We currently use ArcGIS 9.2, and we are looking at moving forward with other software, and we have been testing QGIS recently.
Basically we are trying to copy the existing projects we have, and re-create them in QGIS.
But I have came across quite a big problem, re-created a project which has a couple of polygon shapefiles. They came into QGIS fine as always.
I then opened up the .mxd project in ArcGIS, and noticed a couple of deadlinks… they were the two shapefiles I had just brought into QGIS!
Tried a couple of other random shapefiles and the same thing happens… seems a single shapefile can't be used in both QGIS and ArcGIS at the same time? Looking at the shapefile in catalog and it shows as a green question mark. If I close QGIS the shapefile opens fine again in ArcGIS.
I could of course create a copy of each shapefile and point QGIS to the copies, but it means duplicating A LOT of shapefiles, which is far from ideal.
Anyone else come across this? And if so, is there a solution/work around?
Best Answer
QGIS also locks the shapefile. As long as it is opened in QGIS, you can not delete it from the file system (even if it is not in editing mode).
ARCGIS might not be pleased with that lock, and refuses to open the shapefile.