general importing info

[Thomas Foster]

I have tried a number of methods to import some USGS data (dem and dlg)
without success.     I am beginning to think that I am missing a
significant step in the process.   I am learning as I go along.     Can the
data from the GeoData center at USGS be imported DIRECTLY into GRASS or
some other gis?     or does it have to be processesed first?    

For example, the 1:100,000 dlg's at the ftp site are described as ascii
files.    GRASS v.in.dlg talks about ascii and bin dlg files.   When I
issue the v.in.dlg, it just hangs.    

I have been downloading the data and attempting various GRASS functions but
I get various errors  (too various to remember right now).    My major
question is what are the steps?    and how could I learn/ read about it?
thanks 




Thomas Foster                            email: htf1 at psu.edu
Pennsylvania State University       voice: 814-865-1231
Department of Anthropology        fax:  814-863-1474  
409 Carpenter Bldg.
University Park, PA 16802