Working with ArcInfo Interchange ("e00") Files

Importing e00 files using ArcView or ArcEditor

Notes on Coverage and GRID file management

ArcInfo Coverages and GRIDs contain multiple files in multiple folders, making them difficult to transfer to other users or computers. For this reason they can be converted to an Interchange File (commonly referred to as an "e00" file). An e00 file is somewhat similar to a zip file in that it creates a single digital file that (when imported) will recreate multiple files and folders.

Many government agencies and online data warehouses supply data using the e00 format.

Using ArcINFO

To use an e00 file you must Import it. IF you have an ArcInfo License (as opposed to an ArcView or an ArcEditor license) you can use the ArcToolbox Import From Interchange File tool (located in the Coverage Tools / Conversion / To Coverage / toolset) - note that this tool is not in the standard Conversion Tools toolbox, but is instead in the Coverage Tools toolbox.

Using ArcView or ArcEditor

If you do not have an ArcInfo license (i.e., you are using ArcView or ArcEditor) you can still import e00 files but you have to use ArcCatalog instead of ArcToolbox:

Open ArcCatalog

From the View menu click Toolbars

Select (check) the ArcView 8x Tools toolbar (this should add a small toolbar)

From the ArcView 8x Tools toolbar, click the Conversions Tools drop-down menu

(the Conversions Tools is the only button on the toolbar)

From the drop-down menu, click Import from Interchange File...

Notes on Coverage and GRID file management

Once imported, e00 files will create multiple files and folders, which can be somewhat confusing to keep track of. If you need to move, rename, delete your resulting coverge (or GRID) use ArcCatalog - Do not try to do any file management using Windows Explorer or My Computer.

One technique for managing your new coverages and/or GRIDs is to import each one into it's own folder. This will allow you to know exactly which data is where as coverages and GRIDs that are in the same folder will share some of the subfolders (i.e., the INFO folder).