GeoGateway
Contents
GeoGateway enables downloading shapefiles from web servers. Make maps from scratch. GeoGateway simplifies the download process, makes it faster and provides a more efficient way to integrate shapefiles and other GIS files into GIS projects.
GeoGateway includes two main features:
1 - download shapefiles and related data to a local computer using a menu-driven process
2 - optionally add the downloaded data to an existing or new project (forget the unzipping and related details)
MapBuilder. In combination, these features enable development of a GIS project focused on the geographic area and type of geography of interest.
Optionally integrate demographic-economic subject matter accessed via VDA Desktop APIGateway and other VDA Desktop resources.
Availability
Levels Viewer, 1, 2, 3
Terms of Use
Shapefiles downloaded using GeoGateway are exclusively for use with VDA Desktop GIS.
Usage
Main menu File>GeoGateway
Related Information
...
Start-up View
Illustrative Views and Operations
Downloading a county by roads (edges) shapefile
Adding the downloaded shapefile as a layer in a new GIS Project
Start VDA Desktop and Close the current project. Use File>GeoGateway to start GeoGateway processing.
Step 1 (with same GeoGateway form open) ... download the shapefile
Dbl-click Travis County, TX in listbox1; available shapefiles appear in listbox2.
Dbl-click EDGES shapefile in listbox2; the File to Download and SaveAs edit boxes are populated.
Clicking the Download button in the above view will:
| • | download the TIGER 2017 Travis County, TX roads/edges shapefile to the local folder specified in options settings |
| • | unzip the downloaded zip file to that same folder |
| • | delete the XML file |
| • | delete the downloaded zip file |
Delete operations are options settings.
The shapefile is then immediately ready for use.
Step 2 Add the downloaded shapefile to a GIS project (optional)
The Add Layer to Project button becomes active.
Select the Shape Label in the drop-down. Next click the Add Layer to Project as shown below.
Close the GeoGateway form. We could continue, but in this example the GeoGateway operations stop with one shapefile.
The map view now appears as shown below. Zoom-in to the pointer location in the Kansas City area.
The next view illustrates ZIP code areas/boundaries (red) with labels. The Identify tool is used to show a mini-profile of a selected ZIP code -- 64133 -- see pointer.
Related options now available include:
| • | Save the project and close VDA Desktop (saving a project requires VDA Desktop Level 1, 2 or 3; a project cannot be saved with Viewer) |
| • | Re-start GeoGateway and add other shapefiles to this project. |
| • | Close VDA Desktop without saving the current project (downloaded shapefile remains on local computer). |
1. Section 1. Select Geographic Scope -- different types of shapefiles available for different types of geography
Use Section 1. Select Geographic Scope to select the U.S., state or county geography.
Dbl-clicking a geographic area select populates Section 2 with the set of available shapefiles.
2. Section 2. Select Shapefile -- available shapefiles for selected geographic scope by vintage
In general, only Census 2010 vintage files are available with VDA Viewer and Level 1 (see all features overview).
Access to other vintages, Digital Map Database and more recent shapefiles are controlled/set by the Vintage and Reference Year.
3. National Scope Shapefiles