| iTool User's Guide: Working with Maps |

## Inserting an IDL Shapefile

IDL comes with several shapefiles that you can insert in the iMap tool or in another iTool that has a map projection already applied. These files originated from the ESRI Data and Maps CD-ROM data set (1999, 2000, 2002) and can be found, along with their associated database (`.dbx`) and index (`.shx`) files, in the `resource/maps/shape` directory of the IDL installation. Also see Overview of ESRI Shapefiles for more detailed information on shapefiles.

### Inserting the Continents

The Insert Map Continents operation loads the `continents.shp` file and displays the continents as a single ShapePolygon (Figure 15-8) in the current dataspace, using the current projection. If no projection is active, then IDL uses geographic coordinates.

Figure 15-8: The Continents Shapefile

Figure 15-8: The Continents Shapefile

### Inserting the Countries (Low Resolution)

The Insert Map Countries (low res) operation loads the `country.shp` file and displays the countries (boundaries as of 2002) as separate ShapePolygons (Figure 15-9) in the current dataspace, using the current projection. If no projection is active, then IDL uses geographic coordinates. The ShapePolygons exist in a Countries (low res) visualization container.

Figure 15-9: The Countries (Low Res) Shapefile

Figure 15-9: The Countries (Low Res) Shapefile

### Inserting the Countries (High Resolution)

The Insert Map Countries (high res) operation loads the `cntry02.shp` file and displays the countries (boundaries as of 2002) as separate ShapePolygons (Figure 15-10) in the current dataspace, using the current projection. If no projection is active, then IDL uses geographic coordinates. The ShapePolygons exist in a Countries (high res) visualization container.

Figure 15-10: The Countries (High Res) Shapefile

Figure 15-10: The Countries (High Res) Shapefile

### Inserting the Rivers

The Insert Map Rivers operation loads the `rivers.shp` file and displays the rivers as separate ShapePolylines (Figure 15-11) in the current dataspace, using the current projection. If no projection is active, then IDL uses geographic coordinates. The ShapePolylines exist in a Rivers visualization container.

Figure 15-11: The Rivers Shapefile (Continents Added for Context)

Figure 15-11: The Rivers Shapefile (Continents Added for Context)

### Inserting the Lakes

The Insert Map Lakes operation loads the `lakes.shp` file and displays the lakes as separate ShapePolygons (Figure 15-12) in the current dataspace, using the current projection. If no projection is active, then IDL uses geographic coordinates. The ShapePolygons exist in a Lakes visualization container.

Figure 15-12: The Lakes Shapefile (Continents Added for Context)

Figure 15-12: The Lakes Shapefile (Continents Added for Context)

### Inserting the United States

The Insert Map United States operation loads the `states.shp` file and displays the states as separate ShapePolygons (Figure 15-13) in the current dataspace, using the current projection. If no projection is active, then IDL uses geographic coordinates. The ShapePolygons exist in a United States visualization container.

Figure 15-13: The United States Shapefile

Figure 15-13: The United States Shapefile

### Inserting the Canadian Provinces

The Insert Map Canadian Provinces operation loads the `canadaprovince.shp` file and displays the provinces as separate ShapePolygons (Figure 15-14) in the current dataspace, using the current projection. If no projection is active, then IDL uses default longitude-latitude coordinates. The ShapePolygons exist in a Canadian Provinces visualization container.

Figure 15-14: The Canadian Provinces Shapefile

Figure 15-14: The Canadian Provinces Shapefile

IDL Online Help (March 01, 2006)