Join Table

Join Table provides the ability to merge external data tables directly into an existing MAP Layer attribute schema in order to create a single extended attribute table. The following formats are supported:

When exporting tables from spreadsheet applications for use with MAPublisher, the preferred format to use is Delimited Text as they have the widest range of compatibility.

 dBase tables created or edited in Microsoft Excel must have a proper data type assigned to each column through cell formatting before being saved as DBF. For example, numerical values specified in a cell set with the format "General" will be imported as an Integer type by default, therefore losing all decimal values.

 Windows users with licensed Esri software can join tables with feature classes and non-spatial tables of geodatabases (ArcSDE, File and Personal). However, Basic File and Basic Personal geodatabases are not supported. For information on Esri software requirements for this option, see Spatial Databases.

Requirements

In order to join a table into an existing attribute schema, both MAP Layer and data table must share at least one common attribute column with matching values. The column must be of a matching type (i.e. String, Real, Integer, Boolean) in both the Source and the Destination table. If not, the join may not be successful.

Using Join Table

Click the Join Table button or choose Join Table in the MAP Attributes panel options menu.

Source Data (Files)

Click the Browse button to select the data table for import. If a Microsoft Excel file is selected, use the Worksheet drop-down list to specify the sheet to be used for joining. Select a column in the Matching Column drop-down list. This is the source attribute column to join on.

In MAPublisher, double-byte characters are supported in attributes on import, allowing such attributes to be used for labeling and export. To assign a codec suitable for a selected dataset, choose an appropriate entry from the Encoding drop-down list.

If the table contains column names as headers, check the Use first line as header option. If it does not contain headers, do not check this option and each column will be assigned a default heading name: Column1, Column2, etc.

Source Data (Esri Geodatabases)

Windows users with licensed Esri software can join tables with feature classes and non-spatial tables of geodatabases (ArcSDE, File and Personal geodatabases are supported but the Basic File and Basic Personal geodatabases are not).

If the Format drop-down list is set to Esri ArcSDE Geodatabase, click the Browse button to select the ArcSDE server connection and then select the appropriate feature class or non-spatial table. If the Format drop-down list is set to Esri File Geodatabase or Esri Personal Geodatabase, click the Browse button to select a feature class or non-spatial table. See Spatial Databases for information on ArcSDE server connection and feature class selection.

The attribute selection is the same as for Files source data.

Destination

The Target Layer is specified under the Destination section. Choose an attribute from the Matching Column drop-down list. This column must match the format and values as the column chosen as the Source Matching Column to achieve a proper join.

Additional Option

When the Case sensitive when matching option is checked, the column entries from the two matching columns will only be matched by case. When the Add matching column from source option is checked, the source column is also imported and the column name is appended with the number 1. The Update existing columns instead of adding columns when possible option attempts to update attributes instead of appending more columns to the table.

 Attribute names can not contain all numbers. If a source column name contains all numbers the column is joined but the attribute column name is changed to Attribute1, Attribute2, etc.