| One "Shapefile" is actually the cooperative work of several files | ||
| The files will all be named similarly differing only in the 3-letter filename extension at the end. The example shapefile described below is comprised of 8 files. Essential number of shapefile constituent files is 3 (.dbf .shp .shx); maximum is 8 (.aih .ain .avl .dbf .sbn .sbx .shp .shx). |
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| 13JH311_1980jun25_plus.shp | always required | Feature Geometry for each shape is stored in this file. You don't manually open or examine this file. |
| 13JH311_1980jun25_plus.shx | always required | Index of Feature Geometry for each shape is stored in this file. You don't manually open or examine this file. |
| 13JH311_1980jun25_plus.dbf | always required | Attribute Table for the shapefile "theme" is comprised of this dBase file. When the shapefile is added to a view, you can examine and edit this table using the 'Open Theme Table' button or menu Theme, menu item Table. |
| 13JH311_1980jun25_plus.sbn | required if present | Part 1 of the Spatial Index of the features is comprised of this file. It's automatically created when certain processes occur (i.e., "Theme-On-Theme Selection," "Spatial Join," or "Create an Index" on the SHAPE field). You don't manually open or examine this file. |
| 13JH311_1980jun25_plus.sbx | required if present | Part 2 of the Spatial Index of the features is comprised of this file. It's automatically created when certain processes occur (i.e., "Theme-On-Theme Selection," "Spatial Join," or "Create an Index" on the SHAPE field). You don't manually open or examine this file. |
| 13JH311_1980jun25_plus.ain | required if present | Part 1 of the Attribute Index of the active fields in a Table or a Theme's Attribute Table is comprised of this file. It's automatically created whenever you "Link tables" and also when you "Create Index" for a field. You don't manually open or examine this file. |
| 13JH311_1980jun25_plus.aih | required if present | Part 2 of the Attribute Index of the active fields in a Table or a Theme's Attribute Table is comprised of this file. It's automatically created whenever you "Link tables" and also when you "Create Index" for a field. You don't manually open or examine this file. |
| 13JH311_1980jun25_plus.avl | optional | Legend for the shapefile can be stored in this file. If this file exists and is named similarly to the other files comprising the overall shapefile (as the files listed at left are named), then whatever legend setup is stored in this file will load automatically for this theme when the shapefile of this name is added to the View. |