Data Import and Export Supported Formats
During GIS processing, in addition to using SuperMap's own data format, it is often necessary to operate on various external data formats. The data import and export functions provide conversion between different data formats, offering strong support for a variety of data formats.
The following sections list the data formats supported for import and export, facilitating user operations.
1. Vector File Import/Export Support
2. Raster File Import/Export Support
3. Model File Import/Export Support
4. Data Import Formats Supported on Different Platforms
Vector File Import/Export Support
| Vector file formats supported for import | File Description | Supported import dataset type | Export Supported |
| AutoCAD Drawing File (*.dwg) | DWG is the native drawing file format for AutoCAD, a standard binary file format specifically designed for saving vector graphics. | CAD Dataset, Simple Dataset | √ |
| AutoCAD DXF File (*.dxf) | DXF is an AutoCAD graphics exchange file used for CAD data exchange between AutoCAD and other software, an ASCII-based vector file format. | CAD Dataset, Simple Dataset | √ |
| ArcInfo Export File (*.e00) | The E00 file is a general exchange format file for ESRI ArcInfo. It contains almost all vector formats and attributes through ASCII plain text. | Simple Dataset | √ |
| ArcGIS ShapeFile file (*.shp) | A proprietary data format for ArcGIS software, used to store the spatial and attribute information of geographic features, and is a commonly used vector data format. | Simple Dataset | √ |
| GeoDatabase Vector File (*.gdb) | ESRI Geodatabase vector data file, can be imported as point, line, region, text, and tabular datasets, resulting in a single vector dataset. | Simple Dataset | √ |
| ArcGIS Personal GeoDatabase File (*.mdb) | An ArcGIS Personal Geodatabase data file that can be imported as point, line, region, text, and tabular datasets, resulting in a single vector dataset. Note: This file uses the Microsoft Access data file structure, so importing it requires installing an AccessDatabaseEngine.exe file. The type of AccessDatabaseEngine to install depends on the bitness of iDesktop (e.g., for 64-bit iDesktop, install the 64-bit AccessDatabaseEngine). | Simple Dataset | √ |
| MapInfo TAB File (*.tab) | A table structure file for attribute data, storing information in table form. The TAB file defines the table structure for map attribute data. | CAD Dataset, Simple Dataset | √ |
| MapInfo Exchange Format (*.mif) | An intermediate exchange file used by MapInfo for external data exchange. It saves MapInfo table structure and object geometry, including style information like object symbol style and fill mode. | CAD Dataset, Simple Dataset | √ |
| MapInfo WOR File (*.wor) | A MapInfo Workspace File. Workspace files are used to save information such as tables, windows and window positions, maps, layouts, resource symbols, and MapInfo environment settings. | Simple Dataset | |
| MapGIS Exchange Format(*.wat; *.wal; *.wap; *.wan) | The plain code file of MapGIS, its file structure consists of two parts: a file header and a data area. In the MAPGIS file system, its project file (*.MPJ) generally includes point files (*.WT), line files (*.WL), region files (*.WP), and network files (*.WN). Before performing the import function, these MapGIS graphic file formats must be converted to the MapGIS plain code format, and then import can proceed. After conversion, the file names for the four types are: point plain code file (*.wat), line plain code file (*.wal), region plain code file (*.wap), and network plain code file (*.wan). | CAD Dataset, Simple Dataset | |
| Microsoft Excel File (*.xlsx) | Supports Office 2007 and later files, i.e., *.xlsx format files. Often stores spatial and attribute data for geographic information and can be imported as tabular data. | Tabular Dataset | √ |
| CSV Text File (*.csv) | A file that records data in text form (usually comma-separated). This format is often used for data interchange between different programs. | Tabular Dataset | |
