Convert APR to ADF

Understanding APR and ADF file formats

APR files are project files created by ArcView GIS, a geographic information system (GIS) software developed by ESRI. These files store map layouts, data references, and project settings, but do not contain the actual spatial data—only references to shapefiles and other GIS data sources.

ADF files, on the other hand, are Arc/Info Binary Grid files, also developed by ESRI. They are used to store raster data, such as digital elevation models or other gridded datasets, and are a core component of the ESRI ArcInfo GRID format.

Why convert APR to ADF?

Direct conversion from APR (project file) to ADF (raster data) is not a typical workflow, as these formats serve different purposes. However, users may want to extract raster layers referenced in an APR project and save them as ADF files for use in other GIS applications.

How to convert APR to ADF

Since APR files do not contain actual data, but only references, the conversion process involves:

1. Opening the APR project in ArcView GIS or ArcGIS Desktop.
2. Identifying the raster layers you wish to export.
3. Exporting these layers to the ArcInfo GRID (ADF) format.

Follow these steps in ArcGIS Desktop (ArcMap):

• Open your APR project in ArcMap.
• Right-click the raster layer in the Table of Contents.
• Select Data → Export Data.
• In the export dialog, choose ArcInfo GRID as the output format.
• Specify the output location and filename, then click OK.

Best software for APR to ADF conversion

The most reliable software for this process is ArcGIS Desktop (ArcMap) by ESRI. It provides full support for both APR project files and exporting raster data to the ADF (ArcInfo GRID) format. QGIS can open some ESRI raster formats but does not support APR files directly.

Summary

While there is no direct APR to ADF file converter, you can use ArcGIS Desktop to open APR projects and export referenced raster layers as ADF files. This ensures your spatial data is preserved in a widely supported raster format.