CAT files are ASCII database files, where each row represents a feature within a dataset. Each column is a fixed width and represents an attribute or a geometry component for a feature or can be ignored.
Number of Lines to Skip
Identifies the number of lines to skip at the top of the file. It is useful to enter a value here if the Column-Aligned Text file contains a header line of field names or other descriptive material that should be skipped.
By default, all lines are included.
Field Boundaries/Field Properties
This area lists the name, type and width of the fields that comprise a row. Fields containing x, y or z coordinates will comprise the point geometry of the feature, while fields with the type integer, real, or string will be attributes. Check Do Not Use to skip the field.
The ordering of the fields is important. The first field always starts at the first character in a row and is width characters wide. Subsequent fields start where the previous field ends.
Click the ruler in Field Boundaries to add, remove, or move field boundaries.
Field Names in File
- Checked: Include field names in Field Properties.
- Unchecked: Use column numbers.
Filter by Field Value
Filter names based on the list in Field Properties. Whitespace is trimmed from the value before matching.
Invert Filter
- Checked: Exclude rows that match the filter.
- Unchecked: Include only rows that match the filter.