When I create shapefiles in ArcMap, be it by selecting certain features from existing data or creating new polygons/points/lines,
I look in My Computer and see a dbf prj sbn and sbx file.
These shapefiles all successfully open in ArcMap, but I'm trying to upload these shapefiles to Mangomaps.com and the lack of an shp file is crucial.
When I open up the shapefiles in ArcMap an shp mysteriously appears in the form of "(Whatever the name of my shapefile is).shp.URA-0422.6328.6588.sr.lock" URA is the name of the place where I work and just fyi before someone harps on me for sharing important information I changed some of those numbers in case they have significance.
However this locked shp can't be uploaded and immediately disappears once ArcMap closes.
What's going on? Do I have some sort of setting preventing ArcMap from creating an shp/xml document?
[GIS] When I export shapefiles from ArcMap 10 there appears to be no xml file created
arcmapshapefilexml
Best Answer
Shapefiles are not XML files, they are binary files. If you're seeing a XML file with the ending .shp, it may not be the .shp file. ArcGIS can automatically create metadata files (files that contain information about the shapefile, such as the extent it covers, who made it, and when) for shapefiles, and saves that information as My_ShapeFile.shp.xml
When windows explorer sees that, it just shows the XML file as MyShapefile.shp, with the type of XML, which can be confusing. See:
In the above example from windows explorer, you can see both the My_Shapefile.shp.xml and My_Shapefile.shp listed as "My_Shapefile.shp" but in the "Type" field, one is an XML file (the metadata) and the other is the real shapefile that needs to be uploaded (shown as a "SHP File").
The lock file is just a file ArcMap creates to keep other people from trying to change the shapefile while you are opening it. It usually has a name based on the name of the computer you are using. You should be able to upload the file whether or not there is a lock file present.