When you open your data file, MapInfo Pro creates a table. This table consists of at least two separate files. The first file contains the structure of the data. The second file contains the raw data. All MapInfo Pro tables have the following two files:
- <SOMEFILE>.tab: This file describes the structure of your table. It is a small text file describing the format of the file containing your data.
- <SOMEFILE>.DAT or <SOMEFILE>.WKS, .DBF, .XLS, .XLSX: These files contain your tabular data. If you are working with a dBASE/FoxBASE, delimited ASCII, Lotus 1-2-3, Microsoft Excel, or Microsoft Access file, your MapInfo Pro table will consist of a .TAB file and your data or spreadsheet file. For raster tables, the equivalent extension might be BMP, TIF, or GIF.
Your data may also contain graphic objects. Once you assign X and Y coordinates to your data records, your table will also contain graphic objects. If you already have graphic objects in your table, there are two more files associated with the table:
- <SOMEFILE>.MAP: This file describes the graphic objects.
- <SOMEFILE>.ID: This file is a cross reference file that links the data with the objects.
See Geocoding - Assigning Coordinates to Records to learn how to assign X and Y coordinates to your data records so you can display them on a map.
See Geocoding - Assigning Coordinates to Records in the Help System to learn how to assign X and Y coordinates to your data records so you can display them on a map.
For a Microsoft Access table, there will be a file SOMEFILE.AID associated with the table instead of SOMEFILE.ID. This file is a cross reference file that links the data with the objects for a Microsoft Access table.
Your table may also include an index file. The index file allows you to search for map objects using the Find command. If you want to locate an address, city, or state using the Find command, those fields must be indexed in your table. The index is located in:
- <SOMEFILE>.IND