ArcView Grids

You can use Grid Translator to create custom grids in an ASCII grid format for input into ArcView®. But you must have Spatial Analyst and/or the 3-D Analyst extension(s) installed. After creating your grid, follow these instructions

For ArcView 3

  1. In the Grid Options Dialog choose Output Grid Format as ASCII Raster Format, and choose ArcInfo/ArcView Header.
  2. Open Arcview
    When you open Arcview it asks if you want to add data to the view now. Answer NO
  3. Open Spatial Analyst or 3-D Analyst (File -> Extensions…).
  4. In the project window double click on script from the list of icons on the left side. A new window will open.
  5. In the script window type the following:
    Number.SetDefFormat( "d.d" ) (Note: this is a global setting until you close ArcView.)
  6. There should be a tool bar across the top of your screen, find the icon that looks like a big check-mark. This is the compile icon, click it.
  7. Next to the compile icon is the run icon - click it.
  8. Close the script window
  9. Note: When defining a projection use Geographic Projection and Decimal Degrees. For horizontal datums Coastal Relief Model and Great Lakes Bathymetry are in NAD83, while ETOPO2 is in WGS84.
  10. In the view window:
    Under file there is an option to import data source - click it
  11. You will be asked for data format, select ASCII raster;chose the file saved in step 1.
  12. Are data integers - select NO
  13. Add grid as theme to view - YES
  14. The grid should now be in ArcView.

For ArcGIS 8 ArcMap

  1. In the Grid Options Dialog choose Output Grid Format as ASCII Raster Format, and choose ArcInfo/ArcView Header.
  2. Open ArcMap
    Start -> Programs -> ArcGIS -> ArcMap
  3. Enable 3D Analyst and/or GeoStatistical Analyst and/or Spacial Analyst
    Tools -> Extensions…
  4. Open ArcToolbox
    Start -> Programs -> ArcGIS -> ArcToolbox
  5. In ArcToolbox:
    Conversion Tools -> Import to raster -> Ascii to Grid
    Input Ascii File: ASCII (.asc) file created with Grid Translator
    Grid Type: Integer or Float, based on Precision (whole meters or tenths of meters)
    Output Grid: Path/Name of Arc grid (this is a folder)
  6. In ArcToolbox:
    Data Management Tools -> Define Projection Wizard (coverage, grids, TINs)
    Define the coordinate system: Define the coordinate system interactively
    Dataset: Locate your Output Grid (defined above)
    Projection of your dataset: Geographic (lat/lons)
    Geographic parameters - Units: DD (decimal degrees)
    Datum: NAD 1983 (US-NADCON) (Coastal Relief Model) or WGS 1984 (ETOPO2)
    Finish
  7. Add the Grid to your ArcMap Document
    File -> Add Data... Locate your Output Grid (defined above)
  8. You may now work with the grid in your ArcMap Document