Input file
ECW
- Full Name: Enhanced Compressed Wavelet Image Format
- Developer: ERDAS
Output file
MXD
- Full Name: ArcGIS Map Document Format
- Developer: ESRI
What is ECW file?
The ECW (Enhanced Compression Wavelet Image) file extension is used for storing image files, developed by ERDAS. It is used for compressing aerial and satellite imagery, creating much smaller file sizes without significant loss of image quality. ECW files are well supported by multiple GIS and CAD software products, such as Safe Software FME, ESRI ArcGIS, Global Mapper, CADCorp SIS, PCI Geomatics Image Components Suite, and more. [ ⏩ ] ECW file extension
What is MXD file?
MXD stands for Maps (*.MXD) document files, which are created with ArcGIS, a geographical information system (GIS) developed by Esri. These files are used to store data, which can be used to map out and analyze geographic locations and information. This type of file can store layers, images, web maps, metadata, and layout information; layers can include vector data such as points, lines, polygons, and raster data such as images. An MXD file can be edited using the ArcMap software. [ ⏩ ] MXD file extension
How to convert the file from ECW to MXD?
To successfully convert the ECW file to MXD, you should install one of the applications from the list. After installing the software, open the program and select the file you want to convert (file-name.ECW). The next step is to select the target format from the list, in this case MXD (usually converters allow you to convert to several different formats, so check out their features - maybe one of the available formats will suit you more than MXD).
What is a file conversion?
A data conversion is normally an automated process to some extent. The effect of the operation of one program is automatically the input product of another application. If that does not happen we need to help the process a little bit and convert the file on our own, e.g. ECW to MXD. To obtain a matched structure of the data, it is necessary to use an appropriate converter.
Program for converting ECW files to MXD files is a kind of a "binary code translator" compensating for the differences in the code or translating it in such a way so that another application could use it. For us, as users, the visible change will be only another file extension. (After converting the file, it will be the extension MXD, while before this step we had the ECW file). For the programs, the difference is on a much higher level – either the application will be able to open a new MXD file, or not.