Using ogr2ogr to convert all shapefiles in directory?

Question

I have a directory with several shapefiles.

How can convert all these shapefiles to MapInfo with ogr2ogr?

I know how I can convert one file. And I can make a batch script writing a line for each file. But isn't there an easier way to convert all the files in a directory (and subdirectory).

Answer 1

On Windows, for the current and sub-directories under the current, try this command:

for /R %f in (*.shp) do ogr2ogr -f "MapInfo File" "%~dpnf.tab" "%f"

To briefly explain the trickery of what is going on here, %~dpnf.tab uses the variable %f, with which it adds the driver letter, path name (i.e., folder or directory), and extracts the file name (without the .shp file extension). Lastly, .tab is added immediately after the compound variable modifiers for the new extension.

So if you are in directory C:\MyData, and you have data in this directory, and sub-directories C:\MyData\Region1 and C:\MyData\Region1\City1, any Shapefile (with .shp extension) will be processed, and a similar named file with .tab will created in the same directory.

Answer 2

For unix bash:

#!/bin/bash

for FILE in *.mif # cycles through all files in directory (case-sensitive!)
do
    echo "converting file: $FILE..."
    FILENEW=`echo $FILE | sed "s/.mif/_new.shp/"` # replaces old filename
    ogr2ogr \
    -f "ESRI Shapefile" \
    "$FILENEW" "$FILE"
done
exit

If you're working in a *nix-based OS (ie Linux or OS X), there are some batch shell scripts that clhenrik developed here (which the above is based on).

I'm working on a fork that makes some of the scripts a little more generic and provides a little more description on use.

---

Answer 3

As Alex Markov said, the best way would be for you to use OGR.

You will need to do a script, but a very simple one. Basicly if you are using windows, all you have to do is run the following code in the command line (inside de desired folder):

for %f in (*.tab) do ogr2ogr -f "KML" %~nf.kml %f

Check this site, all is explained here:

http://www.processamentodigital.com.br/?p=2511

Answer 4

with python:

import os 

for a in os.listdir(os.getcwd()):
   fileName, fileExtension = os.path.splitext(a)
   os.system('ogr2ogr -f "ESRI Shapefile" %s %s' % (a, fileName + '.tab'))

you can change os.getcwd() to your path where your files are located...

i hope it helps you

Answer 5

You don't need a loop, you can simply name a directory as source and destination and ogr2ogr will convert any files in the source directory. See here: Converting TAB to MIF / MIF to TAB

Answer 6

sounds like you need a for loop - see http://www.robvanderwoude.com/for.php for an explanation of how they work.

Answer 7

Universal Translator in Mapinfo can handle multiple files. Go to the destination folder, select all shapefiles, define CRS for input and output. It should be done.

Answer 8

This is refinement of Aragon's answer above. It will only run ogr2ogr on .TAB or .tab files, and ignore other file types in the folder.

#!/usr/bin/env python3

import os 

for a in os.listdir(os.getcwd()):
  fileName, ext = os.path.splitext(a)
  if ext.lower() == '.tab':
    print('ogr2ogr -f "ESRI Shapefile" %s %s' % (a.replace(ext,
                           '.shp'), fileName + ext))
    os.system('ogr2ogr -f "ESRI Shapefile" %s %s' % (a.replace(ext,
                           '.shp'), fileName + ext))