INleaf - How-to share your data

Create a directory on your computer to hold your new INleaf map. Give it a descriptive name using only letters (upper and lower case) and numbers. At this time INleaf does not support any special characters like _ or -. All references to your map directory below will refer to this newly created directory.

Create an index.csv Metadata file

This is the list of data files INLeaf will load into layers.

If you don't already have it, download the INSPIRES metadata tracking template. Here is its direct link in our shared OneDrive: https://umainesystem.sharepoint.com/:x:/s/INSPIRES_O365/Ec99AFFdBnBEgTmT9VgA8nYBoK17uRlGcuDusDOyAMVRYA?e=w6oaL4
If you haven't used this template before, no worries. I've created a simplified tab called "INleaf Staging" that has all you need to worry about to share your data on INleaf. As a bonus, later you can use the full power of the metadata template by easily cutting and pasting your columns to the tabs supporting full metadata.

Once you've added the required fields for the datasets you want on this map, export only that single tab as a .csv file with the name "index.csv" and move it to your map directory. That file tells INleaf exactly what datasets you want to load into your map as layers. Double check that the name you put in the "data.table" column of that worksheet matches EXACTLY (case included) with the actual filename(s) you've placed in this map directory. Here are the two lines a simple index.csv export for a map with a single dataset:

data.table,data.table.name,data.table.description,temporalbegin,temporalend,givenName,middleInitial,surName,organizationName,electronicMailAddress,keyword,keywordThesaurus
Corinth_VT_Simple_Boundary.zip,Corinth Forest,,,,Someone,,,UVM,,,

NOTE: For this simple example I Skipped filling in some of the VERY USEFUL optional fields; specifically: data.table.description,temporalbegin,temporalend,middleInitial,surName,electronicMailAddress,keyword,keywordThesaurus

Quick example

Using the index.csv as an example, I made a new map directory called exampleSingleFile/ moved that index.csv and the referenced datafile "Corinth_VT_Simple_Boundary.zip." Then I uploaded it to my INleaf account directory, "leo". Here you can see that single file, single layer example in action:
http://inleaf.inspires.acg.maine.edu/user/leo/exampleSingleFile/ NOTE: The Corinth Forest layer must be checked in the listing of layers in the upper right corner of the map to see it on the map. Further note that occuplies a small area in central Vermont.

OPTIONAL: Shapefile Layer

Shapefiles can be a little trickey. They are composed of multiple files and need to be bundled in a .zip file archive. Your .zip archive must contain at least the .dbf, .shp, and .shx files for your shapefile. Here is an example:

US_Counties_Being_Intialized_for_Landis_at_UVM.zip
Archive contains:
  US_Counties_Being_Intialized_for_Landis_at_UVM.dbf
  US_Counties_Being_Intialized_for_Landis_at_UVM.shp
  US_Counties_Being_Intialized_for_Landis_at_UVM.shx
	

OPTIONAL: .CSV Layer - .CSV file listing lat,long and some supporing info

This is a simple text file you can create from a spreadsheet or by hand or exporting from some other application. Here is the format that INleaf currently expects:

ID,Name,Lat,Long,Status
2,Bartlett Experimental Forest,44.0646,-71.28808,exist

The "ID" field can be any numeric identifier you would like. Name, Lat, and Long are self explanitory. And Status can be terse, as in this example or it can be any string of text without commas up to the end of the line. You can have as many lines each containing a different point as you would like.

OPTIONAL: XYZ Tiled Raster Layer

If you used GDAL frequently this should be straightforward. You'll use the command line or API equivalent of "gdal2tiles." More info at https://gdal.org/programs/gdal2tiles.html When you tile a raster the output will be a directory FULL of lots and lots of other files. These will take a while to upload. Just hang in there! I won't go into more detail on this here. However, if you have a raster and need help tiling it contact me and I'll lend a hand.

If you don't already have an INLeaf direcotr, request one by emailing me:
Leo Edmiston-Cyr <leo.edmistoncyr@maine.edu>

When I've completed setting up your folder, you're ready to upload your new map.
Upload your map directory to your INleaf folder in OneDrive. When that is done you're ready for Step 4.
You can have as many different map directories as you would like.

Your map can be found by visiting your map listing page by adding your INleaf username from the invitation to this web address: http://inleaf.inspires.acg.maine.edu/user/ For example, Mine is visible at: http://inleaf.inspires.acg.maine.edu/user/leo You can copy and paste your map's web address in an email, slack post, or any other sharing medium you wish and the recipient should be able to view it from anywhere without a login.