Also in the map document is the parcel data (inversion)

[Mnemon]

The data includes the well paths for nine proposed well projects. Also in the map document is the parcel data with a field named Prop_Add, which contains the property address necessary for the mailing list. Start with the most important step—writing the pseudo code.

GIS Tutorial for Python Scripting book - David W. Allen - (2014)


Could someone tell me what the reason beneath the inversion is? I'd reckon it could have simply been written as,

Also the parcel data is in the map document with a field named [...]

The original wording sounds rather clunky to me!

What do you think about it?

 

[emsr2d2]

There's no particular reason for the inversion. However, your rewrite doesn't work. It could have been rewritten as:

The parcel data is also in the map document, ...

Note the position of "also".

 

[jutfrank]

The reason for the inversion is that the sentence starts with a focusing also modifying the complement. Here are some similar examples:

Also coming to dinner are Brian and Julie. (Brian and Julie are also coming to dinner.)
Also not on my Christmas list is Michael Gove. (Michael Gove is also not on my Christmas list.)

Your version is wrong, I'm afraid.

 

[Mnemon]

Thanks for your helpful remarks.

There's no particular reason for the inversion.

Unlike you, I'm not a native speaker of English. I learn English by rules. Here are some that I'm cognizant of when it comes to inversion:

1. With question words
- Where can I leave?

2. With place expressions
- There are the keys I thought I lost.

3. With negatives
- Not once did I miss a question.

4. With conditionals
- I would help you were I in a position to help.

5. With comparisons
- My sister spends more hours in the office than does John.

The examples have been taken from one of the book I've recently finished titled Longman Complete Course for the TOEFL Test.
The inversion in question seems to be a variation on inversion with place expressions, though I'm still not sure. Thanks to @jutfrank, I now know more about this inversion.

However, your rewrite doesn't work. It could have been rewritten as:

The parcel data is also in the map document, ...

Note the position of "also".

Your version is wrong, I'm afraid.

There are some people who believe that "also" could only be employed as an adverb, not as a conjunction. It seems to me that you two belong to that category. Am I right? OR perhaps I'm missing something!

Is it ok to start a sentence with “also”?

Is it ok to start a sentence with also? Also, I had given him the file you sent me.

english.stackexchange.com

 

[jutfrank]

There are some people who believe that "also" could only be employed as an adverb, not as a conjunction. It seems to me that you two belong to that category. Am I right? OR perhaps I'm missing something!

I don't follow. Please point to which part of that thread you're referring to.

 

[Mnemon]

I don't follow. Please point to which part of that thread you're referring to.

I have already done so.

Your version is wrong, I'm afraid.

However, let me put it this way. What makes you think my revision is wrong in the OP?

Also the parcel data is in the map document with a field named [...]

Isn't that due to the position of "also" in the beginning, as has already been mentioned in #2?

 

[jutfrank]

Your version is wrong, Mnemon, because it doesn't use inversion as it should.

I think you may be confusing the function of also in the sentence. Look here:

Also, the parcel data is in the map document.

The sentence above is grammatical and well written but it does not have the same meaning as the original. The word Also is used as a sentence adverb, modifying the entire following clause. It is clearly marked off with a comma.

The parcel data is also in the map document.
Also in the map document is the parcel data.

The two sentences above are equivalent in meaning. The word also modifies in the map document only. Note that the latter of these two uses a necessary inversion.

 

[tzfujimino]

For me, the word 'also' is not a conjunction.