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ArcGIS Shapefile Files Types & Extensions

The document discusses the different file types that make up an ArcGIS shapefile. The mandatory files needed for a shapefile are .shp, .shx, and .dbf files. The .shp file contains feature geometry, the .shx file is a shape index for searching, and the .dbf file stores attribute data. Optional files include .prj for projection metadata, .xml for additional metadata, and .sbn and .sbx for spatial indexes to optimize queries. Understanding these different file types is important for working with shapefiles in GIS.

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118 views4 pages

ArcGIS Shapefile Files Types & Extensions

The document discusses the different file types that make up an ArcGIS shapefile. The mandatory files needed for a shapefile are .shp, .shx, and .dbf files. The .shp file contains feature geometry, the .shx file is a shape index for searching, and the .dbf file stores attribute data. Optional files include .prj for projection metadata, .xml for additional metadata, and .sbn and .sbx for spatial indexes to optimize queries. Understanding these different file types is important for working with shapefiles in GIS.

Uploaded by

danang
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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1/14/2020 ArcGIS Shapefile Files Types & Extensions

ArcGIS Shape le Files Types & Extensions


Published on: July 18, 2014 | Last Updated: January 5, 2020

What are the shape le les?


ArcGIS shape les have mandatory and optional les. The mandatory le extensions
needed for a shape le are .shp, .shx and .dbf. But the optional les are: .prj, .xml, .sbn
and .sbx

What is the function of each of these ArcGIS le types? Also, how do you open these
GIS les?

If you have several hours to spare, you could go through the 34-page ESRI Shape le
Technical Description document.

If time is a factor, than we suggest to read further. Let’s take a closer inspection at
what makes up an ArcGIS shape le.

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1/14/2020 ArcGIS Shapefile Files Types & Extensions

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Shape le Files

Main File (.SHP)


.shp is a mandatory Esri le that gives features their
geometry. Every shape le has its own .shp le that represent
spatial vector data. For example, it could be points, lines and
Shapefile Extensions
polygons in a map.
Parts of a Shapefile

Index File (.SHX)

.shx are mandatory Esri and AutoCAD shape index position. This type of le is used
to search forward and backwards.

dBASE File (.DBF)


.dbf is a standard database le used to store attribute data and object IDs. A .dbf le
is mandatory for shape les. You can open .DBF les in Microsoft Access or Excel.

Projection File (.PRJ)


.prj is an optional le that contains the metadata
associated with the shape les coordinate and
projection system. If this le does not exist, you
will get the error “unknown coordinate system”. If
you want to x this error, you have to use the Shape le Files

“de ne projection” tool which generates .prj


les.

Extensible Markup Language File (.XML)


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1/14/2020 ArcGIS Shapefile Files Types & Extensions

.xml le types contains the metadata associated with the shape le. If you delete this
le, you essentially delete your metadata. You can open and edit this optional le type
(.xml) in any text editor.

Spatial Index File (.SBN)


.sbn is an optional spatial index le that optimizes spatial queries. This le type is
saved together with a .sbx le. These two les make up a shape index to speed up
spatial queries.

Spatial Index File (.SBX)


.sbx are similar to .sbn les in which they speed up loading times. It works with .sbn
les to optimize spatial queries. We tested .sbn and .sbx extensions and found that
there were faster load times when these les existed. It was 6 seconds faster (27.3
sec versus 33.3 sec) compared with/without .sbn and .sbx les.

Code Page File (.CPG)

.cpg are optional plain text les that describes the encoding applied to create the
shape le. If your shape le doesn’t have a cpg le, then it has the system default
encoding.

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Mandatory and optional les for shape les


If you need to move shape le les in Windows Explorer, you should drag and drop all
the mandatory and optional les.

If you are in ArcCatalog, it will move all the mandatory and optional les for you.

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1/14/2020 ArcGIS Shapefile Files Types & Extensions

There are over 150 different GIS le extensions that exist that are exclusively for
GIS. But this doesn’t even include AutoCAD and common image formats. For more
information, see our list of GIS formats.

The most common GIS le type are shape les. Even the USGS Earth Explorer
accepts shape les as input to de ne boundaries.

Shape les are composed of 3 mandatory les .shp, .shx and .dbf. But the optional
les that make up a shape le are: .xml, .prj, .sbn, and .sbx.

If you can recognize these differences, then you can become a master of the ArcGIS
shape le.

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