Convert E00 to SHP

Understanding E00 and SHP file formats

E00 is an interchange file format developed by Esri for transferring ArcInfo coverages, grids, and TINs between different systems. It is a text-based format that stores geographic data and associated attributes in a portable way. SHP (Shapefile) is a widely used geospatial vector data format for geographic information system (GIS) software. It stores geometric location and attribute information of geographic features.

Why convert E00 to SHP?

Converting E00 to SHP is essential for users who want to utilize legacy ArcInfo data in modern GIS applications, as SHP is more universally supported and easier to work with in current GIS software.

Best software for E00 to SHP conversion

The most reliable and widely used software for converting E00 files to SHP is GDAL (Geospatial Data Abstraction Library) and QGIS (an open-source GIS platform). Both tools support E00 import and SHP export.

How to convert E00 to SHP using QGIS

1. Open QGIS.
2. Go to Layer → Add Layer → Add Vector Layer.
3. Browse and select your E00 file.
4. Once loaded, right-click the layer in the Layers panel.
5. Select Export → Save Features As....
6. Choose ESRI Shapefile as the format and specify the output location.
7. Click OK to complete the conversion.

Alternative: Using GDAL command line

If you prefer command-line tools, GDAL's ogr2ogr utility can convert E00 to SHP:

ogr2ogr -f "ESRI Shapefile" output_folder input.e00

This command will extract all coverages from the E00 file and save them as SHP files in the specified output folder.

Summary

Converting E00 to SHP ensures compatibility with modern GIS software. QGIS and GDAL are the best tools for this conversion, offering both graphical and command-line options.