FGDC-> GBL 1.0 Fails, Says Not UTF-8
Introduction
The FGDC-> GBL 1.0 conversion process has been a reliable tool for converting files from the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) format to the Geography Markup Language (GML) Binary (GBL) format. However, recent updates to the conversion process have introduced a critical issue that affects the accuracy of the conversion. In this article, we will explore the problem and provide a solution to ensure that the FGDC-> GBL 1.0 conversion process continues to work seamlessly.
The Issue
When attempting to convert a file using the latest version of the FGDC-> GBL 1.0 conversion process, users are encountering an error message indicating that the file is not in UTF-8 format. However, upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that the file is indeed valid UTF-8. This issue seems to have been introduced with the inclusion of the json gem in the conversion process.
Error Message
The error message that users are encountering is as follows:
/home/app/gem-install/gems/json-2.10.2/lib/json/common.rb:248:in 'JSON::Ext::Parser.parse': invalid ASCII control character in string: (JSON::ParserError)
This error message suggests that the json gem is attempting to parse the file as ASCII, which is not the case. The file is valid UTF-8, and the error message is misleading.
The Affected File
The file that is failing to convert is a valid UTF-8 file, and it has been attached to this article for testing purposes. The file is a DCW_DN_LINE.xml file, and it contains the following features:
- Ri
The file has been attached as a text file (.txt) due to limitations on file attachments on GitHub. However, the file is a valid XML file, and it should be treated as such.
The Cause of the Issue
The issue seems to be related to the inclusion of the json gem in the conversion process. The json gem is a popular library for working with JSON data, but it appears to be causing issues with the FGDC-> GBL 1.0 conversion process. The json gem is attempting to parse the file as ASCII, which is not the case, and this is causing the error message.
The Solution
To resolve this issue, it is recommended to remove the json gem from the conversion process. The json gem is not necessary for the FGDC-> GBL 1.0 conversion process, and its inclusion is causing the issue. By removing the json gem, users should be able to convert their files without encountering the error message.
Alternative Solution
If removing the json gem is not a viable option, an alternative solution is to use a different library for working with JSON data. The json gem is a popular library, but there are other libraries available that may be more suitable for the FGDC-> GBL 1.0 conversion process.
Conclusion
The FGDC-> GBL 1.0 conversion process has been a reliable tool for converting files from the FGDC format to the GML Binary format. However, recent updates to the conversion process have introduced a critical issue that affects the accuracy of the conversion. By removing the json gem from the conversion process, users should be able to convert their files without encountering the error message. If removing the json gem is not a viable option, an alternative solution is to use a different library for working with JSON data.
Recommendations
Based on the issue described in this article, the following recommendations are made:
- Remove the json gem from the FGDC-> GBL 1.0 conversion process.
- Use a different library for working with JSON data, such as the json-ext gem.
- Update the FGDC-> GBL 1.0 conversion process to use a more robust library for working with JSON data.
Future Development
The FGDC-> GBL 1.0 conversion process is an essential tool for working with geospatial data. To ensure that the conversion process continues to work seamlessly, it is recommended to:
- Update the FGDC-> GBL 1.0 conversion process to use a more robust library for working with JSON data.
- Add additional error handling to the conversion process to prevent similar issues from arising in the future.
- Provide clear and concise error messages to users to help them diagnose and resolve issues.
Conclusion
Introduction
In our previous article, we explored the issue of the FGDC-> GBL 1.0 conversion process failing to recognize a file as UTF-8. This issue seems to have been introduced with the inclusion of the json gem in the conversion process. In this article, we will provide a Q&A section to help users understand the issue and find a solution.
Q: What is the FGDC-> GBL 1.0 conversion process?
A: The FGDC-> GBL 1.0 conversion process is a tool used to convert files from the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) format to the Geography Markup Language (GML) Binary (GBL) format.
Q: What is the issue with the FGDC-> GBL 1.0 conversion process?
A: The issue with the FGDC-> GBL 1.0 conversion process is that it is failing to recognize a file as UTF-8, even though the file is valid UTF-8. This issue seems to have been introduced with the inclusion of the json gem in the conversion process.
Q: What is the json gem?
A: The json gem is a popular library for working with JSON data. It is used in the FGDC-> GBL 1.0 conversion process to parse JSON data.
Q: Why is the json gem causing the issue?
A: The json gem is causing the issue because it is attempting to parse the file as ASCII, which is not the case. The file is valid UTF-8, and the json gem is not able to handle this.
Q: How can I resolve the issue?
A: To resolve the issue, you can try one of the following solutions:
- Remove the json gem from the FGDC-> GBL 1.0 conversion process.
- Use a different library for working with JSON data, such as the json-ext gem.
- Update the FGDC-> GBL 1.0 conversion process to use a more robust library for working with JSON data.
Q: What are the benefits of removing the json gem?
A: The benefits of removing the json gem include:
- Improved accuracy of the FGDC-> GBL 1.0 conversion process.
- Reduced errors and issues with the conversion process.
- Improved performance of the conversion process.
Q: What are the benefits of using a different library for working with JSON data?
A: The benefits of using a different library for working with JSON data include:
- Improved accuracy of the FGDC-> GBL 1.0 conversion process.
- Reduced errors and issues with the conversion process.
- Improved performance of the conversion process.
Q: What are the benefits of updating the FGDC-> GBL 1.0 conversion process?
A: The benefits of updating the FGDC-> GBL 1.0 conversion process include:
- Improved accuracy of the conversion process.
- Reduced errors and issues with the conversion process.
- Improved performance of the conversion process.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the FGDC-> GBL 1.0 conversion process has been affected by a issue that affects the accuracy of the conversion. By removing the json gem from the conversion process, users should be able to convert their files without encountering the error message. If removing the json gem is not a viable option, an alternative solution is to use a different library for working with JSON data.