Some file types, such as ENVI, ERDAS and ERS (ECW) files, can contain either surface or image data, depending on how the data is intended to be interpreted. The former are imported using File - Import - Surface using the DEM importer while the latter are imported using File - Import - Drawing using the SDTS choice. dem file formats while 1:24K-scale DEM files are really SDTS format files that encode digital elevation data. Note also that some formats, such as DEM, may occur in different variations that may require use of different formats.

e00, can be used to store drawings, images or surfaces. At times we will also import surfaces from different formats, such as SDTS, which are capable of storing data for surfaces as well as drawings. Most surfaces will be imported from file formats, such as USGS DEM, that are dedicated for use as terrain elevation data formats. More complex imports from data sources such as databases are imported by choosing Data Sources () in the Files of type box and then using the Data Source dialog. Simple file types are imported directly from the Import dialog by choosing the desired type in the Files of type box. When using the File - Import - Surface dialog the Files of type choice acts as a filter for what is displayed in the browse pane in the Import dialog. In addition, surfaces stored within databases as 'images' using spatial DBMS technology can be imported by connecting to the database using Database Console, expanding the image to show the Height channel and then importing that Height channel to form an image. Import surfaces into Manifold using the File - Import - Surface dialog.

Convert .hgt files to .dem