GeoConverter

GeoConverter - Free Online Geospatial Data Converter. Reads and writes several GIS vector file formats based on the famous OGR tools.

Homepage: http://geoconverter.hsr.ch

Look also at alternatives here at GIS-Konverter (de), especially at OpenLayers-Online and GPS-Software

Documentation

GeoConverter is a static ('1:1') format converter. Possible source GIS vector file formats are mostly the same as the target file formats (see the FAQ below).

The conversion maintains the coordinate reference system, so there is no coordinate transformation happening (yet) except for KML, which always defaults to WGS84 (EPSG 4326, the GPS system).

GeoConverter is based on the FWTools, especially on OGR2GR documented in the OGR page.

Rules for uploading files

This section explains the rules for uploading files to GeoConverter:

• We use the terms 'source file format' which is the file(s) to be uploaded and the target file format which is the file you will download as a zip file. We assume that you deliver only one dataset at a time.
• There are formats, like Shapefile (.shp/.dbf/...), Mapinfo (.mif/.mid) or INTERLIS 2 (.ili,.xml), which consist of more than one file. Before uploading, they must be packed together in a zip file (use e.g. gzip or PKZIP).
• You may zip your files before uploading (except for CSV) for those formats which consist of a single file, like GPX and KML. If you do this, then each file inside must have the same name as the zip file itself. Example: myfile.zip may contain myfile.mif and myfile.mid.
• If you convert from CSV to any other format provide a plain CSV and do not provide a zip file. There is one exception where a zip file is needed, CSV to INTERLIS 2, where a (target) .ili file is has to be included.
• In addition, if you convert from CSV to any other target format make sure your CSV file contains a column header with either the column names "LON, LAT, VALUE" or "ID,VALUE,THEGEOM". THEGEOM has to be formatted as WKT (see FAQ).
• If you convert data to INTERLIS 2 (.xml) make sure you provide also an INTERLIS (target) model file (.ili).

FAQ

These are Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) as a section in the GeoConverter documentation Wiki.

What to do when conversion fails?

1. Check the log file provided with the error.
2. Check if your input file isn’t bigger than 10MB. If you have not uploaded a zip file, zip it and try again.
3. Read the FAQ and check the rules given here
4. Finally, if the problem persists consider dropping us a mail.

What is a layer and a dataset?

An OGR feature object encapsulates the values of a whole feature, that is a geometry and a set of attributes. A layer object is a collection of features (objects) of the same feature class. A data source represents a file or a database containing one or more layer objects. Note that 'layer' definition and 'feature class' definition are essentially the same. Layers have a reference to a spatial coordinate reference system (CRS). See also OGR for an explanation in german.

What is WKT?

Well Known Text, i.e. geometry values in string representation. Typical examples are POINT(1 1), LINESTRING(1 1, 2 2, 3 3) and POLYGON((1 1, 2 2), (2 2, 3 3), (1 1)). See WKT for more information.

Which file formats are supported by this webapplication?

These GIS vector file formats are supported for writing and also for reading except KML which is currently write-only:

• Comma Separated Value (.csv)
• GPX (.gpx)
• Geographic Markup Language (.gml)
• INTERLIS 1-Transfer Format (.itf)
• INTERLIS 2-XML Transfer Format (.xml)
• Keyhole Markup Language (.kml)
• Mapinfo File (.mif)
• Shapefile (.shp)

How do I create an ili file when converting to INTERLIS 2?

See documentation and/or contact us. Future INTERLIS 2 drivers won’t need this parameter for simple cases whereas professional conversion will need a full-fledged and configurable converter (see documentation page).

I see GPX but can't find any other GPS file formats?

GPS file formats like NMEA or Garmin are converted best through exiting software. See our article GPS-Software for more information on this topic.

KML, GML or GPX fail to convert, what to do?

Theses are XML file formats. XML is a human readable ASCII format with a very rigid structure and encoding. There are readers which validate the input and even complain about the character encoding. Often when there is an encoding called 'UTF-8' but the file comes as Windows 'ANSI'; so you have to look for an editor or a tool which writes a proper UTF-8 encoded file.

I miss DXF and other CAD file formats?

Microstation's DGN (up to version 7) is supported by OGR but not implemeted yet in GeoConverter. DXF unfortunately does not yet exist as a suitable driver for OGR altough some free libraries exist - so, sponsors are welcome!

Why do I have to register before using this service? What are you doing with my personal information like my e-mail?

We ask for your e-mail and name mainly because of the tedious fight against spam! As a side effect you become part of the GISpunkt HSR community where we send information mails sometimes. These mails are currently sent every other month and will never exceed once a week. Your e-mail will never be used for other purposes whatsoever and we will never give away your personal data.

What does GeoConverter mean?

GeoConverter means "Online Geospatial Data Format Converter".

Is this webapplication service free?

Yes, GeoConverter is a free webapplication and it will remain free as long as this service is not abused by daily business cases (e.g. as long as bandwidth remains low).

Is GeoConverter a competitor to other converter software?

There are quite some professional products around like FME, igtools or InterlisStudio. These products offer more than a straight forward and static 1:1 conversion. They can be manually configured and often support more file formats. So: No! GeoConverter is meant as an enabler of GIS and geospatial data, nothing more!

Who runs this webapplication?

This service is brought to you by GISpunkt HSR. It is an experimental project without any warranty.

What are the Terms of Service of the GeoConverter?

See here.

Where can one submit Bugs and Feature Requests?

Here in the 'Diskussion' page.

Can these conversions also be run on a local PC?

Yes: We use OGR2OGR which is delivered among others as FWTools and you can run it locally as it was designed for initially. See OGR for more information about this.

Download sample files

Get your sample files by clicking to the links below. The data is about Swiss train stations and its of geometry type POINT (see WKT).

• Shapefile (.shp) data
• Comma Separated Value (.csv) data
• Geographic Markup Language (.gml) data
• GPS eXchange (.gpx) data
• INTERLIS 1-Transfer Format (.itf) data
• INTERLIS 2-XML Transfer Format (.xml) data
• Mapinfo File (.mif) data