============================= ABOUT =========================================== 



The program "shpsort" is a standalone program for sorting shapefiles

on one or more fields (including the pseudofield "SHAPE") and outputing

the results.  People may find it useful for forcing drawing order.



============================= AUTHOR ==========================================



Eric G. Miller

California Department of Fish and Game

2004-06-30



============================= USAGE ===========================================



shpsort <INFILE> <OUTFILE> <SORT_FIELD;SORT_FIELD...> {SORT_ORDER;SORT_ORDER...}



============================= DETAILS =========================================



INFILE		The input shapefile



OUTFILE		The output shapefile



SORT_FIELD	Any attribute field of the shapefile, including "SHAPE"



SORT_ORDER	Specify "ASCENDING" or "DESCENDING" for each SORT_FIELD.

		This field is optional, and is assumed to be ASCENDING

		unless the exact word "DESCENDING" is specified (case

		matters).



	When sorting on the "SHAPE" the records are sorted as follows:



	*  Null shapes are treated as any other null field and will

	   sort to the top in ASCENDING mode.  A warning is issued

	   for each null shape encountered.

	*  POINT, POINTM, POINTZ, MULTIPOINT, MULTIPOINTM, MULTIPOINTZ

	   and MULTIPATCH are all sorted by the maximum "Y" value of

	   their envelopes (not particularly useful).

	*  POLYLINE, POLYLINEZ and POLYLINEM are sorted by total 2d 

	   shape length.

	*  POLYGON, POLYGONZ and POLYGONM are sorted by the 2d shape 

	   area. Shapes are assumed to be in canonical ordering, so that

	   the area of interior rings (if any) is subtracted from the

	   area of exterior rings.



