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Using MapManager 9.1 to Import OS MasterMap
Contents:
Overview
To use OS MasterMap data downloaded from Digimap in ArcGIS 9, it is necessary to import the GML data into a Geodatabase. For small datasets (under 2Gb) where multi-user editing is not required, this can be a Personal Geodatabase. For larger amounts of data or where multi-user editing is required, an ArcSDE Geodatabase is required.
Once data has been loaded into the Geodatabase the user has several options with what to do with the data:
- Preview the data in ArcCatalog
- View and edit the data using ArcMap
- Export the data as Shapefiles or in other formats:
- Using the MapManager 9 OS MasterMap Geodatabase Filter - user can specify regions of data to export using a polygon and select specific feature classes to export
- Using ArcToolbox, export individual feature classes to: Shape, Arc coverages and CAD formats
Obtaining and installing MapManager
MapManager is freely available to UK academic institutions which are licensed under the CHEST/ESRI Agreement. Further details can be found on CHEST's web pages, at the bottom of this page is a link to "Productivity Suite". You will need suitable Athens login details to be able to access this area. Details of this can be obtained from the ESRI Technical Representative at each institution. From this protected area you can download both MapManager and Productivity Suite software. Download is straightforward; just use your browser's Save Link as... or Save Target as... option from the link. Recipients of the software will need to sign the Copyright Acknowledgment form and be aware of the CHEST code of conduct before using the software.
To install MapManager, simply double click on the downloaded executable file (the latest version as of November 2006 is MapManager v9.1) and follow the installation instructions. If MapManager has already been installed on a networked drive at your institution you may prefer to find out how to run it from your machine. Usually a program can be run by either double clicking on an icon on the desktop, or by locating the program under the Windows Start menu.
NOTE: These instructions are written for use with MapManager 9.1. There are some interface changes between this version and version 9.0 but these do not significantly affect the functionality.
On each screen in MapManager there is a Help button 
which should be used to find out more details about the information required
for each screen.
Starting MapManager 9
Start MapManager Converter. This can usually be started either from the Start menu or from within the ArcCatalog application itself. The main MapManager window will appear on screen. MapManager is a 'wizard' application so that you need to move to successive screens before coming to the end where you actually do the processing.
Start MapManager so that the following screen is displayed:
This initial window explains what the convertor will do. It should be noted that this converter will create an ESRI Geodatabase for use within ArcGIS 9.1
Running MapManager 9
Click on 
to move to the next screen:
This screen can simply be left unaltered. If you are processing a lot of files then you can save a Profile that will store certain options for reuse.
Click on
to move to the next screen:
You will need to select 'Data Load' for data downloaded from Digimap at the moment, since Change Only Update is not available. This will create an initial OS MasterMap data holding that in the future can be updated.
Click on
to move to the next screen:
Select the OS MasterMap file or files that you wish to import. MapManager can read either the compressed .gz files or the uncompressed .gml files.
Click on
to move to the next screen:
This interface allows you to define the temporary folders that are used during processing. If you are dealing with very large files you should select folders with ample free space.
Click on
to move to the next screen:
This screen allows you to define or select the Geodatabase that the data
should be imported into. If you wish to create a new Geodatabase then you
should select the folder 
icon.
Select a suitable folder for the location for the Geodatabase by highlighting the folder and clicking the "Add" button. Note that at this stage you can only define the folder that will contain the Geodatabase. The Geodatabase will initially be called "UntitledPGD" in the filename location field. The name of the Geodatabase should be edited to a more meaningful name.
If you already have a Geodatabase that you want to add data to, click on
the 
icon and select your Geodatabase.
If you are creating a new Geodatabase you will need to create a new Prefix. This is simply a name that is added to the feature class names in the Geodatabase. If you are importing into an existing Geodatabase you will have the choice of using an existing prefix.
Click on
to move to the next screen:
This interface can be left unaltered, unless a Change-only-Update is being loaded or data is being loaded into an existing database that you want to delete any existing data from.
Click on
to move to the next screen:
The screen identifies what data is to be imported from the OS MasterMap data files. If you have downloaded Topography Layer data you should select all the feature types under Topography Layer. If you have downloaded ITN data you should select the ITN Layer to convert. You will not need to add an ArcADE Keyword unless you are using an ArcSDE Geodatabase.
Click on
to move to the next screen:
You can use this screen to save the information you have entered into a Profile for reuse later. You can also choose to either process the data now or later.
Click on
to move to the next screen and start the processing:
This screen will show the progress of the processing stage. When
processing has finished, click on the
button. The Finish button will then become active.
Click on Finish to move to the next screen:
This is the final screen in the interface and clicking on Finish will close the application. If you have the 'Show audit log file' toggle checked, a window will be displayed showing the log of the processing. This can be useful to identify any problems during the import.