Open SHP files

  • Full name
    ESRI ArcView Shape Format
  • Developer
    N/A
  • Popularity
Have you encountered a problem with a SHP file? Don’t you know which program opens a file with this extension? You will find all the information you need about working with a SHP file here. In the further part of this page we have added a list of programs that should open your SHP file. It is enough you choose a proper application for your operating system, download and install it.

What is SHP file?

Files with the extension SHP contain data in ESRI shapefile format. It is the main file of this standard, which contains the actual geometry data.

More info

For use but usually more files are necessary. Especially the index with the ending shx and the dbf database. There are still optional files eg Atx, sbx, sbn, aih, ain, prj and cpg, which contain further special information, but do not always have to be present.

The ESRI shapefile (shapefile) is a popular spatial vector format for Geographic Information Systems (GIS) developed by ESRI's largely open specification for ArcGIS, which is used to exchange data between various products of ESRI and other manufacturers.

These files are not only used by actual GIS applications, but also by other systems that work with GIS data or forms, eg the CARE-S channel maintenance system.

Programs which can open a SHP file

How to open file with SHP extension?

In order to open a file with SHP extension one of the following programs must be installed on user’s system. If a problem with opening SHP file occurred, it is highly possible that none of the listed programs is present on user’s system. Even if one or more said programs are installed, there may be issues related with given programs. In order to solve a problem with SHP files, follow the instructions below.
1
Install CorelCAD or other program from the list

Most often resolving problems with opening SHP files is very simple. Just install an appropriate program that supports such files. All of the listed programs support SHP files, but may vary in offered function and purpose. Some programs may be capable only of viewing contents of SHP files or offer file conversion options, but may not be capable of editing such files.

Set CorelCAD as the default program for opening SHP files

It is possible that although a compatible program has been installed on user’s system, it is not used by the system to open it. This may happen because no default application was associated with this type of files. To associate SHP files with given application, select "Open with" from drop-down menu (accessed by right-clicking on the file). Then select from the list the program or application you want to be used to open this type of file. If the CorelCAD applications is not on the list, select "Browse" option in order to manually locate the directory where CorelCAD has been installed.

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Check the section that lists most common problems with SHP files

Sometimes problems with opening SHP files may not lie with the application itself, but can arise due to other causes, such as:

  • File data is corrupted
  • SHP files has been not been completely download from the internet (only a part of the data has been downloaded)
  • Currently used user account hasn’t been granted necessary privileges to open SHP files (should that be the case, please contact your system administrator or IT specialist)
  • SHP file was being copied from a corrupted storage device and is incomplete or data is corrupted. (Copying files from unknown or untrusted sources should be conducted with great care as such files may contain malicious software, which can damage your system)

Possible conversions of SHP file

Similar extensions