Polygons.src Loader—Documentation

Background

The Polygons file is a standard file used as part of an Allocate Install.  It contains the polygons (and sometimes points, especially for ZIP/Postal codes) for all of the physical levels in the DemoKeys*.src

This will also create the Bounding Rectangles into an access file all ready for BuildDemoFile.  The Bounding Rectangle is used for Mapping on the Web.

Required Data

All the polygons need to be in MID/MIF or .TAB files with 1 file per level of geography in the DemoKeys file.  The files must have a data field in them that corresponds to the "Key" field from the DemoKeys.  These files MUST be sorted on the Key field.

Building the file

Create a BuildPolygonFile.ini file with the following keys:

LevelIDNameN=fileName
    where N=the level # in the DemoKeys file and fileName=the .tab or .mid/.mif file with the polygons.

LevelIDKeyFieldN=keyFieldName
    where N=the level # in the DemoKeys file and keyFieldName=the name of the field in the polygon file that contains the key.

DemoKeysFile=Full path to DemoKeys file that this build is for
FilePath=root path to the polygon files
OutputFile=The final file name for this file.

BROutputFile=the output file PATH for a bounding rectangles file.  Must end with a \
BRYear=the year for the template for the bounding rectangles file.

The BuildPolygonFile.exe can be located anywhere on your network, but must be exectued from within the folder containing the BuildPolygonFile.ini 

Check the BuildPolygonFile.log when the run is complete.  It will list any polygons that are missing, or other errors.

Example .ini file

LevelIDName0=OUTPUTAREA_SORTED.TAB
LevelIDName1=LAD_UA_SORTED.tab
LevelIDName2=POSTALSECT_SORTED.tab



LevelIDKeyField0=GEO_KEY
LevelIDKeyField1=GEO_KEY
LevelIDKeyField2=GEO_KEY


DemoKeysFile=\\Krusty\z\COUNTRY_UK\2005_04\BASE_BUILD\CNTRY_UK_05A_DEMOKEYS_A.src
FilePath=\\Krusty\z\COUNTRY_UK\2005_04\SOURCE\POLYGONS\
OutputFile=\\Krusty\z\COUNTRY_UK\2005_04\BASE_BUILD\CNTRY_UK_05A_POLYGONS_A.src
BROutputFile=\\Krusty\z\COUNTRY_UK\2005_04\BASE_BUILD\BOUNDRECT\
BRYear=2005