When I try to import a USGS Digital Elevation Model (DEM) into ARC/INFO, I get a premature EOF@ error message.

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Question: When I try to import a USGS Digital Elevation Model (DEM) into ARC/INFO, I get a premature EOF@ error message.

Answer:

DEMs are stored unblocked (that is, no record delimiters). Many programs require the DEM to be blocked at 1,025 bytes per line.

PC - A free DOS program called CHOP can be used to block the DEM into the required line lengths. Chop is available at ftp://ftp.blm.gov/pub/gis/chop.zip http://thor-f5.er.usgs.gov/dxf/chop.zip

UNIX - DEMs can be blocked by using the UNIX dd command (dd if=old.dem of=new.dem ibs=1024 cbs=1024 conv=unblock).