Quickly attach xls/csv/dbf files in GeoMedia

GeoMedia allows you to connect to text files via the Text File Data Server connection, which requires you to define a text file server definition file. Although this method is powerful and flexible, it is not easy for users to grasp. There is an alternative quick and easy way in GeoMedia to attach and display the same text files via the Attach as Feature Table function. This function also allows you to display Excel spreadsheets (*.xls) and Dbase files (*.dbf), in addition to CSV text files (*.txt, *.csv). Here are the steps.

In this example, I want to attach the CSV text file shown below in a text editor. It has the standard header in the first line and the comma separated records below that.

1. In GeoMedia, connect to a Access read/write database.
   
   
2. Select Warehouse > Feature Class Definition.
   
   The Feature Class Definition dialog box appears.
   
   
   
3. In the Feature Classes box, click a Access read/write connection e.g. tmp. Click Attach.
   
   The Attach dialog box appears.
   
   
   
4. In the Type combo box, choose the type of file you want to attach, e.g. Text. Click Browse.
   
   The Open dialog box appears.
   
   
   
5. Browse and select the file you want to attach, e.g. gps.csv. Click Open.
   
   The Attach dialog box is updated with the selected file.
   
   
   
6. If you like, change the default name of the target table. Click OK.
   
   The attach feature table is appended to the Access connection.
   
   
   
7. Click Close.

From now on, you can display and manipulate the records in the attached file within GeoMedia. For instance, you can select Window > Data Window and display the contents of the file as shown below.