VISAT Help - Import CSV Data

Import CSV Data

You can import any CSV ('Character Separated Value') data given in plain text files. E.g., a common use case would be the re-import of transects being exported earlier by BEAM/Visat. However, to be correctly imported and interpreted, these files need to follow certain rules on content and formatting, as described in the CSV File Conventions. Trying to import CSV files which deviate from these rules may result in unexpected behaviour or error messages.

Definition of the Coordinate Reference System (CRS)

When importing a CSV text file, you will be asked to define the Coordinate Reference System (CRS) on which the given coordinates are defined.

You can choose between three options to define the CRS:

Use target CRS
This options can be chosen if the CSV data is defined on the same CRS as the product you want to import the CSV file in. The transformation used by the projection can be selected. Also the geodetic datum and transformation parameters can be set, if possible for the selected transformation.
Custom CRS
Here you can freely define the CRS of the CSV data.
Predefined CRS
By clicking on the Select... button a new Select Coordinate Reference System dialog is shown where a predefined CRS can be selected.

Interpretation of Point Data

After the CRS of the CSV data has been selected and confirmed with 'OK', a new dialog 'Point Data Interpretation' is shown. Here it can be selected in which way the given point data in the file shall be interpreted and displayed by BEAM/Visat.

You can choose between the following options:

Leave imported data unchanged
This option should be chosen if the data shall be taken 'as is'. No further interpretation is done. This is the default.
Interpret each point as vertex of a single line or polygon
(This will remove all attributes from points)
Interpret each point as track point

See more details and examples in the CSV File Conventions.

After the point data interpretation is confirmed with 'OK', the data is displayed in the current view. Also, a new vector data node corresponding to this CSV source is added in the Products View, and a new vector data and mask layer is added in the Layer Manager.