How to convert an .mxd file to a .qgs file?

Question

I recently tried to use QuantumGIS and I wondered if you can turn in a draft format ESRI mxd loadable qgs. This would avoid thematize the entire project.

Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

This looks like the sort of thing you want: https://underdark.wordpress.com/2011/05/27/converting-mxd-to-qgis-project-file/

On Wednesday, Allan Maungu announced MXD2QGS, a converter that exports layers from an Arcmap 10 document into a Quantum GIS project file. The tool is built as an ArcToolbox and can be downloaded from the blog.

The only working download link seems to be https://sites.google.com/site/lumtegis/files/Mxd2Qgs.zip

There's also one for doing ArcView 3.x files apparently: http://gix.sourceforge.net/

Answer 2

I downloaded the MXD2QGS executable and python file. I had some issues with the xml.dom.ext as that module isn't packaged with Python 2.6 or 2.7. I just got rid of that call and re-wrote line 411 to:

f.write(doc.toprettyxml())

This will handle writing the output instead of using xml.dom.ext.

Also, I had to change line 227 to:

if(lyr.isGroupLayer == False and lyr.isRasterLayer == False and lyr.isFeatureLayer == True):

This is because the script seemed to have issues with annotation layers, so I wanted to filter firther by adding the lyr.isFeatureLayer == True condition

So, this gets me .qgs output file. I opened Quantum and opened this file. Now I'm receiving the 'Handle Bad layers' dialogue. This is promising, because the new .qgs file actually recognizes all the layers I had in my .mxd. I reset all the layer sources to the underlying shapefiles, the links turn green, but when I press OK, I get a message that all the layers are still unhandled and that they will be lost. I press OK again and nothing comes into Quantum.

I have a sneaky suspicion that the parsing of the xml from the .mxd file to the .qgs file may not be writing properly because I can't seem to get xml.dom.ext prettyprint to work, so maybe it's not writing the xml properly with my workaround. I don't know much about the prettyprint function though. That's all I can think of. If anyone else has any ideas why the 'Handle Bad Layers' dialogue is prompting? I've done a little web searching, but nothing seems to offer and explanation.

Oh and PS, I hardcoded the location of my .mxd and the output file location and ran the script from IDLE instead of the tool. I also ran this in both ArcGIS 10.0 (Python 2.6) and ArcGIS 10.1 (Python 2.7) and both seemed to work fine with the same results.

Here is my code for anyone who wants to pick this up and help troubleshoot:

#-----------------------------------------------------------
#
# Mxd2Qgs ver 1.0
# Copyright (C) 2011 Allan Maungu 
# EMAIL: lumtegis (at) gmail.com
# WEB  : http://geoscripting.blogspot.com
# Usage : Exporting current ArcMap document layers to Quantum GIS file
# The resulting file can be opened in Quantum GIS
# Tested on ArcMap 10, Python 2.6.5 and Quantum GIS 1.6.0
#-----------------------------------------------------------
#
# licensed under the terms of GNU GPL 2
#
# This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
# the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
# (at your option) any later version.
#
# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
# GNU General Public License for more details.
#
# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
# with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
# 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
#
#---------------------------------------------------------------------

# Import system modules
from xml.dom.minidom import Document
import xml.dom.ext
import string
import os
import arcpy

#Read input parameters from GP dialog
#output = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(0)
output = r"C:\Projects\Test.qgs"

#Create an output qgs file
f = open(output, "w")

# Create the minidom
doc = Document()

# Create the <qgis> base element
qgis = doc.createElement("qgis")
qgis.setAttribute("projectname", " ")
qgis.setAttribute("version", "1.6.0-Capiapo")
doc.appendChild(qgis)

# Create the <title> element
title = doc.createElement("title")
qgis.appendChild(title)

# Assign current document
mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("r"C:\Projects\Test.mxd")

print 'Converting mxd........'

