You can import .e00 files into ArcView using the Import71 utility that comes with ArcView.  This utility operates on its own, and is not part of the ArcView program. It is run by finding the import71.exe file and double-clicking the mouse on it. An easy way to do this is to go to the Start button in Windows95 or WindowsNT, select Find - Find Files or Folders, and typing import71.exe in the dialog box.  ESRI programs are mostly located on the E: drive in our lab, so you can specify a search of that drive. If you don't find it, check the C: drive. When this file is found, you can simply double-click on it there and start the import program.

Important! For more detailed information about using ArcView .e00 import utilities, look under the ArcView Help - Help Topics - Index. Type "importing" and choose "Importing, Arc/Info Interchange Files" from the resulting list. Import71 works with Windows95 or WindowsNT, and will be your usual choice.  An older import utility, called import.exe,  also comes with ArcView, and works in DOS and Windows 3.1 environment.

Another important note! The import utility does not function across the Windows network for some reason. Make sure you are working from the local computer.  After successfully importing your .e00 files, please delete the .e00 files.

Using Import71:

1. Before you import an .e00 file, create an individual directory for that file and the imported files. E.g., if I was importing a TxDot county file for Williamson County called urban246.e00, I should create a directory called williamson in the e:\temp\barbara\ directory, and copy my urban246.e00 file to that directory.
2. Run the Import71.exe file by double-clicking on it - a dialog box should appear
3. Browse to the location of your .e00 file and select that file and its directory path as the input file (e.g., e:\temp\barbara\williamson\urban246.e00)
4. For your output file, simply specify the name you want for the newly imported file (e.g., txdot) - no directory path is needed, the file will import to the same location as the .e00 file
5. Be patient - the import process may take 10 minutes or so. You will know when it is done because a small box saying Import Complete will appear over the Import71 dialog box.
6. After you see the Import Complete notice, start ArcView again and check that the coverage displays properly. If so, delete the .e00 file from the system.

If the import71 utility fails, try using the old "import.exe" utility.  This runs in DOS  or Windows and is slightly more difficult to use, but often works for me when Import71 does not. Again, read the instructions in ArcView for more information.

19 September 2001
The School of Architecture at UT Austin
Comments to: Barbara Parmenter