Import Marker Symbol

Supported Marker Symbols for Import

The marker symbols in a marker symbol library can be created using the marker symbol editor provided by SuperMap, or existing resources can be imported to become symbols in the marker symbol library, and further editing is supported in the marker symbol editor. The sources of marker symbols in a marker symbol library are summarized as follows:

  • Create or edit new marker symbols using the marker symbol editor.
  • Import symbols from other symbol library files into the target symbol library, making them part of the target library.
  • Import TrueType fonts to use characters as marker symbols in the marker symbol library. After import, these symbols are vector symbols.
  • Import raster images to use as marker symbols. Supported raster image formats are: *.png, *.jpg, *.jpeg, *.bmp, *.ico (icon file).
  • Import AutoCAD files (*.dwg or *.dxf) to use the content of an AutoCAD file as a marker symbol. After import, these symbols are vector symbols.

The following sections detail how to import various types of marker symbols:

Import Marker Symbol into the Current Marker Symbol Library

Before importing a marker symbol, you need to browse and locate the path where the new symbol will be imported, i.e., make the symbol list of the symbol library selector display the symbols under the target path, and locate the target path via the symbol group structure tree. After importing, the new marker symbol will appear in the current marker symbol list.

Import Marker Symbols from Other Marker Symbol Libraries

Import marker symbols from other marker symbol library files into the current marker symbol library in the symbol library selector.

  1. In the symbol library selector, click the File menu, select Import from the drop-down menu, then choose Import Marker Symbol from the submenu;
  2. The Open dialog box pops up. Find and locate the marker symbol library file containing the symbols to import, then open that file;
  3. The Select Symbol dialog box pops up. This dialog displays the symbol library corresponding to the file in a selector view. Select the symbols to import from the symbol list; you can select multiple symbols by holding the Ctrl key.

    Since the Select Symbol dialog displays the symbol library in a selector view, you can perform symbol library management operations similar to those in the symbol library selector. Here, users can open other marker symbol library files via functions under the File menu in the Select Symbol dialog to select symbols for import.

    If repeat symbols exist, the Repeat Symbol dialog box pops up:

    • Symbol Matching Rule: Provides three rules: Symbol number, Symbol Name, and Symbol style. Default is Symbol number matching.
    • Repeat Symbol List: Displays the import symbol number, import symbol style/name, already have symbol number, and already have a symbol style/name in a table format. You can select symbols to retain via checkboxes.
    • Result Handling:
      • Select Keep the import symbol: The import symbol replaces the existing symbol. If the number is repeated, it is completely replaced with the imported style and number; if the numbers are different, the import is retained.
      • Select Keep existing symbol: Discard the import symbol, and the symbol number ID remains unchanged.
      • Select both import and existing symbols: New and old symbols coexist. If numbers are repeated, the import number is automatically modified to (maximum ID in current symbol library + 1); if numbers are different, it is appended normally.
  4. Click the OK button to import the selected symbols into the symbol list of the current symbol library selector.

Import TrueType Fonts

  1. In the symbol library selector, click the File menu, select Import from the drop-down menu, then choose Import TrueType Font from the submenu;
  2. The Select Chars dialog box pops up. Select the characters to import as marker symbols; you can select multiple characters by holding the Shift or Ctrl key;
  3. A Unicode search box is provided. You can find desired characters by entering Unicode codes.
  4. If repeat symbols exist, the Repeat Symbol dialog box pops up:
    • Symbol Matching Rule: Provides two rules: Symbol Name and Symbol style. Default is Symbol Name matching. For TrueType fonts, there is no import number, displayed as "-".
    • Repeat Symbol List: Displays the import symbol style/name, already have symbol number, and already have a symbol style/name in a table format. You can select symbols to retain via checkboxes.
    • Result Handling:
      • Select Keep the import symbol: Replaces the existing symbol style, using the already have symbol number.
      • Select Keep existing symbol: Discards the import, keeps the existing symbol, and the number remains unchanged.
      • Select both import and existing symbols: The already have symbol number and style remain unchanged; the import the symbol number is (maximum ID in current symbol library + 1).
    Note:

    When importing TrueType fonts as marker symbols, the TrueType fonts available for import depend on the font library of the local machine. That is, different machines have different font libraries, so the character resources available for import when importing TrueType fonts will vary.

