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.
• Seeing an issue with a shape's outline, or points that seem duplicated? Vesta automatically checks a file's geometry as it imports — invalid outlines and duplicate points are found, reported, and repaired, without needing to fix them in GIS software first. See the Read As step in Importing Data for more on this.
• 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.