Coordinate Input - The Generate Command

The generate command is used in Arc/Info to add data by directly inputing geographic coordinates (x,y). Input can be directly from the keyboard or from a textfile. This method of input is obviously inefficient for large data sets, but has the advantage of being extremely accurate when exact coordinates are known. GPS positions are an example of data that is input this way. 
To input data with generate....

1) at the Unix prompt, type arc

2) once in Arc, you can type usage followed by the name of a command. Arc will return the syntax for that command and any additional parameters required. Type usage generate and you should get this...

cover is the name of the Arc/Info coverage to which the features will be added. You can give the name of an existing coverage or name a new one to be created.

3) after typing generate cover_name, you will get a prompt that looks like this...

At this prompt, if input is to come from the keyboard, type in the feature type you wish to generate (point, poly, or line). You will then be prompted how to enter your feature ID#, x-coordinates, and y-coordinates.
Features are entered in the following manner....

Points....

Lines....

Polygons*....

*NOTE: Polygons must begin and end with the same coordinate for closure.

1) put your data into the above format for whichever feature you are generating, you must have seperate files for each feature type.

2) at the generate prompt, type input file_name. You will get another generate prompt, now type the feature you wish to generate (point, line, or poly).