Converting/dxf File to Shapefile Using Grass

From OpenStreetMap Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search

How to convert a DXF format file to a Shapefile using GRASS. This HowTo assumes you have GRASS installed & working. The steps below were carried out using GRASS version 6.2.2 on Ubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy)

  • Start GRASS
  • Run v.in.dxf
  • Enter the path & file name of the .dxf file in the "DXF input file" box (see screenshot)
  • Click Run
  • GRASS will switch to the "Output" tab. Once it has finished, it will display some statistics (see screenshot)
  • Close the window


  • Run v.out.ogr (see screenshot)
  • Enter the name of the newly-created map to be exported. It may be easiest to click on the button to the left of the "Name of input vector map" box and select the map from the list
  • Ensure that OGR format is "ESRI_Shapefile"
  • In "OGR output datasource name", enter the directory name that the shapefile is to be stored in. Note that ~/ will not work
  • In "OGR layer name", enter the file name for the shapefile
  • Click Run
  • GRASS will switch to the "Output" tab. Once it has finished, it will display some statistics (see screenshot)
  • Close the window and exit GRASS