[GRASS-windows] v.in.ogr, "unable to open source data"

[Markus Neteler]

On Wed, Dec 31, 2008 at 7:12 PM, Monkey Boy <slabshaft at gmail.com> wrote:
> Just like several other people on this list, I'm new to GRASS and GIS in
> general, so please forgive my ignorance...

No problem :)

> I am using:
> MS Windows XP Pro, 2002, Service Pack 3
> WinGRASS-6.3.0-4-Setup.exe
>
> Here is a link to exactly what I want to do:
> (http://grass.osgeo.org/wiki/How_to_create_an_elevation_profile)
>
> I used the following steps:
> File>Import vector map>Mutiple formats using OGR
>
> I clicked on the browse-to-file folder icon, and chose the following
> location:
> C:/GRASS_map_data/GIS_DataBase/track_elev/PERMANENT_SHP/STREETS.shp
> (this is what appears in the "OGR datasource name" field)
>
> In the "Name for output vector map" field I typed:
> test_streets
>
> I left all other boxes, fields, check marks, etc as they appear by default.
>
> Then I clicked the "Run" button.
>
> Here is my result from the "Output" window:
> Input:
> v.in.ogr
> dsn=C:/GRASS_map_data/GIS_DataBase/track_elev/PERMANENT_SHP/STREETS.shp
> output=test_streets min_area=0.0001 snap=-1
>
> Error message:
> ERROR 4: Unable to open
> C:/GRASS_map_data/GIS_DataBase/track_elev/PERMANENT_SHP/STREETS.shx or
> C:/GRASS_map_data/GIS_DataBase/track_elev/PERMANENT_SHP/STREETS.SHX.

Is that file STREETS.SHX in the same directory as STREETS.SHP?
That's a required file. If missing, GRASS (or any other GIS) cannot
import the map.

> Additional error info:
> Unable to open data source
> <C:/GRASS_map_data/GIS_DataBase/track_elev/PERMANENT_SHP/STREETS.shp>
>
> I have been digging through all the help info, mailing lists, user manuals,
> etc and tried everything in this mailing list post:
> (http://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/grass-windows/2008-September/001500.html)
>
> But nothing seems to work.  I've tried everything thing I can think of with
> my very limited experience with GRASS.

First of all, check if that file is present. Data in ESRI SHAPE format are
stored in several files which belong together (you'll know that of course).

Markus