# Dataframe elements

df = arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(mxd)[0]
unit = doc.createTextNode(df.mapUnits)
xmin1 = doc.createTextNode(str(df.extent.XMin))
ymin1 = doc.createTextNode(str(df.extent.YMin))
xmax1 = doc.createTextNode(str(df.extent.XMax))
ymax1 = doc.createTextNode(str(df.extent.YMax))
# srsid = doc.createTextNode
srid1 = doc.createTextNode(str(df.spatialReference.factoryCode))
srid2 = doc.createTextNode(str(df.spatialReference.factoryCode))
epsg1 = doc.createTextNode(str(df.spatialReference.factoryCode))
epsg2 = doc.createTextNode(str(df.spatialReference.factoryCode))
description1 = doc.createTextNode(str(df.spatialReference.name))
description2 = doc.createTextNode(str(df.spatialReference.name))
ellipsoidacronym1 = doc.createTextNode(str(df.spatialReference.name))
ellipsoidacronym2 = doc.createTextNode(str(df.spatialReference.name))
geographicflag1 = doc.createTextNode("true")
geographicflag2 = doc.createTextNode("true")

authid2 = doc.createTextNode("EPSG:"+str(df.spatialReference.factoryCode))
authid3 = doc.createTextNode("EPSG:"+str(df.spatialReference.factoryCode))

# Layerlist elements
lyrlist = arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(df)
count1 = str(len(lyrlist))

# mapcanvas
def map_canvas():
    # Create the <mapcanvas> element
    mapcanvas = doc.createElement("mapcanvas")
    qgis.appendChild(mapcanvas)

    # Create the <units> element
    units = doc.createElement("units")
    units.appendChild(unit)
    mapcanvas.appendChild(units)


    # Create the <extent> element
    extent = doc.createElement("extent")
    mapcanvas.appendChild(extent)

    # Create the <xmin> element
    xmin = doc.createElement("xmin")
    xmin.appendChild(xmin1)
    extent.appendChild(xmin)


    # Create the <ymin> element
    ymin = doc.createElement("ymin")
    ymin.appendChild(ymin1)
    extent.appendChild(ymin)


    # Create the <xmax> element
    xmax = doc.createElement("xmax")
    xmax.appendChild(xmax1)
    extent.appendChild(xmax)


    # Create the <ymax> element
    ymax = doc.createElement("ymax")
    ymax.appendChild(ymax1)
    extent.appendChild(ymax)


    # Create the <projections> element
    projections = doc.createElement("projections")
    mapcanvas.appendChild(projections)

    # Create the <destinationsrs> element
    destinationsrs = doc.createElement("destinationsrs")
    mapcanvas.appendChild(destinationsrs)

    # Create the <spatialrefsys> element
    spatialrefsys = doc.createElement("spatialrefsys")
    destinationsrs.appendChild(spatialrefsys)

    # Create the <proj4> element
    proj4 = doc.createElement("proj4")
    spatialrefsys.appendChild(proj4)

    # Create the <srsid> element
    srsid = doc.createElement("srsid")
    spatialrefsys.appendChild(srsid)

    # Create the <srid> element
    srid = doc.createElement("srid")
    srid.appendChild(srid1)
    spatialrefsys.appendChild(srid)



    # Create the <authid> element
    authid = doc.createElement("authid")
    authid.appendChild(authid2)
    spatialrefsys.appendChild(authid)


    # Create the <description> element
    description = doc.createElement("description")
    description.appendChild(description1)
    spatialrefsys.appendChild(description)


    # Create the <projectionacronym> element
    projectionacronym = doc.createElement("projectionacronym")
    spatialrefsys.appendChild(projectionacronym)

    # Create the <ellipsoidacronym element
    ellipsoidacronym = doc.createElement("ellipsoidacronym")
    ellipsoidacronym.appendChild(ellipsoidacronym1)
    spatialrefsys.appendChild(ellipsoidacronym)



    # Create the <geographicflag> element
    geographicflag = doc.createElement("geographicflag")
    geographicflag.appendChild(geographicflag1)
    spatialrefsys.appendChild(geographicflag)