Import Raster Symbol

Import an image to use as a marker symbol in the marker symbol library.

  1. In the symbol library selector, click the File menu, select Import from the drop-down menu, then choose Import Raster Symbol from the submenu;
  2. The Open dialog box pops up. Find and locate the picture file to import as a marker symbol, then open that file;
  3. If repeat symbols exist, the Repeat Symbol dialog box pops up:
    • Symbol Matching Rule: Provides two rules: Symbol Name and Symbol style. Default is Symbol Name matching. For raster images, there is no import number, displayed as "-".
    • Repeat Symbol List: Displays the import symbol style/name, already have symbol number, and already have a symbol style/name in a table format. You can select symbols to retain via checkboxes.
    • Result Handling:
      • Select Keep the import symbol: Replaces the existing symbol style, using the already have symbol number.
      • Select Keep existing symbol: Discards the import, keeps the existing symbol, and the number remains unchanged.
      • Select both import and existing symbols: The already have symbol number and style remain unchanged; the import the symbol number is (maximum ID in current symbol library + 1).
  4. The Prompt dialog box pops up, asking whether to maintain the image's aspect ratio. Click Yes to maintain; otherwise, click No. The imported marker symbol will appear in the symbol list of the current symbol library selector.

    Raster symbols in the marker symbol library default to having the same width and height dimensions. When importing a picture as a raster symbol, if you choose not to maintain the aspect ratio, the image will be stretched to a state with equal width and height dimensions to serve as the imported raster symbol.

Import SVG Symbol

Import an SVG file to use as a marker symbol in the marker symbol library.

  1. In the symbol library selector, click the File menu, select Import from the drop-down menu, then choose Import SVG Symbol from the submenu;
  2. The Open dialog box pops up. Find and locate the SVG file to import as a marker symbol, then open that file;
  3. If repeat symbols exist, the Repeat Symbol dialog box pops up:
    • Symbol Matching Rule: Provides two rules: Symbol Name and Symbol style. Default is Symbol Name matching. For SVG files, there is no import number, displayed as "-".
    • Repeat Symbol List: Displays the import symbol style/name, already have symbol number, and already have a symbol style/name in a table format. You can select symbols to retain via checkboxes.
    • Result Handling:
      • Select Keep the import symbol: Replaces the existing symbol style, using the already have symbol number.
      • Select Keep existing symbol: Discards the import, keeps the existing symbol, and the number remains unchanged.
      • Select both import and existing symbols: The already have symbol number and style remain unchanged; the import the symbol number is (maximum ID in current symbol library + 1).

SuperMap supports importing static vector files that comply with the SVG 1.1 core specification. Some SVG elements and element attributes are temporarily unsupported. For details, please refer to 《SVG Symbol Support》.

Import AutoCAD Files

Import an AutoCAD file to use the graphic content within the file as a marker symbol in the marker symbol library.

  1. In the symbol library selector, click the File menu, select Import from the drop-down menu, then choose Import AutoCAD File from the submenu;
  2. The Open dialog box pops up. Find and locate the AutoCAD file to import as a marker symbol, then open that file;
  3. If repeat symbols exist, the Repeat Symbol dialog box pops up:
    • Symbol Matching Rule: Provides two rules: Symbol Name and Symbol style. Default is Symbol Name matching. For AutoCAD files, there is no import number, displayed as "-".
    • Repeat Symbol List: Displays the import symbol style/name, already have symbol number, and already have a symbol style/name in a table format. You can select symbols to retain via checkboxes.
    • Result Handling:
      • Select Keep the import symbol: Replaces the existing symbol style, using the already have symbol number.
      • Select Keep existing symbol: Discards the import, keeps the existing symbol, and the number remains unchanged.
      • Select both import and existing symbols: The already have symbol number and style remain unchanged; the import the symbol number is (maximum ID in current symbol library + 1).
  4. The imported marker symbol will appear in the symbol list of the current symbol library selector.

Related Topics

Import/Export Marker Symbol Library Files