Description
The Import/Export functionalities in MIKE+ are relevant for the water distribution, collection systems and rivers networks modules, as well as the 2D Overland component. They can can be applied to import from or export to other models and data sources.
In MIKE+ there are three different import/export options:
#01 - Import and export model setups via the ‘File’ menu and the relative “Import” and “Export” commands
This option can be used to convert / migrate from e.g. old MIKE 11 or MIKE HYDRO River or MIKE FLOOD setups to MIKE+ - see Fig. 1. It can, however, only be applied on predefined / standard files and therefore cannot be customised at all.
Fig. 1 - Importing and exporting model setups functionalities can be accessed from the ‘File’ menu
#02 - Export MIKE+ features to shapefiles by right-clicking at the layer of interest at the ‘Layers and symbols’ tab and selecting the command “Export… > Export layer to Shapefile”.
This is a quick method offering a direct export of a selected layer (or subset of selected features – see Fig. 2 – e.g. rivers, cross sections, structures) to a shapefile, without any customization, and it will only work for one shapefile at a time.
Fig. 2 - Exporting feature layers (with all or selected features) is possible by right clicking on layers at the Layers and symbols tab
#03 - Import and export data from/to other data sources using the “Import and export” tool accessed from the ‘Tools’ menu (“Import/Export” ribbon).
This option is the most powerful one since it is fully customised, supporting various formats and any table, and is presented in more detail herein. Below follows a generic workflow example (animated in Fig. 3/ Gif. 1):
1. Go to ‘Tools’ menu. At the Import/Export ribbon choose the “Import and export” button.
2. At the “Import and export” dialog that pops up click on the ‘Add job’ button at the upper left corner to add a new job. At the ‘Job’ panel below choose the appropriate ‘Value’ for the associated ‘Property’ with “Source type” and “Target type” being the most important properties.
3. Atthe ‘Table’ panel on the right, click on the “Insert section” button to insert a new section that will be used to define the Target and Source attribute names/IDs below. At the ‘Section1’ table fill in accordingly the Section Properties including the “Source” and “Target” fields.
4.Click onthe “Automap” button to create automatic assignments in the ‘Assignments’ table with all possible Target – Source associations or add user-defined assignments by clicking on the “Insert assignment” button on the top right. At the “Assignment” table below, pick-up source/target attributes from drop-down list and associate accordingly the Source and Target table attributes.
5. Proceed to “Verify” and “Run” the tool by clicking on the respective buttons at the top of the dialog to achieve the conversion(s).
Fig. 3 - Gif. 1 - Generic example with animated main steps in order to export/import data to/from other data sources using the ‘Import and export’ tool at the ‘Tools’ menu. The specific animation shows an export from MIKE+ to a Shapefile
Important notes:
- Prior to exporting a MIKE+ feature (or importing from another data source) it is recommended to hover the mouse over the particular MIKE+ field you would like to export (or import) and note the MIKE+ Database Table ID and Attribute ID which will be associated with the external data source. E.g. in above animation the MIKE+ Database Table & Attribute ID for the river names of the different weirs is “mrm.Weir_LinkID” (‘mrm’ refers to the river network tables, ‘Weir’ refers to the rivers’ Weirs structures and ‘LinkID’ refers to the River names Attribute ID). Then e.g. the Attribute ID ‘LinkID’ at the Assignments table for the Source column needs to be associated with a suitably named field in the shapefile (or Excel), so that the point features in the resultant shapefile will have an attribute field containing the expected river names.
- Multiple Jobs and Table sections can be defined, prioritized and run in ‘one-go’.
- The tool’s configuration can be saved and reloaded to be used in the same or another MIKE+ project.
- If you would like to practice importing/exporting data from/to different data sources you may find useful the related self-paced training course where examples importing from shapefiles, importing from Excel and exporting to CAD are explained in more detail.
Conclusion
MIKE+ possesses advanced Import/Export options allowing import of model setups from older MIKE models, as well as import/export data from/to other data sources. The "Import and export" tool is the most powerful, with fully customised functionality, supporting various data formats and tables.
FURTHER INFORMATION & USEFUL LINKS
Manuals and User Guides
MIKE+ Model Manager User Guide - Chapter 6 Import and Export
Training options
MIKE+ | Getting started with the import and export tool (THE ACADEMY by DHI)
Webinar
MIKE+ – Learning how to work with the import and export tool