What types of files are provided on WAGDA?
There are many file types you will encounter when obtaining data from WAGDA and the University Libraries Map Collection. The following is a list of some of the more common file types you will encounter. Understanding file types will help you determine what format a file is in, and what software program the file is intended to be opened with. • Standard File Formats Extensions are found after most file names (filename.***) and typically identify the type of file it is. Go to this Wikipedia article to learn more about file formats, including but not limited to GIS. This is an excellent resource for understanding what extensions are all about. • Compressed files Typically during a download session you will run into compressed files having a *.zip, *.gzip, or *.tar extension. Compression allows us to save space, to transfer files more quickly, and to include multiple files in one downloaded file. For example, an ArcView shapefile consists of at least three files, *.shp, *.shx, *.dbf. “Zipp
