Input file
SHP
- Full Name: ESRI ArcView Shape Format
- Developer: N/A
Output file
GML
- Full Name: Geography Markup Language
- Developer: Galdos Systems
What is SHP file?
The SHP file extension is a computer file used to store vector-based graphical shapes, such as points, lines, and polygons. It is commonly used in a wide range of GIS (geographic information system) software typically developed by Esri Global. Files with SHP file extension are created in the .SHP format, then stored in the .DBF or .SHX format. The files concerned with SHP typically include the SHX shape index, SHP shape format points, and DBF dBase database. [ ⏩ ] SHP file extension
What is GML file?
The GML ( *.GML ) file type is the standard document format for Geography Markup Language (GML), developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The file extension saves geographic features in an XML file, enabling the development of a range of programs and applications that read and reprocess this data. The format is part of the wider GML technology, which includes implementations for ESRI's ArcGIS and Google Maps, allowing data to be cross-referenced and exchanged between these applications. [ ⏩ ] GML file extension
How to convert the file from SHP to GML?
To successfully convert the SHP file to GML, 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.SHP). The next step is to select the target format from the list, in this case GML (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 GML).
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. SHP to GML. To obtain a matched structure of the data, it is necessary to use an appropriate converter.
Program for converting SHP files to GML 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 GML, while before this step we had the SHP file). For the programs, the difference is on a much higher level – either the application will be able to open a new GML file, or not.