| LIDAR File (*.txt) | The data points acquired by LiDAR are very dense, also known as point cloud data. | Point Dataset, 3D Point Dataset | √ |
| dBASE File Format (*.dbf) | Table data for ShapeFile data. | Tabular Dataset | |
| DGN File (*.dgn) | Microstation DGN File. | Vector Dataset | |
| VCT File (*.vct) | National standard vector file. | Vector Dataset | √ |
| Telecom Building Vector Region File | Telecom industry vector region data. | Vector Surface Dataset | √ |
| Telecom Vector Line File | Telecom industry vector line data. | Vector Line Dataset | √ |
| Telecom Vector Text File | Telecom industry text data. | Point Dataset | √ |
| S-57 Chart Data File (*.000) | Chart data compliant with the S-57 standard. Requires a chart module license to import. | Chart Dataset Group | √ |
| GeoJson File | GeoJson is a format for encoding various geographic data structures, a geospatial data interchange format based on JavaScript Object Notation. | Point, Line, Region, CAD Dataset | √ |
| SimpleJson Data File (*.json) | SimpleJson (*.json) is a proprietary data format supported by SuperMap software. SimpleJson data consists of two files: (*.json) and (*.meta). The (*.meta) file stores metadata information, and the (*.json) file stores member information of the data. | Point, Line, Region, CAD Dataset | √ |
| GPS File (*.gpx ) | *.gpx files are GPS track point files recorded by GPS devices, a lightweight XML data interchange format. | Point Dataset | √ |
| OpenStreetMap Data File (*.osm) | The *.osm file is a vector data file created by OpenStreetMap to save street map information, saved via ASCII plain text. It can be imported as point, line, and region datasets, but not as a CAD dataset. | Point, Line, Region Dataset | |
| GeoPackage Vector File (*.gpkg) | GeoPackage is an open data format for storing geospatial information developed by the OGC, stored as a platform-independent SQLite database file. It is used to store vector features, image tile matrix sets, raster map tile matrix sets, and non-spatial tabular data within SQLite databases. | Vector Dataset |
Raster File Import/Export Support
| Raster file formats supported for import | File Description | Supported import dataset type | Export Supported |
| Golden Software ASCII Grid File (*.grd) | Golden Software ASCII Grid File is a raster data storage format from Esri, storing cell spatial location and value information in tiles. | Raster Dataset | √ |
| Arc/Info Binary Grid Folder (*.adf) | The Arc/Info Binary Grid folder is a binary raster data storage format from ESRI. The folder contains multiple .adf files, each storing different content of the data. | Raster Dataset | √ |
| Erdas Image File (*.img) | A common file format under the ERDAS platform for remote sensing analysis, capable of storing various data such as imagery, raster, and DEM. | Image Dataset, Raster Dataset | √ |
| TIFF (*.tif; *.tiff) | TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) is a common high-bit color image format. GeoTIFF is a TIFF file format containing geographic information, encoded within the reserved Tags of the TIFF file. | Image Dataset, Raster Dataset | √ |
| Bitmap File (*.bmp) | The standard image file format in the Windows operating system, with no compression, takes up large space. Imported as image data. | Image Dataset, Raster Dataset | √ |
| PNG File (*.png) | A network image file storage format with simple compression for pixels with continuous values. | Image Dataset, Raster Dataset | √ |
| GIF File (*.gif) | Graphics Interchange Format, with simple compression for pixels with continuous values. | Image Dataset, Raster Dataset | √ |
| JPG File (*.jpg; *.jpeg) | A common picture format that uses 24-bit color to store a single image. | Image Dataset, Raster Dataset | √ |
| JPEG2000 File (*.jp2, *.jpk) | JPEG2000 is an image compression standard based on wavelet transform, offering relatively high compression. | Image Dataset, Raster Dataset | |
| ECW File (*.ecw) | ECW is a proprietary format from Erdas, a lossy compression based on wavelets, similar to JPEG 2000. | Image Dataset | |
