ASCII TIGER/Line files to GIS compatible format??

Question

I've downloaded an ASCII text file from US Census Bureau website and now need to bring this file into ArcMap but cannot.  I can open it in TransCAD save it as an ESRI SHP and then open it in ArcMap.  Is there a way to eliminate using TransCAD?

RobertBorchert · Answer

Unfortunately there do not seem to be a lot of good ways to work with ASCII text files. I have never tried TransCAD.  I typically duke it out with MS Word and Excel

Fortunately I have not had to deal with ASCII for a number of years.
I've downloaded an ASCII text file from US Census Bureau website and now need to bring this file into ArcMap but cannot.  I can open it in TransCAD save it as an ESRI SHP and then open it in ArcMap.  Is there a way to eliminate using TransCAD?