GDAL-VECTOR-CONVERT(1)               GDAL               GDAL-VECTOR-CONVERT(1)

NAME
       gdal-vector-convert - Convert a vector dataset

       Added in version 3.11.


SYNOPSIS

          Usage: gdal vector convert [OPTIONS] <INPUT> <OUTPUT>

          Convert a vector dataset.

          Positional arguments:
            -i, --input <INPUT>                                  Input vector dataset [required]
            -o, --output <OUTPUT>                                Output vector dataset [required]

          Common Options:
            -h, --help                                           Display help message and exit
            --json-usage                                         Display usage as JSON document and exit
            --config <KEY>=<VALUE>                               Configuration option [may be repeated]
            --progress                                           Display progress bar

          Options:
            -f, --of, --format, --output-format <OUTPUT-FORMAT>  Output format
            --co, --creation-option <KEY>=<VALUE>                Creation option [may be repeated]
            --lco, --layer-creation-option <KEY>=<VALUE>         Layer creation option [may be repeated]
            --overwrite                                          Whether overwriting existing output is allowed
            --update                                             Whether to open existing dataset in update mode
            --overwrite-layer                                    Whether overwriting existing layer is allowed
            --append                                             Whether appending to existing layer is allowed
            -l, --layer, --input-layer <INPUT-LAYER>             Input layer name(s) [may be repeated]
            --output-layer <OUTPUT-LAYER>                        Output layer name

          Advanced Options:
            --oo, --open-option <KEY>=<VALUE>                    Open options [may be repeated]
            --if, --input-format <INPUT-FORMAT>                  Input formats [may be repeated]

DESCRIPTION
       gdal vector convert can be used to convert data data between different
       formats.

       The following options are available:

   Standard options

       -f, --of, --format, --output-format <OUTPUT-FORMAT>
              Which output vector format to use. Allowed values may be given
              by gdal --formats | grep vector | grep rw | sort

       --co <NAME>=<VALUE>
              Many formats have one or more optional dataset creation options
              that can be used to control particulars about the file created.
              For instance, the GeoPackage driver supports creation options to
              control the version.

              May be repeated.

              The dataset creation options available vary by format driver,
              and some simple formats have no creation options at all. A list
              of options supported for a format can be listed with the
              --formats command line option but the documentation for the
              format is the definitive source of information on driver
              creation options.  See Vector drivers format specific
              documentation for legal creation options for each format.

              Note that dataset creation options are different from layer
              creation options.

       --layer-creation-option <NAME>=<VALUE>
              Many formats have one or more optional layer creation options
              that can be used to control particulars about the layer created.
              For instance, the GeoPackage driver supports layer creation
              options to control the feature identifier or geometry column
              name, setting the identifier or description, etc.

              May be repeated.

              The layer creation options available vary by format driver, and
              some simple formats have no layer creation options at all. A
              list of options supported for a format can be listed with the
              --formats command line option but the documentation for the
              format is the definitive source of information on driver
              creation options.  See Vector drivers format specific
              documentation for legal creation options for each format.

              Note that layer creation options are different from dataset
              creation options.

       --overwrite
              Allow program to overwrite existing target file or dataset.
              Otherwise, by default, gdal errors out if the target file or
              dataset already exists.

       --update
              Whether the output dataset must be opened in update mode.
              Implies that it already exists. This mode is useful when adding
              new layer(s) to an already existing dataset.

       --overwrite-layer
              Whether overwriting existing layer(s) is allowed.

       --append
              Whether appending features to existing layer(s) is allowed

       -l, --layer <LAYER>
              Name of one or more layers to inspect.  If no layer names are
              passed, then all layers will be selected.

       --output-layer <OUTPUT-LAYER>
              Output layer name. Can only be used to rename a layer, if there
              is a single input layer.

   Advanced options

       --oo <NAME>=<VALUE>
              Dataset open option (format specific).

              May be repeated.

       --if <format>
              Format/driver name to be attempted to open the input file(s). It
              is generally not necessary to specify it, but it can be used to
              skip automatic driver detection, when it fails to select the
              appropriate driver.  This option can be repeated several times
              to specify several candidate drivers.  Note that it does not
              force those drivers to open the dataset. In particular, some
              drivers have requirements on file extensions.

              May be repeated.

EXAMPLES
   Example 1: Converting file poly.shp to a GeoPackage

          $ gdal vector convert poly.shp output.gpkg

   Example 2: Add new layer from file line.shp to an existing GeoPackage, and
       rename it "lines"

          $ gdal vector convert --update --output-layer=lines line.shp output.gpkg

   Example 3: Append features from from file poly2.shp to an existing layer
       poly of a GeoPackage, with progress bar

          $ gdal vector convert --append --output-layer=poly --progress poly2.shp output.gpkg

AUTHOR
       Even Rouault <even.rouault@spatialys.com>

COPYRIGHT
       1998-2025

                                  May 6, 2025           GDAL-VECTOR-CONVERT(1)