## NAME

v.in.ascii - Converts ASCII vector map layers into binary vector map layers.
(GRASS Vector Data Import Program)

## SYNOPSIS

v.in.ascii
v.in.ascii help
v.in.ascii input=name output=name

## DESCRIPTION

v.in.ascii converts a vector map in ASCII format to a vector map in binary format.

## OPTIONS

The user can run this program non-interactively by specifying all program options on the command line, in the form:

  v.in.ascii input=name output=name

### Parameters:

input=name
  Name of an ASCII vector file to be converted to binary vector file.
output=name
  Name given to binary vector output file.

If the user runs v.in.ascii without giving program arguments on the command line, the program will prompt the user for input and output file names.

## NOTES

After running this program, GRASS support files must be built for the binary output file before the user can use the file in v.digit. The user can run v.support to create GRASS support files for the output file.

Note, that the coordinates order is NORTH EAST.

To import category labels, the dig_cats file needs to be specified in `OTHER INFO` field.

Example ASCII vector file (store in dig_ascii/). Note the blank before entering vertex coordinates:

           ORGANIZATION:
           DIGIT DATE:   Oct 24 2001
           DIGIT NAME:   nds_gem
           MAP NAME:     nds_gem
           MAP DATE:
           MAP SCALE:    500000
           OTHER INFO:   /home/neteler/grassdata5/langeoog/PERMANENT/dig_cats
           ZONE:         0
           WEST EDGE:    3399965.343
           EAST EDGE:    3403360.343
           SOUTH EDGE:   5957127.30045067
           NORTH EDGE:   5960625.30045067
           MAP THRESH:   19.05
           VERTI:
           A  13
            5958812.48844435 3400828.84221011
            5958957.29887089 3400877.11235229
            5959021.65906046 3400930.7458436
            5959048.47580612 3400973.65263665
            5959069.92920264 3401032.64947709
            5959064.56585351 3401123.82641232
            5958994.84231481 3401188.1866019
            5958914.39207784 3401188.1866019
            5958823.21514261 3401107.73636493
            5958753.49160391 3401005.83273144
            5958753.49160391 3400941.47254186
            5958780.30834956 3400887.83905055
            5958812.48844435 3400828.84221011
           A  8
            5959010.9323622 3401338.36037757
            5959096.7459483 3401370.54047235
            5959091.38259917 3401450.99070932
            5958973.38891828 3401520.71424803
            5958882.21198305 3401467.08075671
            5958903.66537958 3401375.90382148
            5958941.2088235 3401332.99702844
            5959010.9323622 3401338.36037757

The associated dig_att file needs following format (store in dig_att/):

           A 3401180.463379 5959003.209139          1
           A 3401516.741397 5958966.635071          2

The associated dig_cats file needs following format:

           # 2 categories

           0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
           1:forest
           2:water

To (re-)set map metadata like ORGANIZATION etc. later, v.digit can be used.

The GRASS program v.out.ascii performs the function of v.in.ascii in reverse; i.e., it converts vector files in binary format to ASCII format. These two companion programs are useful both for importing and exporting vector files between GRASS and other software, and for transferring data between machines.

The input from v.in.ascii has to be placed into `$LOCATION/dig_ascii` (this directory must be created if not existing).

## SEE ALSO

v.digit, v.import, v.out.ascii, v.support, GRASS ASCII formats

## AUTHORS

Michael Higgins, U.S.Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratory
James Westervelt, U.S.Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratory

Last changed: $Date: 2002/03/11 14:04:03 $