lat” for Y and sample text appears
on that box provided click OK. If layer adds fine jump to next
section, if not there is something wrong and is time to debug.
There can be two reasons why you can add the layer 1) your .csv
file or 2) you may have extra spaces on the “Delimiter” box. If is 1)
go back to your file and make sure no funny character appear or
make sure coordinates are above the “bg_long” and “bg_lat”. If 2)
just clear your selection by Ctrl + A then clicking “backspace” (that
should get rid off any extra spaces) then type your delimiter
character again and try do add your file again.
If you can see you file in the legend box and a couple of point in the Map View window
you just need to check that indeed all the point got added. You can do this by right
clicking on your layer and “Open attribute table”. If you can see all the rows from
previous .cvs file you successfully added all the points.
You can also see by zooming in the points that not just four to five point are added but
more. Click on the magnifying glass with “+” and click on the Map View window to see
for yourself.
• Next you want to right click on your layer again
(just like in the above window) but this time you
want to click on “Save as shapefile” select a
location than click “save”. Just to make sure
your shapefile works click on the “Layer” Tab
next to “View” then click on “Add vector layer”
and add your shapefile. If you see the same
points is a good sign!!!
Uploaded using File Transfer Protocol
(FTP)
Lastly, you want to upload your shapefile to
the NiJel server by typing the correct
information in the server box, user name,
and password.