Most GIS formats (e.g. Maagis, MapInfo, Shape, Xcity, GML) have common database style attribute handling. Each feature has its own database table with columns containing allowed attributes. Each column has type and possibly maximum size.
During the GIS-file reading two text files are automatically created to the user's setting directory: auto_attr.dat and auto_attr.txt (examples below). The first one contains definitions of feature attributes and the second one contains attribute names for possible name conversion file. The name conversion file can be set in code field settings.
Feature definition file attribute definitions are needed when writing data back. Each feature starts with feature name in square brackets. In formats supporting only one feature this is usually same as file name. Each attribute is defined in its own line containing attribute name, type, possible maximum size and amount of decimals.
Definition file auto_attr.dat:
[wa311109A.mif] TEKSTI string 80 RYHMA int LUOKKA int TASTAR int KORTAR int KORARV float KULKUTAPA int KOHDEOSO int AINLAHDE int SYNTYHETKI string 10 KUOLHETKI string 10 KARTOGLK int ALUEJAKOON int VERSUH int SUUNTA int SIIRT_DX int SIIRT_DY int ATTR1 int ATTR2 int ATTR3 int
Name file auto_attr.txt:
! wa311109A.mif AINLAHDE AINLAHDE ALUEJAKOON ALUEJAKOON ATTR1 ATTR1 ATTR2 ATTR2 ATTR3 ATTR3 KARTOGLK KARTOGLK KOHDEOSO KOHDEOSO KORARV KORARV KORTAR KORTAR KULKUTAPA KULKUTAPA KUOLHETKI KUOLHETKI LUOKKA LUOKKA RYHMA RYHMA SIIRT_DX SIIRT_DX SIIRT_DY SIIRT_DY SUUNTA SUUNTA SYNTYHETKI SYNTYHETKI TASTAR TASTAR TEKSTI TEKSTI VERSUH VERSUH