| SIT Image File (*.sit) (Obsolete) | A proprietary raster and image file storage format for SuperMap products. It integrates various imagery technologies, not only greatly compressing image data but also enabling extremely fast read and display speeds. | Image Dataset | √ |
| USGDEM and GBDEM Raster File (*.dem) | Spatial data exchange format, imported as raster data. | Raster Dataset | |
| BIL File (*.bil) | BIL stands for Band Interleaved by Line format. It records data scan line by scan line, with all bands for the same scan line recorded sequentially. The image order is all bands of the first pixel, then all bands of the second pixel, and so on. | Raster Dataset | |
| BIP File (*.bip) | BIP stands for Band Interleaved by Pixel format. It records data with a pixel pair as the basic unit. | Raster Dataset | |
| BSQ File (*.bsq) | BSQ stands for Band Sequential format. It records data band by band, with all scans of each band recorded sequentially, each row of data followed immediately by the next row of the same band. | Raster Dataset | |
| RAW File (*.raw) | A common format in the digital imaging field. It contains all photo information from the moment the original picture file is generated by the sensor until it enters the camera's image processor. It features small compression loss and relatively small storage space. | Image Dataset | |
| MrSID File (*.sid) | A common remote sensing image storage format. Compressed by the MrSID multi-resolution seamless image database, it requires less storage space and browsing time. | Image Dataset, Raster Dataset | |
| Telecom Data Raster File (*.b, *.bin) | Telecom industry raster data. | Raster Dataset | |
| ASCII Grid File (*.asc) | An ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced grid exchange file. | Image Dataset, Raster Dataset | |
| GDAL Virtual Data Format (*.vrt) | A file format created by the Geospatial Data Abstraction Library (GDAL). This format allows creating virtual datasets from other datasets readable by GDAL. Supports multiple raster data formats, including TIFF, IMG, DEM, etc. | Image Dataset, Raster Dataset | |
| Meteorological Data File (*.grib2) | GRIB is a binary file format developed by WMO for exchanging and storing regularly distributed data. In GRIB2, encoded data is divided into nine sections. | Raster Dataset |
Model File Import/Export Support
| Model file formats supported for import | File Description | Supported import dataset type | Export Supported | Format Version Compatibility |
| SketchUp 3D Model File (*.skp) | The native file format of SketchUp software, used for storing 3D model data. | Model Dataset | SketchUp 2021 and earlier versions | |
| 3DS 3D Model File (*.3ds) | A 3D model data format developed by Autodesk, capable of completely storing various information of 3D models. | Model Dataset | √ | Fully supported |
| DXF 3D Model File (*.dxf) | An open file format developed by Autodesk for storing and exchanging CAD data, capable of completely storing various information of CAD data. | Model Dataset | AutoCAD 2024 and earlier versions | |
| DirectX Model File (*.x) | A file format for storing 3D model data, which can contain mesh data, textures, animations, and user-defined objects. | Model Dataset | √ | Fully supported |
| FBX Model File (*.fbx) | AutoDesk's free, cross-platform 3D data exchange format. | Model Dataset | √ | Import support: FBX 7.1-7.4 Export support: FBX 7.5 |
| 3D Printing 3D Model File (*.stl, *.off) | 3D model data that can be imported as a model dataset. | Model Dataset | √ | Fully supported. STL files only support ASCII code. |
| OSGB File (*.osgb, *.osg) | OSG stands for Open Scene Graph, and OSGB stands for Open Scene Graph Binary. It is a 3D geospatial data file format used for storing and loading 3D models, and is also a common tile data format for storing oblique photography 3D model data. | Model Dataset | √ | Import fully supported. Export of OSG not supported, only export of OSGB version 3.6.3 from the OSG library is supported. |