# Legend
def legend_func():

    # Create the <legend> element
    legend = doc.createElement("legend")
    qgis.appendChild(legend)

    for lyr in lyrlist:
        if(lyr.isGroupLayer == False):

            # Create the <legendlayer> element
            legendlayer = doc.createElement("legendlayer")
            legendlayer.setAttribute("open", "true")
            legendlayer.setAttribute("checked", "Qt::Checked")
            legendlayer.setAttribute("name",str(lyr.name))

            legend.appendChild(legendlayer)

            # Create the <filegroup> element
            filegroup = doc.createElement("filegroup")
            filegroup.setAttribute("open", "true")
            filegroup.setAttribute("hidden", "false")
            legendlayer.appendChild(filegroup)

            # Create the <legendlayerfile> element
            legendlayerfile = doc.createElement("legendlayerfile")
            legendlayerfile.setAttribute("isInOverview", "0")
            legendlayerfile.setAttribute("layerid", str(lyr.name)+str(20110427170816078))
            legendlayerfile.setAttribute("visible", "1")
            filegroup.appendChild(legendlayerfile)

# Project Layers
def project_layers():

    # Create the <projectlayers> element
    projectlayers = doc.createElement("projectlayers")
    projectlayers.setAttribute("layercount", count1)
    qgis.appendChild(projectlayers)

    for lyr in lyrlist:

        if(lyr.isGroupLayer == False and lyr.isRasterLayer == False and lyr.isFeatureLayer == True):
            geometry1 = arcpy.Describe(lyr)
            geometry2 = str(geometry1.shapeType)
            ds = doc.createTextNode(str(lyr.dataSource))

            name1 = doc.createTextNode(str(lyr.name)+str(20110427170816078))
            name2 = doc.createTextNode(str(lyr.name))


           # Create the <maplayer> element
            maplayer = doc.createElement("maplayer")
            maplayer.setAttribute("minimumScale", "0")
            maplayer.setAttribute("maximumScale", "1e+08")
            maplayer.setAttribute("minLabelScale", "0")
            maplayer.setAttribute("maxLabelScale", "1e+08")
            maplayer.setAttribute("geometry", geometry2)
            if(lyr.isRasterLayer == True):
                maplayer.setAttribute("type", "raster")
            else:
                maplayer.setAttribute("type", "vector")
            maplayer.setAttribute("hasScaleBasedVisibilityFlag", "0")
            maplayer.setAttribute("scaleBasedLabelVisibilityFlag", "0")
            projectlayers.appendChild(maplayer)

            # Create the <id> element
            id = doc.createElement("id")
            id.appendChild(name1)
            maplayer.appendChild(id)

            # Create the <datasource> element
            datasource = doc.createElement("datasource")
            datasource.appendChild(ds)
            maplayer.appendChild(datasource)

            # Create the <layername> element
            layername = doc.createElement("layername")
            layername.appendChild(name2)
            maplayer.appendChild(layername)

            # Create the <srs> element
            srs = doc.createElement("srs")
            maplayer.appendChild(srs)

            # Create the <spatialrefsys> element
            spatialrefsys = doc.createElement("spatialrefsys")
            srs.appendChild(spatialrefsys)

            # Create the <proj4> element
            proj4 = doc.createElement("proj4")
            spatialrefsys.appendChild(proj4)

            # Create the <srsid> element
            srsid = doc.createElement("srsid")
            spatialrefsys.appendChild(srsid)

            # Create the <srid> element
            srid = doc.createElement("srid")
            srid.appendChild(srid2)
            spatialrefsys.appendChild(srid)


            # Create the <authid> element
            authid = doc.createElement("authid")
            authid.appendChild(authid3)
            spatialrefsys.appendChild(authid)


            # Create the <description> element
            description = doc.createElement("description")
            description.appendChild(description2)
            spatialrefsys.appendChild(description)


