DCW data is vector mapdata covering the entire world. This data is stored in Access databases with a structure ready to use with both SylvanMaps/OCX and SylvanMaps.NET. This DCW data is derived from the U.S. Defense Mapping Agency (DMA) Vector Smart Map (VMap) and contains the following features: Boundaries, Data Quality, Elevation, Hydrography, Industry, Physiography, Population, Transportation, Utilities and  Vegetation. 

The DCW data is broken up into four sections or folders where each section contains an Access database for each feature listed above. The sections break up the world into four geographic areas;  North America, South America Africa, Europe North Asia and Australia South Asia.

For complete documentation on this DCW data download the official specs on the U.S. Defense Mapping Agency (DMA) Vector Smart Map (VMap).
Main Document(*.doc)(146KB)
Appendix Document(*.doc)(579KB)

Obtaining The DCW Data 
This data is available for download from the Sylvan Ascent http site in the directory DCW.

In this DCW folder are the four folders that divide the world into the four sections described above. These are: EuropeNorthAsia, NorthAmerica, SouthAmericaAfrica and SouthAsiaAustralia. In each of these folders are the zip files that hold the Access databases containing the vector map data. Here are links to the individual files located in the four directories:

Boundaries, Data Quality, Elevation, Hydrography, Industry, Physiography, Population, Transportation, Utilities and  Vegetation. 

 Three other files are also available:

World.zip - VMAP0 worldwide map circa 1997.
WorldCities.zip - Point file for many cities, extracted from VMAP0, populated areas (PGN_BUILTUPA). All cities with UNK in the NAM field were removed, and only the CenterX and CenterY retained as XCOORD and YCOORD.

Importing The DCW Data
No importing is necessary. The DCW data is already in an ODBC compliant database and is ready to use with SylvanMaps/OCX and SylvanMaps.NET. 

Using The DCW Data
The first step in using the DCW data is to decide what topographical features are desired and then download the appropriate zip file(s). 

Next,  Create An ODBC DSN that points to the downloaded database(s).

The DCW databases contain tables that further divide the geographical features. An example would be the railroad table in the Transportation database. 

Two other tables contain data that is used to join and filter the geographic table data. These tables contain the names of fields found in the map data tables and an explanation of the data found in those fields. These tables are CHAR and INT and contain the  fields ID, TABLE, ATTRIBUTE, VALUE and DESCRIPTION. 

An example using the Utility database:
In the CHAR table found in this database, the first record contains the following data:

The 'table' field tells us that this record refers to the table 'utilp.pft' or pnt_utilp.
The 'attribute' field tells us that this table(pnt_utilp) contains a field named 'f_code'.
The 'value' and 'description' fields tell us that all records in the pnt_utilp table that hold the data 'AD010' in the 'f_code' field correspond to 'Power Plants'.

One way to begin using the DCW data is to download the following SylvanMaps .SYL file for DCW vector data. This file is a SylvanMaps multiple layer template that already has all the layers, labels, filters and links created.

SLFs:
Boundaries
    Political boundaries polygon layer
    Political boundaries polyline layer
    Coastline boundaries polyline layer
    Political boundaries point layer

Data Quality
    Data Quality polygon layer
    Data Quality polyline layer

Elevation
    Elevation contours  polyline layer
    Elevation data point layer

Hydrography
    Inland waters polygon layer
    Streams and rivers polyline layer
    Miscellaneous hydro data point layer

Industry
    Extraction industries polygon layer
    Industry ground area polygon layer

Population
    Built up areas polygon layer
    Miscelaneous population data polygon layer

Transportation
    Railroad polyline layer
    Roads polyline layer

Utilities
    Utilities polyline layer
    Utilities point layer

A second way is to download the following SylvanMaps .SLF file for DCW data. This file is SylvanMaps single layer template that already has ONE layer set up with the commonly used labels, filters and links.

Another alternative is to create the layers manually. This is most easily accomplished after gaining a solid understanding of the SylvanMaps methods, events and properties.