Hi John,
You can keep a mapinfo table in .dbf format instead of .dat format, by using File>Save As DBF. The DBF format is more manageable, and you can use it as a linked table in Access.
You can change values in existing cells.
However, If you add columns to the DBF file they will not be recognized by the original .TAB file as it defines which columns are available in the DBF file.
Also If you change the order of the rows in the DBF file they will be out of sync with the map objects which were originally associated with those rows.
Regards
Stuart
From: "John Polasky" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Subject: MI-L Modifying Table Structure and Updating Newly Added Columns outside of MapInfo
Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2005 12:56:13 -0600
Good Day-
Does anyone out there know if it is possible to add columns and update just the .dat component file of a mapinfo.tab in Access (temporarily isolating the data from the graphic component) and then simply bring it back into MapInfo and reopen as part of the overall .tab with the original filename, with all of the new attribute data available? I wouldn't be adding any new rows/records, just additional columns and new data for the existing rows. If this is possible, I would appreciate any suggestions. However, I want to make it clear that I don't have Oracle, or anything else beyond Access : ) I realize there are better database apps out there but I don't have time to explore them right now. Bottom line, it takes way too long to update the attribute information in MapInfo as it is. And I fear that I'll lose the connection to the graphic .map component and will need to somehow re-join the data within MapInfo and start all over with my attribute update. (FYI, the table is a 1-mile base gridcell layer.) Thanks.
Sincerely,
John E. Polasky Geographic Information Systems Analyst The Schwan Food Company Home Service 115 West College Drive Marshall, MN 56258
phone - 507-537-8631
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Web: http://www.theschwanfoodcompany.com/
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