ESRI ArcView shapefile
File type: GIS, GPS navigation and map file
Files with shp extension are generally geospatial vector data files used in ESRI GIS software. Later adopted by other vendors. Should not be confused with AutoCAD shape files, different format just sharing same extension.
Found 8 different file type records with the same shp filename suffix.
File type category:
GIS, GPS navigation and map file
Date updated: March 24, 2024
File extension shp is used for ESRI Shape format, a popular geospatial vector data format for geographic information systems software. It is developed and regulated by ESRI as a (mostly) open specification for data interoperability among ESRI and other software products.
A shapefile stores non-topological geometry and attribute information for the spatial features in a data set. A shapefile consists of a set of 3 mandatory files, along with several optional files.
Each file in the set shares the shapefile name with a different extension. The main file .shp stores the geometry and must always have an index file shx. A dBASE file dbf stores all the attributes of the shapes in the main file. Additionally, a projection file prj stores the projection information.
There is also shp shape file used by AutoDesk programs. But that is different format just sharing the same file extension.
Use ESRI ArcView to work with the *.shp files.
Shape files can probably be exported to several other formats using ESRI software.
Software applications that can open shp files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
Multiplatform
Software applications that can edit shp files:
Microsoft Windows
Software capable of saving shp files:
Microsoft Windows
Programs for viewing shp files:
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
Software apps that create shp files:
Microsoft Windows
Software apps that convert shp files:
Microsoft Windows
On-line services
Software apps that import shp files:
Software apps that export shp files:
Microsoft Windows
Multiplatform
Software apps that print shp files:
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
File type category:
3d graphics, CAD-CAM-CAE file
Date updated: March 28, 2024
The shp file extension is also related to AutoCAD, a CAD development platform, developed by Autodesk, Inc.
This type of shp files are called shape files, ASCII files that use code to define specific shapes. Shapes include each letter of an shx font and the batting symbol for the insulation linetype. It’s almost never necessary for a user to create a shape file. Also used by other AutoDesk programs.
Should not be confused with ESRI shape file file that also use SHP file extension. It is a different format used for GIS software.
You can import these shapes to AutoCAD and other programs that suport this file type.
Possibly can be converted to other 3D shape file formats.
Software applications that can open shp files:
Microsoft Windows
Software apps that import shp files:
Microsoft Windows
Software apps that export shp files:
Multiplatform
Software applications that handle other tasks involving shp files:
Microsoft Windows
File type category:
Bitmap image file
Date updated: October 5, 2026
Blazing Paddles is an early bitmap image-editing program for Atari 8-bit computers, developed by 1979. It uses shape tables to store reusable graphic shapes for use in its drawing environment.
An shp file contains a shape table from Blazing Paddles.
RECOIL provides multiplatform support for viewing this legacy format.
Use RECOIL to view the contents of a Blazing Paddles shp file. RECOIL runs on multiple platforms and is intended for viewing images from older computer systems.
The original Blazing Paddles software can also open the file in an Atari 8-bit environment when the file is used with the program's other data.
File type category:
Various data file
Date updated: July 30, 2019
The shp file extension is associated with the CARE--S (Computer Aided REhabilitation of Sewer Networks) a modeling tool for Microsoft Windows that allows designers to modeling sewer networks.
The shp file contains pipe cross-section data.
Probably not meant to be accessed by the user.
Probably cannot be converted to anything else.
File type category:
Various data file
Date updated: March 19, 2019
The shp file extension is associated with the Clarion, a database applications development environment for Microsoft Windows operating system.
The shp file stores ship list used by Clarion for Windows.
Use Clarion for Windows to open *.shp ship lists.
Probably cannot be converted to anything else.
Software applications that handle other tasks involving shp files:
Microsoft Windows
File type category:
Game file
Date updated: August 14, 2019
Record marked as obsolete and not updated for a long time.
The shp file extension is associated with the Command & Conquer, a real time strategic video game for MS-DOS, Microsoft Windows and video gaming consoles.
The shp file stores various game data used by this video game.
Software applications that handle other tasks involving shp files:
Microsoft Windows
File type category:
Bitmap image file
Date updated: October 5, 2026
Movie Maker shape files belong to Movie Maker, a video-editing program developed for Atari 8-bit computers. They store the bitmap shapes used by the program.
Each shp file contains a 160 by 96 pixel image with a four-color palette. This is a legacy Atari format, and RECOIL is available on multiple platforms for viewing it.
Use RECOIL to open and view a Movie Maker shp file. RECOIL is available for multiple platforms.
RECOIL can be used to convert the image to a more common bitmap format, such as PNG, for use in modern image software.
File type category:
Graphics file
Date updated: November 23, 2018
The shp file extension is associated with the PrintMaster, a designing software for Microsoft Windows that allows users to create greeting cards, scrapbooks, calendars etc.
The shp file contains icon library used by PrintMaster.
Use PrintMaster to open *.shp icon libraries.
Probably can be converted to other formats.
Software applications that can open shp files:
Multiplatform
Software applications that can edit shp files:
Multiplatform
Software capable of saving shp files:
Multiplatform
Software apps that create shp files:
Multiplatform
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