Questions tagged [file-formats]
A standard way that information is encoded for storage in a computer file
215
questions
114
votes
23
answers
144k
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Converting between KML and shapefile (SHP) format
My users are sending me point data that were digitized using Google Earth.
How can I convert their KML to a shapefile and vice versa?
- 1,363
36
votes
5
answers
9k
views
Advantages of using spatialite over shapefile? [closed]
I found spatialite more useful than shapefiles as it does not have the limitations of shapefile and it is also portable. Many people here use shapefiles to exchange data and even the experts do not ...
- 8,380
29
votes
7
answers
10k
views
Speed of various raster data formats
I'm having trouble locating any discussion or comparative benchmarking of different raster file formats (e.g., for use in data analysis in R). Does anybody have any insight into why particular formats ...
- 291
25
votes
3
answers
10k
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How are GeoTIFF pyramids/overviews standardised?
While pyramids/overviews are not part of the GeoTIFF standard, many tools support creating them. For example vips/nip2, Orfeo Toolbox (otb) and ossim which all promise some support for creating those. ...
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23
votes
2
answers
46k
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Understanding ESRI's .asc file
Reading the ArcGIS help: Supported raster dataset file formats, I read that ASCII Grid file types are addressed with the singular file extension .asc for both 16 bit signed-integer (for discrete data) ...
- 10.3k
18
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Are ArcGIS *.lyr and *.mxd data format specs published?
Are the binary formats of *.lyr and *.mxd files published?
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18
votes
2
answers
16k
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Grid vs TIF vs IMG
Grid, TIF and IMG are three formats of raster files.
In ArcGIS Desktop, apparently there's no difference between them.
What is the difference between these three formats?
- 1,337
18
votes
3
answers
2k
views
What is the wire format for Google's new vector map tiles?
Google recently released new vector cartography for their mobile maps. I'm curious if anyone here has any insight into the wire format they use for transmission? I've experimented with a few formats ...
- 1,305
17
votes
1
answer
1k
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The next big thing in standardized spatial data exchange format?
I remember reading something a few months back, in the latter half of 2012, about a coordinated group effort to design a new standard for sharing geographic / spatial data. It has or aims to have the ...
- 28.2k
17
votes
1
answer
978
views
Parsing file format for attributes in Raster Product Format (RPF) maps and imagery?
I'm trying to implement an open-source NITF reader (using only java, no external libraries such as GDAL or NITRO), and its mostly going OK. However I'm having trouble understanding the RPF extensions, ...
- 12.9k
16
votes
3
answers
59k
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Write GeoJson into a .geojson file with Python
I want to write a geosjon object with the type <class 'geojson.feature.Feature'> into a .geosjon file. Therefore I tried to use
with open(test.geosjon, 'w') as outfile:
geojson.dump(...
- 2,918
16
votes
4
answers
24k
views
Explaining difference between shx and shp files of shapefile?
I am searching for a more in depth explanation of the differences in shp and shx files to little avail. I mean beyond the 'shp contain geometry - shx contains an index of the geometry'.
The reason I ...
- 401
15
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Most pervasive GIS formats? [closed]
Where can one find out what the most pervasive GIS formats are?
For example, from the GIS file formats Wikipedia page, there 4 broad categories, each with many popular formats.
Raster formats (13 ...
- 261
15
votes
5
answers
4k
views
Which data formats are best for Open Data distribution?
What are the pros and cons of different data formats (performance, file size, etc.) when considering open data distribution?
Our organisation wants to publish data as open data. However, there is no ...
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13
votes
3
answers
6k
views
Where can I find country borders data in plain text format? (XML, JSON, CSV, etc)
I'm trying to obtain some data representing the borders of all countries in the world. This data doesn't have to be very precise, it is to draw the countries on a computer screen. I did a bit of ...
- 233
13
votes
4
answers
20k
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How can I transform a georeferenced JPG to a georeferenced TIF?
I have an georeferenced JPG file and a JGW file containing the coordinates. How can I transform it to a georeferenced TIF file and a TFW file?
I have tried to save the JPG file as an TIF file in ...
- 2,231
11
votes
14
answers
15k
views
Which GIS support DXF and/or DWG?
Which GIS support DXF and/or DWG (preferably read&write)?
