hapefiles store non-topological geometry and attribute information for geo-referenced points, lines, or polygons. The format is native to ESRI's ArcGIS® software. Vector GIS layers can be exported from ArcGIS databases to shapefiles for display in HEC-RTS studies.

To edit the display properties of a line, polygon, or point shapefile:

  1. From the Layer Tree (Map Layers Dialog), right-click on an Arc shapefile (.shp) from the shortcut menu and click *Properties or double-click on the Arc shapefile filename.
  2. If the shapefile chosen is a polygon, the Edit Polygon Properties dialog will open (Figure 1).
    Figure 1 Edit Polygon Properties Dialog - Fill Tab 
  3. Across the top of the dialog is displayed the location and name of the shapefile.

To edit properties of an ArcGIS® shapefile:

  1. Click the Fill tab of the Edit Polygon Properties dialog (Figure 1).
  2. The Draw Features using option allows you to select how the feature will be drawn, either using One Fill or the Attribute Values. If Attribute Values is selected, this option will associate the Field for values from the shapefile to a color and label. In Figure D.2, AREA has been selected, which displays the value of the AREA in the shapefile as blue to red gradations.
  3. By default, the shapefile will display lines and areas (polygons). To turn off the fill, clear the Display Fill cell.
  4. To change the style of line or polygon areas use the Style selection list
  5. To classify the values in the Field for values check the Use Gradations cell and specify the number of classes. This will group the values in the Field for values into the range of classes specified.
  6. The Transparency bar controls to what level the transparency of the shapefile will be displayed.
  7. The properties of the Color Chooser are discussed in detail in Appendix E. From the color palette, select a color. If the feature is being drawn using an attribute value, select a color for the start and end value.
  8. Click Apply, and the color for the selected field will appear in the display area. Click OK, and the Edit Polygon Properties dialog will close.
  9. If you wish to save any changes, from the File menu, choose Save Watershed. Changes are saved to a file with the extension *.gdr. For example, if the shapefile name is subbasin.shp, and changes have been made and saved, a file subbasin.gdr will be created.

To change the border color, style and weight of the ArcGIS® shapefile, click the Border tab of the Edit Polygon Properties dialog (Figure 2). You can change the border display setting in from the Edit Polygon Properties dialog.

Figure 2 Edit Polygon Properties Dialog - Border Tab

To format the labels of the ArcGIS® shapefile. click the Label tab of the Edit Polygon Properties dialog (Figure 3). If you wish to display labels associated with the shapefile, click on the Label features using drop down window and choose the attribute field which the labeling will be based on. Additionally, the Font, Size, and Placement of the label can be changed.

Figure 3 Edit Polygon Properties Dialog - Labels Tab