Metadata
Files (.txt, .met)Description:
The ".txt" and the ".met" files contain metadata (data about
data) for the subject layer. The ".met" files are FGDC-compliant
metadata files. The ".txt" files are abbreviated versions of
the FGDC-compliant metadata, containing a short description of the layer, sources,
etc., as well as a description of the attribute names and values associated
with the layer.
IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT YOU READ THE METADATA FILES ASSOCIATED WITH EACH
LAYER BEFORE USING THE LAYER.
To Download:
Both the 'txt' and the 'met' files are simple ASCII text files, and can be downloaded
by clicking the file name, and saving to your local disk. (Depending on your
browser, saving to disk may simply entail responding to a prompt, or choosing
"Save As.." from the browser "File" menu).
Zipped
Shapefiles Description:
These zipped files are actually 4 files, combined and compressed using a "zip"
utility such as WinZip. When unzipped, they will be in ESRI shapefile format,
in which each layer consists of a .dbf, .shp, .shx file and .prj file. Together,
these 4 files are read as one layer by Arc/Info and ArcView, as well as by any
software that can read the ESRI shapefile format.
To Download:
The shapefiles have been compressed using a zip utility, and can be downloaded
by clicking on the file name, saving to your local disk, and unzipping. (Depending
on your browser, saving to disk may simply entail responding to a prompt, or
choosing "Save As.." from the browser "File" menu). Once
on your local disk, double click the zipped file and extract the shape files
using your own unzipping utility.
To View:
After downloading, the shapefiles can be read using ArcView and ArcExplorer.
Zipped
ArcInfo Export Files (.e00)Description:
The zipped files are .e00 files are uncompressed ArcInfo export files, created
using the ArcInfo Export command. These can be converted to ArcInfo Coverage
format using ArcToolBox . In addition, these files can be read by any software
that can read the Arc/Info export file format.
To Download:
The .e00 files have been compressed using a zip utility and can be downloaded
by clicking on the file name, saving to your local disk, and unzipping. (Depending
on your browser, saving to disk may simply entail responding to a prompt, or
choosing "Save As.." from the browser "File" menu). Once
on your local disk, double click the zipped file and extract the .e00 file using
your own unzipping utility.
To View:
After converting the export files to coverage format, the resulting coverages
can be viewed using various GIS software such as ArcInfo, ArcView and ArcExplorer.