Update: Are there any open source GIS supporting these or similar CAD files?
Support of CAD files generally seems to be problematic. ...
11
votes
5
answers
3k
views
List of GDAL raster file extensions
I am trying to compile a list of file extensions that are accepted by GDAL, something like
['.tif', '.png', '.jpg', '.jpeg', ...]
I found a list of GDAL Raster file formats, but the values in the "...
- 3,033
11
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Advantage(s) of using underscores in ArcGIS file naming conventions?
In an introductory GIS course, it was insisted that all spaces within file and folder names be replaced with underscores.
Why is this taught?
Is there a clear benefit of doing so?
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11
votes
3
answers
17k
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How to open the Electronic nautical chart S-57 data?
Anyone know how to open the Electronic nautical chart S-57 data by using GIS software e.g. Arcview, QGIS? and converted it to general GIS / CAD formats.
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11
votes
4
answers
10k
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How to get WFS GetCapabilities information as JSON
I can get a WMS GetCapabilities response via AJAX call and I can convert response to JSON using ol.format.WMSCapabilities tool.
But I need to make a WFS GetCapabilities query via a AJAX request and ...
- 1,714
11
votes
2
answers
4k
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GDF -- Can anyone suggest some good reading?
Can anyone give me a nutshell explanation of the Geographic Data Files format, or post a few URLs I might find enlightening?
I get the sense (although I'm not sure) that GDF implies building ...
- 2,378
11
votes
1
answer
2k
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What's the binary format of ENVI (Classic) ROIs?
I'm a Pythonist in an office full of ENVI/IDL users. I've created some tools to help bridge the gap, but one big stumbling block is ENVI Classic .roi files, which my colleagues use a lot.
I can ...
- 304
9
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Why did Esri create .zlas compressed LiDAR files instead of adopting .laz?
I am talking about the Esri Optimized LAS file format for compressed LiDAR files (.zlas).
While the uncompressed format (.las) from ASPRS was adopted by practically the entire Remote Sensing and GIS ...
- 10.3k
8
votes
3
answers
12k
views
Merging shapefiles with different geometries (point and polygon) to get single layer with multiple geometries?
I want to merge two shape files in which one is of point geometry type and other is polygon type in order to get a single layer containing both points and polygon in a single map.
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8
votes
2
answers
11k
views
Can QGIS projects be opened in ArcGIS for Desktop?
I am about to start a project with a number of people for a nonprofit organization. I am wanting to create the files in QGIS, but some of the people that I am working with are city officials and might ...
- 637
8
votes
2
answers
188
views
File naming for Enterprise GIS database?
I'm designing the guidelines for an Enterprise GIS database. Part of this database will include customized geoprocessing tools using a variety of software.
I'm interested in knowing whether anyone ...
- 702
7
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Is there a universal map/ layer format?
Just wondering if there is a universal map format that all GIS software can read.
ie to quickly share layers with all our partner agencies which have different GIS Software, rather than have to ...
- 169
7
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Seeking software for opening .img files?
I have some cpc precipitation data stored in IMG format.
Could anyone suggest a software beside ERDAS imagine or Arcgis which can be freely downloaded?
- 179
7
votes
2
answers
13k
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Converting .geotiff to .tiff
How do I convert .geotiff files to .tiff files (ordinary plain images)?
Basically, I have cropped the image to a rectangle of interest and
knowing its left-lower location and having chosen the pixel ...
- 345
7
votes
3
answers
365
views
Custom, low-level representation of streets and traffic rules
I'm new to GIS, and I'm still trying to gain an understanding of what can be represented in the various GIS files. Very generally I know(/think) that you can represent points, that lines, polylines, ...
- 649
7
votes
5
answers
7k
views
Exporting to .eps using QGIS
According to web posts from a few years ago, exporting to .eps was easy with QGIS. Just choose : Export as image --> select .eps type. However, I do not find that functionality in the current ...
- 2,027
7
votes
1
answer
3k
views
When saving a .qgs file in QGIS, another appears. Is this a backup?
When saving a project file (.qgs), which when executed is automatically loaded with qgis.bat, there's another .qgs file which appears in the same directory of the original project file, although this ...
- 76.1k
6
votes
2
answers
6k
views
Can ogr2ogr read .kmz files? How?
