Troubleshooting Data File Problems

An error is a common occurrence when the data file at import does not load properly.

Here are some troubleshooting steps to consider:

• Are you not seeing data imported? Ensure each data column has a name, otherwise Vesta will not recognize that column as a valid data column and ignore it on import. Column names can be modified in Vesta.
• Are there missing values in your data file? Ensure there are no gaps in the attribute data imported or appropriately designate a missing value upon data file import.
• Does the data file contain mixed formatting in columns? An example might be a column containing numerical and text data. Ensure uniform formatting for each column in the data file.
• Are all of the associated files for a shapefile (*.shp) in the same file folder?
  • These are .shx, .qmd, .prj, .dbf, and *.cpg
  • Note When a geography is exported as a shapefile in SpaceStat, a new projection (*.prj) file is not created, and SpaceStat-created shapefiles require a projection file to work in Vesta. Otherwise, Vesta will assume that the data does not have geographic information associated with it.
• Is the ID variable correctly selected in the Data panel? Ensure that the desired ID variable is designated as ID variable, as this is important for merging data files.