Vince, Thanks for doing the minutes. One request: Can we use names, rather than initials, to identify people? Initials are not unique within the data center (RB could be Roger Barry or Rob Bauer, for example), and typos completely obscure the intended meaning. For example,
Nancy A. imported the shape files into ArcView. We learned that the shape files contain .DBF files. These are DBASE files. DBASE was/is an RDBMS that operated in DOS. The table attributes in the DBF files have a name length limit of 10 characters. BM said the file names generated when attempting to import into the GIS utility contained ~ (maybe an ISO standard constraint; 8.3 is 10 characters).
Who is BM? Is that a typo? I take it it should be BR (me).
We discussed issues with consistency with names used to describe the attributes in the GLIMS data base and names used in shapefiles the .DBF file restricts attribute names to 10 characters.
Recommendation: We do not want to change our attribute names. Is there an alternative utility that does not rely on .DBF files nor have the limitation for attribute name length. BR will evaluate if an alternative utility is available.
Nancy, who uses state-of-the-art ESRI products, wrote: Bruce, Looks like they are now limited to 10 characters... I tried creating a coverage with names of 16 characters (size limit for coverages) and it truncated them to 10. --Nancy So unless we get away from shapefiles altogether (not a good idea, IMO), we're stuck with short attribute names within the shapefiles. I see two possible solutions: 1) list and publish long and short forms of the attributes, and use the short forms only in the .dbf files; 2) use only shortened forms for attributes. I personally prefer option 1.
L.Copeland and Flagstaff folks are writing c++ code for for analysis package based on OGC/open source guidelines. Using Qt graphics librariy (KDE is based on this library).
Minor correction: should be Copland. However, the software is being written only by the Flagstaff folks.
BR out 2/28 - 3/6 for visit to Alaska and participate (as spectator?) in the Ididerod.
Definitely as a spectator! We did get rides on a dogsled that wasn't in the Iditarod, though. Bruce -- Bruce Raup National Snow and Ice Data Center Phone: 303-492-8814 University of Colorado, 449 UCB Fax: 303-492-2468 Boulder, CO 80309-0449 braup@nsidc.org