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Adobe Illustrator Export AML for ArcInfo
Requires: Workstation ArcInfo
Author: Matthew Syrett
Date: March 1997
This Arc Macro Language Script has been designed to improve the ability of the ArcInfo GIS environment to export Adobe Illustrator files. The present means of export are problematic due to its adherence to the Illustrator 88 format, which is presently not easily portable without translation to copies of Illustrator 5.0 or greater running on non-UNIX platforms. These files can be translated to Mac or PC binary, but even then the files leave a lot to be desired in terms of accuracy, flexibility, color matching, and sometimes polygon representation.
This project developed due to my frustration with the export of ArcInfo data to Illustrator. I have sought to improve the export ability of ArcInfo to Illustrator format in the following ways:
The drawback to using this product is speed. To make the script cross-platform and fully functional, I was required to put up with the slowness of AML and push the envelope of the macro-language and ArcInfo. An Avenue script would speed up the process of image generation, however I was taken with the challenge of doing it in AML. I also thought of the idea of mixing PERL or shell scripts to speed up the processing of strings, but this would have decreased portability especially to NT boxes which are rarely equipped with PERL and don't talk UNIX script.
Version 2.1 supports polygon and line coverage exports. Unlike the first beta versions, islands and holes will be managed by the AML, if desired by the user. The three coverage limit has been removed enabling the user to composite up to twenty coverages into a single illustrator image.
Known Bugs: The Read Me file that accompanies this AML program will describe the known bugs in detail. However, I just want to mention one of importance. In the input field for "Don't Draw" where the user can enter a query string, the string is capitalized to send to INFO, which means that lower case letters in quoted query string get capitalized (the items names don't matter since INFO wants them capitalized). In the next release I will split
Planned Features: Text annotation, multiple layers support, and an Avenue version for ArcView (Demand it if you want it... or better yet fund its creation -- talk to me).
NOTE: This product is free providing that credit be given the author Matthew Syrett for its creation and use. The whole or part of the unique script cannot be sold or included in a product to be sold without the consent of Matthew Syrett. Mr. Syrett is not responsible for the use of this product by others (if you break something with this code it is not my fault). If you like this product, you should consider hiring Mr. Syrett for work or recommending his services to your colleagues.
Comments are Welcome Concerning this Freeware Product.
Contact: Matthew Syrett - syrett@walrus.com
Download AITOOL AML 2.1
Select the desired format:
Note: The TAR Archive was compressed on a SGI workstation using the following command:
tar cOdbf 20 /usr/people/syrett/aitool.tar aitool
