A shapefile is a popular geospatial vector data format for geographic information systems software that spatially describe geometries: points, polylines, and polygons thus allowing you to define unique trade areas.
Shapefiles are actually a composite of files and the following files are required to be uploaded into Retail Target:
.shp — shape format; the feature geometry itself
.dbf — attribute format; columnar attributes for each shape, in dBase IV format. This file would contain the address or latitude/longitude information for the trade area shapes.
Note - It is recommended that files be uploaded in a compressed file, i.e. .zip file.
Shapefiles are uploaded into Retail Target as if were any other file, see Multiple Site Analysis. NOTE: This is an ADVANCED & OPTIONAL feature which is enabled/disabled based on user license.
To use shapefiles after loading the previously purchased sites into Retail Target:
Click Trade Area Setting tab
For Trade Area Options select Shape
Click Update Map.