#73 GNIS DECI filename format has been changed

[JDW]

Versions:
roadnav_0.19-ubuntu7101_i386.deb
roadnav-wx3_0.20alpha-ubuntu804-1_i386.deb
CPU: i386
OS: Ubuntu Intrepid (8.10)
GPSD: 2.37

Hello,

The file format used for GNIS DECI data has been changed by the USGS. The _DECI.zip format no longer works. Please see instructions for the new format in the following message from Dwight Hughes at the USGS, and from this webpage:
http://geonames.usgs.gov/domestic/download_data.htm

Thanks,
Jonathan

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2008 06:14:05 -0500
From: Dwight S Hughes <dshughes@usgs.gov>
Subject: Re: new GNIS DECI root URL?

Mr. Warren,

The state_DECI.zip file name format has not been in use for some time. The current format is state_features_YYYYMMDD.zip. The addition of the file date was at the request of users using automated procedures for downloading the latest files. Because other users also have expressed concern with this format, both formats will be implemented in the near future, with the date (state_features_YYYYMMDD.zip) and without (state_features.zip). This should be completed in the next two weeks. However, there are no plans to return to the old state_DECI.zip format.

We hope this meets your needs. Please let us know if you have additional questions.

Dwight S. Hughes
(703) 648-5793
Technical Application Manager
SAIC Contractor in support of the USGS
National Geospatial Technical Operations Center
dshughes@usgs.gov

[JDW]

Another message from the USGS...

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2008 09:17:58 -0500
From: Stephen D Skelton <sskelton@usgs.gov>
Subject: Re: new GNIS DECI root URL?

New download files are now available.

The web page links to a version of the filename that contains the date.
This supports automated web crawling software. Symbolic links have been
created to versions of the filename without the date. This will support
those who want to directly link to the files.

Below is an example for one state file of two separate URLs that will
work:

http://geonames.usgs.gov/docs/stategaz/IN_Features_20081120.zip
http://geonames.usgs.gov/docs/stategaz/IN_Features.zip

Steve

[Dustin Spicuzza]

Someone had brought this up on the mailing list and was going to submit a patch, but a patch for it was never submitted.

I'm currently working on an improved version of the Roadnav backend, and GNIS/Tiger/etc support will be dropped in favor for OpenStreetMap data only, so I'm not going to fix this unless someone else sends a patch in for it.

[JDW]

Cool; thanks

[James Gockel]

The work around to this is to manually get the files from the server, and rename to the proper format.

In the roadnav data directory:

wget http://geonames.usgs.gov/docs/stategaz/CA_Features.zip
mv CA_Features.zip http..geonames.usgs.gov.docs.stategaz.CA_DECI.zip

There is also an "all state" link on the page that you may be able to download and extract all, and rename, if you plan on mapping all over the US.

[Bob]

The change in format is more than just the naming convention. The column headers have been renamed, and the field delimiters have been changed from tabs to pipes (|).

I banged up a BAD script to make the corrections, but it works as of the June 2009 GNIS releases. For those of you interested, I have also uploaded the repackaged files to http://www.orcusomega.com/GNIS/. Change this setting in the Tools->Preferences->URLS section (the field in question is GNIS DECI Root). YMMV.

[badman35]

So when is it going to be switch over to the new data? I need to use this now. Is there a more strait foreword way to get this to work I have tried all the other things in this thread and i still get the error. Could somone tell me how i can take the allstates file and set it up for roadnav...