Convert GMF to MXD

Understanding GMF and MXD file formats

GMF (Geographic Markup Format) is a geospatial data format used for storing and exchanging geographic information, often in XML-based structure. It is commonly used in GIS (Geographic Information Systems) applications for representing spatial data and map layers.

MXD (Map Exchange Document) is a proprietary file format used by Esri ArcGIS software. An MXD file stores map layouts, symbology, layers, and other map properties, making it essential for sharing and editing maps within the ArcGIS environment.

How to convert GMF to MXD

Direct conversion from GMF to MXD is not natively supported by most GIS software, as these formats serve different purposes and are used by different platforms. However, you can achieve the conversion by importing GMF data into a GIS application and then saving or exporting the project as an MXD file.

Recommended software for conversion

The best approach is to use Esri ArcGIS Desktop (ArcMap):

1. First, use a GIS tool that can read GMF files, such as Safe Software FME or GDAL/OGR, to convert GMF data to a format supported by ArcGIS (e.g., Shapefile or GeoJSON).
2. Open ArcMap and use File → Add Data to import the converted data.
3. Arrange your map layers and symbology as needed.
4. Save your project using File → Save As to create an MXD file.

Safe Software FME is highly recommended for its robust support of various GIS formats and its ability to automate complex data transformations.

Summary

While there is no direct one-step GMF to MXD converter, using Safe Software FME or GDAL/OGR to convert GMF to a compatible format, then importing into ArcGIS and saving as MXD, is the most effective workflow.