| Spatial 3D Model File (*.s3m, *.s3mb, *.s3mbz) | Spatial 3D model data format, can be imported as a model dataset. Among them, S3MB stands for Spatial 3D Model Binary. s3mb 1.0 complies with T/CAGIS 1-2019, and S3MB 3.01 complies with CH/T 9040-2023. | Model Dataset | √ | Import support: Fully supported Export support: All S3M versions, S3MB 1.0/2.0 |
| OBJ Model File (*.obj) | A standard 3D model file format developed by Alias Corporation based on the workstation 3D modeling and animation software Advanced Visualizer. | Model Dataset | √ | Fully supported |
| DAE Model File (*.dae) | DAE, Digital Asset Exchange, also known as the Collada model, is a core exchangeable 3D model format under Khronos. | Model Dataset | √ | Import support: Fully supported Export support: DAE 1.4 |
| GLTF Model File (*.gltf) | GLTF (GL Transmission Format) is an open standard developed and maintained by the Khronos Group, stored in JSON format and containing the structure and attributes of 3D models. | Model Dataset | √ | Fully supported |
| SGM Model File (*.sgm) | A multi-purpose file format, usually containing structured data or text. | Model Dataset | ||
| FLT Model File (*.flt) | OpenFlight file, a file format used for generating three-dimensional terrain and scenes. | Model Dataset | ||
| Google KML File (*.kml) | Keyhole Markup Language (KML) is defined by Google, based on XML language description, and used to describe the display of 3D spatial data in Google Earth. A KML file is a collection of graphic elements, images, and setting information. | CAD Dataset, Simple Dataset | √ | Fully supported |
| Google KML Compressed File (*.kmz) | KMZ is a compressed package of KML files. | CAD Dataset, Simple Dataset | √ | Fully supported |
| IFC Model File (*.ifc) | IFC stands for Industry Foundation Classes, a standard for building engineering data exchange. | Model Dataset | IFC2x-add1_longform, IFC2x2_ADD1, IFC2x3_TC1, IFC4_ADD2_TC1, IFC4x1, IFC4x2, IFC4x3_ADD2, IFC4x3_RC1 | |
| RVT 3D Model File (*.rvt) | A model file created by Autodesk's Building Information Modeling (BIM) software Revit, capable of comprehensively describing all aspects of a building model and providing rich information. | Model Dataset | Revit 2011-2024 versions | |
| DGN 3D Model File (*.dgn) | DGN is the native file format of Bentley Systems' MicroStation software, mainly used for 2D and 3D design and drafting in the architectural and engineering industries. Here it refers to BIM data in DGN format. | Model Dataset | ||
| 3DXML 3D Model File (*.3dxml) | A fully open, lightweight 3D data format introduced by Dassault Systèmes. | Model Dataset | ASCII 3DXML files generated by CATIA V4/V5/V6 | |
| Virtual 3D City Model Data Exchange Format CityGML (*.xml) | City Geography Markup Language (CityGML), developed by the OGC, is an open data model and XML format standard for storing and exchanging virtual 3D city models. | Model Dataset | CityGML 2.0 | |
| Petroleum Pipeline Facility Model Exchange Format (*.rvm) | AVEVA PDMS (Plant Design Management System) model project file, used for storing and managing 3D design data. | Model Dataset | Fully supported | |
| State Grid Transmission Line Design Project 3D Exchange Format (*.gim, *.mod) | GIM (Grid Information Model) is a standard model system established by the State Grid to meet the 3D design needs of transmission and substation projects. *.gim (project file) and *.mod (3D parametric object description file) are used to store 3D design model data for transmission and substation projects. | Model Dataset | √ | Import support: Fully supported Export support: Only supports exporting *.mod on Win64 systems. |
| Geo3DML Geological Model File (*.xml) | Geological model data, can be imported as a model dataset. | Model Dataset | Geo3DML 1.0 | |
| TIN Topographic Tile File (*.tinz) | Terrain model data, can be imported as a model dataset. | Model Dataset | √ | |
| TIN Terrain File (*.sct) | Terrain model data, can be imported as a model dataset. | Model Dataset | √ |