            # Create the <projectionacronym> element
            projectionacronym = doc.createElement("projectionacronym")
            spatialrefsys.appendChild(projectionacronym)

            # Create the <ellipsoidacronym element
            ellipsoidacronym = doc.createElement("ellipsoidacronym")
            ellipsoidacronym.appendChild(ellipsoidacronym2)
            spatialrefsys.appendChild(ellipsoidacronym)


            # Create the <geographicflag> element
            geographicflag = doc.createElement("geographicflag")
            geographicflag.appendChild(geographicflag2)
            spatialrefsys.appendChild(geographicflag)

            # Create the <transparencyLevelInt> element
            transparencyLevelInt = doc.createElement("transparencyLevelInt")
            transparency2 = doc.createTextNode("255")
            transparencyLevelInt.appendChild(transparency2)
            maplayer.appendChild(transparencyLevelInt)

            # Create the <customproperties> element
            customproperties = doc.createElement("customproperties")
            maplayer.appendChild(customproperties)

            # Create the <provider> element
            provider = doc.createElement("provider")
            provider.setAttribute("encoding", "System")
            ogr = doc.createTextNode("ogr")
            provider.appendChild(ogr)
            maplayer.appendChild(provider)

            # Create the <singlesymbol> element
            singlesymbol = doc.createElement("singlesymbol")
            maplayer.appendChild(singlesymbol)

            # Create the <symbol> element
            symbol = doc.createElement("symbol")
            singlesymbol.appendChild(symbol)

            # Create the <lowervalue> element
            lowervalue = doc.createElement("lowervalue")
            symbol.appendChild(lowervalue)

            # Create the <uppervalue> element
            uppervalue = doc.createElement("uppervalue")
            symbol.appendChild(uppervalue)

            # Create the <label> element
            label = doc.createElement("label")
            symbol.appendChild(label)

            # Create the <rotationclassificationfieldname> element
            rotationclassificationfieldname = doc.createElement("rotationclassificationfieldname")
            symbol.appendChild(rotationclassificationfieldname)

            # Create the <scaleclassificationfieldname> element
            scaleclassificationfieldname = doc.createElement("scaleclassificationfieldname")
            symbol.appendChild(scaleclassificationfieldname)

            # Create the <symbolfieldname> element
            symbolfieldname = doc.createElement("symbolfieldname")
            symbol.appendChild(symbolfieldname)

             # Create the <outlinecolor> element
            outlinecolor = doc.createElement("outlinecolor")
            outlinecolor.setAttribute("red", "88")
            outlinecolor.setAttribute("blue", "99")
            outlinecolor.setAttribute("green", "37")
            symbol.appendChild(outlinecolor)

             # Create the <outlinestyle> element
            outlinestyle = doc.createElement("outlinestyle")
            outline = doc.createTextNode("SolidLine")
            outlinestyle.appendChild(outline)
            symbol.appendChild(outlinestyle)

             # Create the <outlinewidth> element
            outlinewidth = doc.createElement("outlinewidth")
            width = doc.createTextNode("0.26")
            outlinewidth.appendChild(width)
            symbol.appendChild(outlinewidth)

             # Create the <fillcolor> element
            fillcolor = doc.createElement("fillcolor")
            fillcolor.setAttribute("red", "90")
            fillcolor.setAttribute("blue", "210")
            fillcolor.setAttribute("green", "229")
            symbol.appendChild(fillcolor)

             # Create the <fillpattern> element
            fillpattern = doc.createElement("fillpattern")
            fill = doc.createTextNode("SolidPattern")
            fillpattern.appendChild(fill)
            symbol.appendChild(fillpattern)

             # Create the <texturepath> element
            texturepath = doc.createElement("texturepath")
            texturepath.setAttribute("null", "1")
            symbol.appendChild(texturepath)



map_canvas()
legend_func()
project_layers()


#  Write to qgis file

try:
    f.write(doc.toprettyxml())

finally:
    f.close()

print 'Done'