Comparison of geodata formats: Difference between revisions
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=== Open formats === | === Open formats === | ||
Shapefile - | Shapefile - A "shapefile" is really a collection of files with the same name but different extensions. | ||
The projection (if it is defined) is stored in ''filename.prj''. This is an ASCII file. You can cheat and copy and rename it to define projection on other shapefiles; of course, this does not reproject data. Shapefiles created with ArcView 3.x do not have prj files. | |||
Tabular data for attributes is stored in a DB IV format file called ''filename.dbf'' | Tabular data for attributes is stored in a DB IV format file called ''filename.dbf'' | ||
Revision as of 01:51, 16 January 2006
I suppose you want an actual comparison, not just a list. This is as far as I have gotten. Ask me for it and I will write it. :-)
Brian Wilson 16:14, 15 January 2006 (PST)
ESRI proprietary formats
ArcInfo Librarian
ArcSDE
Coverage
Personal Geodatabase
Layer file - When you save a layer file, the file filename.lyr is created for the layer to store symbology design and layout information, so that you can reuse those settings in other maps.
Open formats
Shapefile - A "shapefile" is really a collection of files with the same name but different extensions.
The projection (if it is defined) is stored in filename.prj. This is an ASCII file. You can cheat and copy and rename it to define projection on other shapefiles; of course, this does not reproject data. Shapefiles created with ArcView 3.x do not have prj files.
Tabular data for attributes is stored in a DB IV format file called filename.dbf
When ArcCatalog creates metadata for the file, it puts it in filename.xml.
Data interchange formats
ESRI ASCII (e00) format
