Export Datasets

There are three ways to export dataset(s) as DBF files or text files: choose (1) "Export>datasets" from the "File" menu, (2) or "Export datasets" from the menu that pops-up when you right-click the geography, or (3) click on the export button and then chose "Datasets" from the drop-down menu on the project toolbar .  Recall that if you prefer to work with your data in a spreadsheet like Excel, you can also copy all of the datasets (as shown in the table) to the clipboard, and then paste into your spreadsheet program.

Details on exporting datasets

SpaceStat exports all the data for the time range you specify.

The resulting DBF or text file will have one or several rows for each object in your geography with a start and end time for each change in its attributes. For instance, if the dataset "RBF" changes every 5 years between 1950 and 1995, then each object will have 9 rows in a DBF, one for each RBF value. The DBF will include all the data you can see in the table in SpaceStat, plus the start and end date and/or time when those data values apply.

Troubleshooting dataset export

Note that when datasets are exported, their names are truncated at 10 characters.  If this will lead to confusion (i.e., data columns in the exported file that have the same name), you should edit your dataset names by right clicking on them and selecting "rename dataset".  Also, some GIS software may have trouble importing datasets if there are spaces in the dataset names.  Again, you can remove these by editing the dataset name prior to import.   

Click on the image below for more information.

Once the Export DBF window opens, you will need to specify your geography, which datasets to export at which time range.

Geography

Choose the geography to export from the pull-down list.

Export Format

Choose whether you would like to export the data as a text file or a DBF.  Note you can also copy all of the datasets in the table to the clipboard, and then paste into Excel if that is your preferred format.

Datasets

Choose which datasets to export by selecting them, select a range of datasets using Shift-select or individual datasets using Control-select.

Time slices

To choose the time range exported, select the start and end time range.