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.
ArcGIS for Desktop Basic (ArcView) (Microsoft Windows)
MapViewer (Microsoft Windows)
FME DESKTOP (Microsoft Windows)
Afanche 3D Viewer for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
Merkaartor (Multiplatform)
ArcGIS for Desktop Basic (ArcView) (Microsoft Windows)
ArcGIS for Desktop Basic (ArcView) (Microsoft Windows)
Afanche 3D Viewer for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
ArcGIS for Desktop Basic (ArcView) (Microsoft Windows)
FME DESKTOP (Microsoft Windows)
GPSMapEdit (Microsoft Windows)
MyGeodata Cloud (On-line services)
VTBuilder (Microsoft Windows)
Total GIS Converter (Microsoft Windows)
3DField (Microsoft Windows)
OCAD (Microsoft Windows)
LAStools (Microsoft Windows)
QGIS (Multiplatform)
Terrain Navigator (Microsoft Windows)
Xmap (Microsoft Windows)
OCAD (Microsoft Windows)
H2OMAP Water (Microsoft Windows)
QuickSurf (Microsoft Windows)
LAStools (Microsoft Windows)
QGIS (Multiplatform)
Afanche 3D Viewer for Mac (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.
AutoCAD (Microsoft Windows)
3ds Max (3D Studio Max) (Microsoft Windows)
PolyTrans|CAD+DCC (Microsoft Windows)
CorelCAD (Multiplatform)
AutoCAD (Microsoft Windows)
File type category:
Bitmap image file
Date updated: July 29, 2016
The shp file extension is related to the Blazing Paddles, a bitmap picture image editing program for ATARI 8-bit computers developed by 1979.
The shp file contains shape table from Blazing Paddles.
Use RECOIL to view content of *.shp files.
RECOIL (Multiplatform)
RECOIL (Multiplatform)
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.
CARE-S (Microsoft Windows)
CARE-S (Microsoft Windows)
CARE-S (Microsoft Windows)
CARE-S (Microsoft Windows)
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.
Clarion (Microsoft Windows)
File type category:
Game file
Date updated: August 14, 2019
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.
Command and Conquer (Microsoft Windows)
File type category:
Bitmap image file
Date updated: July 29, 2016
The shp file extension is related to the Movie Maker, a video editing program developed for Atari 8-bit computers.
The shp file contains shape (160x96, 4 colors) from Movie Maker program.
Use RECOIL to open *.shp files.
RECOIL (Multiplatform)
RECOIL (Multiplatform)
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.
PrintMaster (Multiplatform)
PrintMaster (Multiplatform)
PrintMaster (Multiplatform)
PrintMaster (Multiplatform)
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