Provided by: grass-doc_8.3.0-1_all 
NAME
v.import - Imports vector data into a GRASS vector map using OGR library and reprojects
on the fly.
KEYWORDS
vector, import, projection
SYNOPSIS
v.import
v.import --help
v.import [-flo] input=string [layer=string[,string,...]] [output=name]
[extent=string] [encoding=string] [snap=float] [epsg=integer]
[datum_trans=integer] [--overwrite] [--help] [--verbose] [--quiet] [--ui]
Flags:
-f
List supported OGR formats and exit
-l
List available OGR layers in data source and exit
-o
Override projection check (use current location’s projection)
Assume that the dataset has the same projection as the current location
--overwrite
Allow output files to overwrite existing files
--help
Print usage summary
--verbose
Verbose module output
--quiet
Quiet module output
--ui
Force launching GUI dialog
Parameters:
input=string [required]
Name of OGR datasource to be imported
layer=string[,string,...]
OGR layer name. If not given, all available layers are imported
output=name
Name for output vector map (default: input)
extent=string
Output vector map extent
Options: input, region
Default: input
input: extent of input map
region: extent of current region
encoding=string
Encoding value for attribute data
snap=float
Snapping threshold for boundaries (map units)
A suitable threshold is estimated during import
Default: -1
epsg=integer
EPSG projection code
Options: 1-1000000
datum_trans=integer
Index number of datum transform parameters
-1 to list available datum transform parameters
Options: -1-100
DESCRIPTION
v.import imports vector data from files and database connections supported by the OGR
library) into the current location and mapset. If the projection of the input does not
match the projection of the location, the input is reprojected into the current location.
In case that the projection of the input map does match the projection of the location,
the input is imported directly.
Supported Vector Formats
v.import uses the OGR library which supports various vector data formats including ESRI
Shapefile, Mapinfo File, UK .NTF, SDTS, TIGER, IHO S-57 (ENC), DGN, GML, GPX, AVCBin, REC,
Memory, OGDI, and PostgreSQL, depending on the local OGR installation. For details see
the OGR web site. The OGR (Simple Features Library) is part of the GDAL library, hence
GDAL needs to be installed to use v.import.
The list of actually supported formats can be printed by -f flag.
NOTES
v.import checks the projection metadata of the dataset to be imported against the current
location’s projection. If not identical a related error message is shown.
To override this projection check (i.e. to use current location’s projection) by assuming
that the dataset has the same projection as the current location the -o flag can be used.
This is also useful when geodata to be imported do not contain any projection metadata at
all. The user must be sure that the projection is identical in order to avoid to introduce
data errors.
Topology cleaning
When importing polygons, non-topological polygons are converted to topological areas. If
the input polygons contain errors (unexpected overlapping areas, small gaps between
polygons, or warnings about being unable to calculate centroids), the import might need to
be repeated using a snap value as suggested in the output messages. The default value of
snap=-1 means that no snapping will be done.
The snap threshold defines the maximal distance from one to another vertex in map units
(for latitude-longitude locations in degrees). If there is no other vertex within snap
distance, no snapping will be done. Note that a too large value can severely damage area
topology, beyond repair.
Post-processing: Snapped boundaries may need to be cleaned with v.clean, using its tools
break,rmdupl,rmsa. For details, refer to the v.clean manual page.
EXAMPLE
# import SHAPE file at full extent and reproject to current location projection
v.import input=research_area.shp output=research_area extent=input
ERROR MESSAGES
SQL syntax errors
Depending on the currently selected SQL driver, error messages such as follows may arise:
DBMI-SQLite driver error:
Error in sqlite3_prepare():
near "ORDER": syntax error
Or:
DBMI-DBF driver error:
SQL parser error:
syntax error, unexpected DESC, expecting NAME processing ’DESC
This indicates that a column name in the input dataset corresponds to a reserved SQL word
(here: ’ORDER’ and ’DESC’ respectively). A different column name has to be used in this
case. The columns parameter can be used to assign different column names on the fly in
order to avoid using reserved SQL words. For a list of SQL reserved words for SQLite (the
default driver), see here.
Projection errors
Projection of dataset does not appear to match the current location.
Here you need to create or use a location whose projection matches that of the vector data
you wish to import. Try using location parameter to create a new location based upon the
projection information in the file. If desired, you can then re-project it to another
location with v.proj.
SEE ALSO
v.clean, v.in.lines, v.in.ogr, v.proj
AUTHORS
Markus Metz
Improvements: Martin Landa, Anna Petrasova
SOURCE CODE
Available at: v.import source code (history)
Accessed: Tuesday Jun 27 11:14:34 2023
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© 2003-2023 GRASS Development Team, GRASS GIS 8.3.0 Reference Manual