Error Messages: "Invalid Raster Dataset..."; "Could not add a raster layer... The raster may not be supported..."
Problem/Symptom:
Trying to add a Geosoft grid (*.GRD) to a layer in ArcGIS, but cannot. Get one of the following error messages:
"Could not add a raster layer using ...grd' The raster may not be supported by your installation of ArcGIS Desktop."
"Invalid Raster Dataset. Failed to create raster layer"
Environment:
This resolution applies to all versions of Target for ArcGIS, as well as the Geosoft Plugin for ArcGIS. Any version of ArcGIS as well.
Resolution:
1) In ArcGIS, go to Tools > Options > Raster tab. Click on File Formats. Look for "Geosoft Grid" (*.grd). Make sure it is checked ON.
2) If GRD does not appear in the list, go to Advanced > Restore Defaults.
3) If that does not help, we need to add a new raster format. To add a new raster format, shut down ArcMap and delete the rasterformats.cfg file from the C:\Program Files\Common Files\ESRI\Raster\devices\ntx86\RDOConfig directory. This file will regenerate itself on start up, when you add a new file to a new layer. Start up ArcMap and see if the GRD file type is recognized.
4) If you cannot find rasterformats.cfg in that directory, try searching for rasterformats.cfg anywhere in C:\Program Files\Common Files\ESRI\Raster and remove those files from your computer (I would not suggest deleting them just yet, so place them on a zip drive or something, just to move it off your computer for the time being). Again, this file will re-generate itself upon opening ArcGIS again BUT only when you try and add a new file to a new layer. Upon opening ArcGIS, see if you can add GRDs.
5) Go to C:\Program Files\Common Files\ESRI\Raster\usr\lib\NTx86\RasterFormats and look for a file called geogrd_esri.dll. If you do not have it, this is the reason why the GRDs are not showing up. This DLL is the one we use to display GRDs. If you do not have it, do a search for it. If you still can't find it, let me know and I will email it to you (if I can get around Outlook blocking the DLL). Basically though, this file should be installed upon installation of TfA, so I'm not sure why it would not be showing up.
6) Now with that DLL in that folder, in ArcGIS, go to Tools > Options > Raster tab > File Formats. Under the Advanced tab > Add New Raster Format. Search for that geogrd_esri.dll and add it.
7) If this fails, it may be because of some other ArcGIS extension that is on your ArcGIS installation, such as an ER Mapper viewer for ERS or ECW files.
a. Go to C:\Documents and Settings\mattd
b. Once here, you should see a file called normal.mxt. If you delete this, it will restore all the defaults for your installation of ArcGIS, and may add the GRD extension.
8) Place the ArcGIS 9.2 CD back on to your machine, and run the installation. Do a custom install, and install only the ".NET support files" from the CD. This has helped in the past with one user.
9) If all of this fails, we need to uninstall-reinstall Target for ArcGIS. To do this, please park your license, then uninstall through Add/Remove Programs. Delete the entire C:\Program Files\Geosoft\ArcGIS directory, remembering to save any custom files you may have. Once complete, re-install TfA from your CD or from our website (http://www.geosoft.com/support/updates/targetforarcgis.asp), and setup your license prior to re-opening ArcGIS.
Root Cause:
Target for ArcGIS and the Geosoft Plugin for ArcGIS install the Geosoft GRD format for use in Geosoft. You may not be able to add GRDs because the required DLL was not installed, or because it was not properly registered with the ArcGIS installation.
This may also be a problem with the order in which you installed/upgraded ArcGIS (from 9.1 to 9.2) and/or TfA (e.g. from 2.2.2 to 3.0).
If you had TfA installed, and upgraded from Arc 9.1 to 9.2 (or possibly even just upgraded an ArcGIS service pack), problems like these can arise. In the future, if you are upgrading ArcGIS (even upgrading a service pack), you need to uninstall TfA before proceeding with the ArcGIS upgrade. Once the ArcGIS upgrade is complete, re-install TfA.
