Name Search - User Defined Text Files

Creating your own Text Files acceptable for Name Search Creator

The name search text file format described below will be acceptable for Name Search Creator to import data (place names and locations) into your Name Search database.

Once you have created your own text files containing your data (in Decimal Degrees, Degrees Minutes and Seconds, Degrees and Decimal Minutes), rename the file extension to (.nst) which is recognised by Name Search Creator as a valid name search text file.  (A spreadsheet program may assist you in creating this text file as most spreadsheets have the ability to move columns around making it easier for you to achieve the correct format. Files should be saved from a speadsheet as a comma delimited text file.)

NOTE: The format of the NIMA files can be text files (.txt) and this format should not be confused with the user text files (.nst), generated by OziExplorer users.  User Text Files should not have the (.txt) extension, this must be changed to (.nst).

Ensure the files created are located in the folder along with any other files (eg. World, U.S.A. files or OziExplorer Waypoint files) as you require.  When you run the Name Search Creator program, the (.nst) files will be displayed in the list of files and if selected will be collated into the database. (For accurate plotting of the location from the OziExplorer Name Search option, the correct Datum for the data must be known and included in the file header.  If a Datum is not a recognised Datum or is not there, WGS 84 Datum will be assumed and Name Search Creator will still include the data but a warning will be given.)  

The DATUM which follows the #2 line must match the DATUM of the data in the file and must be defined EXACTLY including spaces. A list of DATUMS is included here. View DATUM List

Definition of the (.nst) file format

Any line which begins with a ; is for comments and will be ignored.

Other than the comment lines, there are two header lines. The first valid header line will begin with "#1," and the second valid header line will begin with "#2,"  

The two header lines contain the following information. All columns (fields) of data in the file must be separated by a comma. (If a field is blank then two comma's will be shown)

Because of this, the name fields must NOT have a comma in the name.

#1 - Define whether the data is in Lat/Long or UTM coordinates, and if UTM the Zone must also be included.

(If you do not know the Zone letter you can add the hemisphere (N or S) as the fourth comma delimited field.  eg: #1,UTM,56,S   -  S is for Southern Hemisphere because the Zone does not have the zone letter attached.)

#2 - Define the DATUM in which the data has been recorded.

The Datum must be typed in EXACTLY as shown in the DATUM List. If you have location data in different Datums then you must separate the data into different (.nst) files, one for each Datum.

If you have UTM location data which falls into different Zones, the zones can be defined within each line of data and will override the Zone in the header line #1.

Example 1 : User Defined .nst file format

The data format is Latitude and Longitude in WGS 84 Datum
==========================================
;nst FORMAT :  FULL NAME,CODE,UTM ZONE,LAT,LONG,IGNORE ANYTHING ELSE
;Lines which begin with ; are ignored
;If coordinates are in Lat/Long this line will be blank and the columns between the comma's will be blank
;The 3rd location data column (only if required) contains the ZONE which overrides the default ZONE in the #1 line
;data in any of 3 formats, Decimal Deg, Deg (space) Min (space) Sec, Deg (space) Min and Decimal Minutes
;the name fields must not have a comma in the name, the comma is used to separate the fields
#1,,
#2,WGS 84
Acacia Ridge,Suburb,,-27.583333,153.033333
Advancetown,Suburb,,-28.066666,153.266666
Albany Creek,Suburb,,-27.350000,152.983333
Albert River,Suburb,,-27.700000,153.250000
Alberton,Suburb,,-27.700000,153.250000

==========================================
Example 2 : User Defined .nst file format

The data format is UTM, Zone 31T in WGS 84 Datum
==========================================
;NS FORMAT: FULL NAME,CODE,UTM ZONE,LAT,LONG,IGNORE ANYTHING ELSE
;Lines which begin with ; are ignored
;If coordinates are in UTM then the #1, must be followed by UTM, ZONE
;The 3rd data column contains the ZONE which overrides the default ZONE in the #1 line
;the name fields must not have a comma in the name, the comma is used to separate the fields
#1,UTM,31T
#2,WGS 84
Abella de la Conca,Pallars Jussa,,342450.00,4669650.00,956
Abrera,Baix Llobregat,,408471.00,4596983.00,105
Ager,Noguera,,314700.00,4652600.00,642

If the location and coordinates below were from a different zone then the other locations in the file (as shown in the #1 line of the file), the Zone must be included in the line of data. If the location and data were from Zone 32T the line would look like this.

Ager,Noguera,32T,314700.00,4652600.00,642

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