Import from GIS [Quick guide]

1.) Navigate to the 'Data Exchange' Ribbon bar tab and click on 'Import from GIS'.

2.) The 'WinCan VX Project Creation Wizard' window will appear. Complete the presented fields with the relevant project settings for your new project (Country, Language, Standard). Once complete click on the next button to proceed.

3.) The first thing to do within 'Shapes Mapping' is to set the 'Source directory'. Click on the button located to the right of 'Source directory' to open a browse window. Browse to the folder location of your GIS files, select one of the files and click 'Open'.

4.) Provide your new project with a name in the 'Project name' field.

5.) In the 'Files to import' area it will show all of the acceptable files from the 'Source directory' location. In the 'Use for import?' column you can either enable or disable the files you intend to import. In the 'Mapping' column you will need to select the relevant mapping only for the file(s) enabled for import.

Note: The 'Mapping' must be created specific to the source data you intend to import. If you've previously created a 'Mapping' for data derived from the same source, then it may be okay to use the prior 'Mapping' file without creating a new one. If this is the case you may skip step 6.

6.)

6a.) To create a new 'Mapping' select the import file, then click on the 'Edit mappings' button located on the bottom right of the window. 

6b.) Upon the 'Edit WinCan Mapping' window opening click on 'New' to create a new mapping.

6c.) In the 'Input file:' pick-list make sure that your GIS file is selected (i.e. Node.shp). In the 'Type' pick-list make sure the relevant WinCan VX table is selected (i.e. if importing Node data it will be the 'NODE' table. If importing Sections/Pipes it will be the 'SECTION' table.) In the 'Base context:' pick-list select the type of mapping (i.e. Node, Section, Observation).

6d.) Next is mapping the fields from your GIS file to WinCan fields. This is necessary for WinCan VX to understand how to interpret the data. The 'Layer Fields' list contains all of the fields/columns found within your input file. The 'WinCan Fields' contains fields/columns found within the WinCan VX database table. To map the fields you will need to select a single field from each list and click on 'Add >'. This will progressively build your mapping file as you add mappings.

Note: The 'WinCan Fields' at this time aren't the most user-friendly as it does not contain a description of the database field. These field names can be viewed by hovering over the relevant field in WinCan VX (Reference the second image below).

6e.) After you've mapped all of the data fields that you'd like to import into WinCan VX, you can now save the mapping file and click on 'OK'.

Note: If you are importing a pipe .Shp file you will also need to create a mapping for 'SECTION' fields.

7.) Proceed by clicking on the next button after you've selected the relevant files to import and mappings.

8.) The 'Project path:' field contains the preset default project location and the project folder that will be generated. If you would like to change this location, you can do so by clicking on the folder button located to the right of the field. Click on the next button to proceed.

9.) The final step to the 'Import from GIS' function is to review the 'Summary'. If the values look correct, then click on the next button to begin importing from the GIS data. If the values are not correct you may go back to correct them. If the import process successfully completes, then it will say "Project successfully created!". Click on the green confirmation button to complete.

10.) The project should now be visible on your WinCan VX project list. Click on the project to open it.