Some Division of Geology and Earth Resources publications and data are available on our website. Below is some information to help you download and use the various types of files we provide. Please note: any reference to specific software or companies is for informational purposes only, and does not imply endorsement by DGER or DNR.
HAVING TROUBLE DOWNLOADING GIS DATA?
Some users have had trouble downloading GIS data that require acknowledgment of the DNR Data License Agreement before download (described by some as "being thrown into an endless loop"). If you have had this type of trouble, please take note of the steps below as they have resolved 99.9% of all downloading problems.
If you cannot download data, and you use Internet Explorer, please make sure the following options are selected within your browser (options may vary depending on your browser version):
- Select Tools within your browser
- Select Internet Options...
- Select the Security Tab
- Review the custom options; you may have to choose Custom Level... if you need to change an option.
Make sure (options may vary depending on your browser version):
- File Download is enabled; and,
- Use Pop-Up Blocker is disabled.
Other potential problems include:
- Popup blockers from installed extensions (such as Google Toolbar).
- Directory size of data upload area is smaller than the data you are trying to download.
- Network file download size limitations set by your Network Administrator.
- Firewall restrictions set by your IT Administrator.
If you are still unable to resolve the problem, please contact karen.meyers@dnr.wa.gov for assistance with DGER data; for data from other divisions of DNR, contact dataservices@dnr.wa.gov.
FILE TYPES
Portable Document Format (PDF)
Most of the publications available on this website are in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). Files in this format can be viewed on-screen and printed from either your browser or your hard drive. In order to use this type of file, you must have Adobe Reader, which is available free from Adobe website. Acrobat Reader version 4.0 or later is needed to view most of our PDF files.
Once you have Acrobat Reader installed (which should set up a plug-in to work with your web browser), a PDF file on the web can be either opened within your browser or downloaded to your computer's hard drive. In most cases, simply left-clicking (or just clicking on a Macintosh) will open the PDF in your browser—the PDF will not be saved permanently to your hard drive, but you can view and print the file from within your browser. Note, however, that some of our files are rather large, and are therefore likely to be slow to load in your browser over the Internet. We recommend downloading the files to your hard drive and viewing them from there, particularly if you intend to access the files repeatedly. To download a file to your hard drive, right-click (or click and hold on a Macintosh) on the file link and select "Save Target As..." (Internet Explorer) or "Save Link As..." (Netscape), then navigate to the location on your hard drive where you want to save the file.
Zipped Files (ZIP)
Most of our data files and some multi-file publications are compressed using the ZIP format. Each compressed file may contain one file or multiple files. This compression format can be extracted using a variety of unzip programs, including UltimateZip (freeware), WinZip (shareware, free evaluation period), StuffIt (commercial, free evaluation period), and PowerArchiver (shareware), among others, as well as the Unix unzip command.
These files should be downloaded to your hard drive before they are uncompressed. To download a file to your hard drive, right-click (or click and hold on a Macintosh) on the file link and select "Save Target As..." (Internet Explorer) or "Save Link As..." (Netscape), then navigate to the location on your hard drive where you want to save the file.
Tar Archives (TAR)
Some of our files are bundled into a tar archive (TAR), which is a file containing multiple other files. This type of file can be expanded using many of the same unzip programs that will extract ZIP files (see above).
These files should be downloaded to your hard drive before they are expanded. To download a file to your hard drive, right-click (or click and hold on a Macintosh) on the file link and select "Save Target As..." (Internet Explorer) or "Save Link As..." (Netscape), then navigate to the location on your hard drive where you want to save the file.
ArcView Shapefiles (SHP)
We provide some geographic information system (GIS) files in this format. Shapefiles and associated files are usually zipped together into a compressed file (ZIP). Shapefiles may be used with a variety of commercial GIS programs. For users without access to a commercial GIS program, ESRI offers a free GIS data viewer, ArcExplorer, which may be downloaded from the ESRI website.
These files should be downloaded to your hard drive before use, using the same download procedure as for zipped files.
Microsoft Word Files (DOC)
These word-processing files are created in Microsoft Word and usually contain descriptive information or instructions for using associated data files. This file type can be opened by several commercial word-processing programs. If Microsoft Word is installed on your computer, you may also be able to open this type of file directly in your web browser.
The viewing and downloading procedure for DOC files is similar to that for PDF files.
Microsoft Excel Files (XLS)
These spreadsheet files are created in Microsoft Excel and usually contain tabular data. This file type can be opened by several commercial spreadsheet programs. If Microsoft Excel is installed on your computer, you may also be able to open this type of file directly in your web browser.
The viewing and downloading procedure for XLS files is similar to that for PDF files.
Text Files (TXT)
This type of file contains only plain text and may accompany some of our data files. This type of file can be opened and used in most programs that handle text as well as directly in your browser.
The viewing and downloading procedure for TXT files is similar to that for PDF files.