Attempting a run-of-the-mill ogr2ogr process with a KMZ file failed:
FAILURE:
Unable to open datasource `Rail.kmz' with the following drivers.
Is there a trick? (Obvious workaround is to unzip the ....
- 5,702
6
votes
1
answer
2k
views
CRS information not recognized when geopackage is loaded
I am starting to transition from .shp to geopackage data format in QGIS. There are many benefits to the format that give it an advantage over shapefile for many of my projects. However, I am having a ...
- 2,324
6
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Can I use .crd and .dwg files as QGIS data sources?
I want to use my autocad files(.dwg) and my field files (.crd), and want to know if they are compatible with qgis.
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6
votes
0
answers
119
views
Library for parsing scientific PDS files?
Does a library exist for parsing the PDS files that scientific planetary data gets shipped as?
For example, here's a link to to the lunar topographic data from the Lunar Reconnaisance spacecraft (it'...
- 169
5
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Choosing which of many files to import into QGIS
I have received some remote sensing and shapefiles and other data. And I want to import them to view in QGIS.
Given that each kind of data has multiple file type extensions associated with it, how do ...
- 289
5
votes
2
answers
18k
views
Exporting county level data in *.shp file to text (csv) file in ArcMap?
I have a shape file created as per the answer to my previous question, which includes county level means for each county in the US.
How can I now export this data in a .csv file, e.g. with just the ...
- 1,943
5
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Is raster lossy and vector not lossy?
I am new to GIS, in school for it actually, but I come from a photography / graphic design background. So that said, I always thought that vector graphics were not lossy (scale up or down, doesn't ...
- 151
5
votes
3
answers
4k
views
What is a simple binary raster storage format which ArcGIS can read?
I have a C++ program that manipulates raster digital elevation models.
I have been using ArcGrid ASCII format for results. It is simple to code and gets the job done, but it necessitates a decimal ...
- 1,831
5
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Configuring lidR catalog to overwrite raster output (with different extension)?
I have a small issue with configuring the lidR package for parametrizing the extracted raster files with grid_metrics() function.
My question is how to set in the catalog options that:
be able to ...
- 51
5
votes
2
answers
3k
views
60GB .gdbtable file in my file geodatabase – what is it, and can I delete or make smaller?
The title says it all really – I have a single file named 'a0000000.gdbtable’ in my default file geodatabase that is 60 GB in size. I have a number of other files with .gdbtable extension that aren't ...
- 337
5
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What generation of the MrSID format is supported by ArcGIS 9.3?
This is probably old news to some, but I just learned that MrSID (.sid) files have different 'generations' of file formats - so there are MrSID Generation 2, Generation 3, and Generation 4 files. ...
- 963
5
votes
1
answer
423
views
Loading DLG file into QGIS?
I downloaded hypsography (topo lines) in DLG (Digital Line Graph) format. The file came from OGRIP, although it originally came from USGS. According to Wikipedia, DLG files are
topologically ...
- 25k
5
votes
3
answers
728
views
In what data format should I export a (lat,long,alt) or (x,y,z) grid to be compatible with the largest number of GIS software?
I am new to GIS and developing an application that generates a 3D grid with (latitude, longitude, elevation) or (x, y, z) metric triplets, and I would like to add an exporting feature that ensures ...
- 425
5
votes
1
answer
376
views
Setting file extension type with Save vector features to file algorithm QGIS 3
Is it possible to set a file extension type in the "Save vector featrues to file" interface so the user does not have to select it everytime they run the model in QGIS. I want it to default ...
- 3,270
5
votes
1
answer
3k
views
QGIS processing default output vector layer extensions
You can set the default output-extension of a model in processing > options > general. The intermediate transactions in a model are processed in that default file format.
After installing QGIS, the ...
- 5,297
5
votes
1
answer
1k
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smallest, lossless, GDAL ready image format
I would like to know what the smallest file format is I can use with GDAL that fulfills the following criteria:
lossless compression
(relatively) easy to read/write with GDAL Python bindings
least ...
- 9,927
5
votes
1
answer
600
views
Location/format of inserted pictures used for marker symbols in ArcGIS Desktop?
I have an old mxd that uses several hundred custom made picture marker symbols. We don't know where the image files that were inserted as pictures marker symbols are, or what format they were in. We'...
- 542