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There are two methods of adding a layer see instructions for each below
To create a new layer
1) Open the Layer Settings Window
2) Click the Add Layer button
3) Select "Create a New Layer".
4) Select a template from the Create New Layer Window that appears and then press OK.
5) Type a descriptive name for the layer.
6) Confirm or change the file name to be used for this new layer.
To add an existing layer file to the map
1) Open the Layer Settings Window
2) Click the Add Layer button
3) Select "Add an Existing Layer File"
4) Users will next be prompted to browse for the layer file(s) (.tml or .shp). If this layer file was received on disk or email, download it to the same directory where all of the other layer files are stored before adding it to the map. Users can select multiple layers at once in the browse window. If adding an SHP file then see notes below on Adding Shapefiles.
5) Do you want Think GIS to reproject the contents of this layer? If the layer being added uses a projection different from that of the map, then users will be prompted with this question.
Yes: Clicking this will result in the layer file will be reprojected so that it aligns with the current map. For this layer to still be available in its previous projection, then it is advised to first make a copy of the layer file and then add the copy to this map.
No: Clicking this will result in the layer will be added as-is and will not line up with the other layers on this map.
Cancel: Clicking this will prevent the layer from being added to the map.
6) The layer's display attributes, remembered from the last time it was saved, are automatically carried forward and applied to this map.
Adding Shapefiles
•Shapefiles can be added to the map in the same way an existing Think GIS layer file (*.TML) would be added, with a few exceptions:
•Shapefiles are loaded as read only layers.
•Shapefiles are only capable of storing simple geometry and text data and therefore cannot be customized with much of the richer information stored in many Think GIS layer files.
•Think GIS must be instructed as to what the projection of the shapefile is when first added to the map. Think GIS stores this information in a TMI file. If the projection initially chosen is wrong, delete the TML file and Think GIS will prompt for a projection the next time this layer is opened.
Notes:
•Users can also simply drag layer files from Windows Explorer and drop them on the Think GIS window to add them to the currently open map.
•To customize the new layer see Layer Format and Modify Form Layout
•If adding a layer created in some older versions of Think GIS, users may get prompted for the existing layer's projection. This information is needed because older versions of TML files did not store their projection and this information is necessary to determine if the projection is consistent with the map.
•If prompted to enter a password while adding an existing layer file, it is because the layer file requires a password to view it. For more information see Layer passwords.
•Layer Names can be up to 31 characters long.
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