How to: import a Shapefile (*.shp) into Oasis montaj or Target and retain the fill and line attributes set in ArcMap.

Objective:

To import a Shapefile (*.shp) into Oasis montaj or Target and retain the fill and line attributes set in ArcMap.

Environment:

Oasis montaj and Target

Solution:

1. Go to ArcMap > File menu > Document Properties > Data Source Options.
2. Activate both Store relative path names to data sources and Make relative paths the default for new map documents I create.
3. Click OK > OK.
4. In ArcMap save the Shapefile (with the associated graphical information) by right-clicking the Shapefile in the Table of Contents and selecting Save as Layer File.
5. Import the layer file into Oasis montaj/Target by going to Map > Import > ArcGIS LYR File.

Root Cause:

Shapefiles contain no graphical information such as line colours, fill colours or patterns. Shapefiles contain only the coordinates of the points or line vertices and, optionally, the related non-graphical attribute information. Graphical information such as line colours, fill colours or patterns are stored in a layer file (*.lyr) which can be associated with Shapefile in ArcMap.