GDAL-VECTOR-MAKE-VALID(1) GDAL GDAL-VECTOR-MAKE-VALID(1)
gdal-vector-make-valid - Fix validity of geometries of a vector
dataset
Added in version 3.12.
Usage: gdal vector make-valid [OPTIONS] <INPUT> <OUTPUT>
Fix validity of geometries of a vector dataset.
Positional arguments:
-i, --input <INPUT> Input vector datasets [required]
-o, --output <OUTPUT> Output vector dataset [required]
Common Options:
-h, --help Display help message and exit
--json-usage Display usage as JSON document and exit
--config <KEY>=<VALUE> Configuration option [may be repeated]
-q, --quiet Quiet mode (no progress bar)
Options:
-l, --layer, --input-layer <INPUT-LAYER> Input layer name(s) [may be repeated]
-f, --of, --format, --output-format <OUTPUT-FORMAT> Output format ("GDALG" allowed)
--co, --creation-option <KEY>=<VALUE> Creation option [may be repeated]
--lco, --layer-creation-option <KEY>=<VALUE> Layer creation option [may be repeated]
--overwrite Whether overwriting existing output is allowed
--update Whether to open existing dataset in update mode
--overwrite-layer Whether overwriting existing output is allowed
--append Whether appending to existing layer is allowed
Mutually exclusive with --upsert
--output-layer <OUTPUT-LAYER> Output layer name
--skip-errors Skip errors when writing features
--active-layer <ACTIVE-LAYER> Set active layer (if not specified, all)
--active-geometry <ACTIVE-GEOMETRY> Geometry field name to which to restrict the processing (if not specified, all)
--method <METHOD> Algorithm to use when repairing invalid geometries.. METHOD=linework|structure (default: linework)
--keep-lower-dim Keep components of lower dimension after MakeValid()
Advanced Options:
--if, --input-format <INPUT-FORMAT> Input formats [may be repeated]
--oo, --open-option <KEY>=<VALUE> Open options [may be repeated]
--output-oo, --output-open-option <KEY>=<VALUE> Output open options [may be repeated]
--upsert Upsert features (implies 'append')
Mutually exclusive with --append
gdal vector make-valid ensures that geometries are valid regarding
the rules of the Simple Features specification.
It runs the OGRGeometry::MakeValid() operation, followed by
OGRGeometryFactory::removeLowerDimensionSubGeoms() (unless
--keep-lower-dim is set)
It can also be used as a step of gdal vector pipeline.
NOTE:
This command requires a GDAL build against the GEOS library.
-f, --of, --format, --output-format <OUTPUT-FORMAT>
Which output vector format to use. Allowed values may be given
by gdal --formats | grep vector | grep rw | sort
--co, --creation-option <NAME>=<VALUE>
Many formats have one or more optional dataset creation
options that can be used to control particulars about the file
created. For instance, the GeoPackage driver supports creation
options to control the version.
May be repeated.
The dataset creation options available vary by format driver,
and some simple formats have no creation options at all. A
list of options supported for a format can be listed with the
--formats command line option but the documentation for the
format is the definitive source of information on driver
creation options. See Vector drivers format specific
documentation for legal creation options for each format.
Note that dataset creation options are different from layer
creation options.
-lco <NAME>=<VALUE>
Layer creation option (format specific)
--overwrite
Allow program to overwrite existing target file or dataset.
Otherwise, by default, gdal errors out if the target file or
dataset already exists.
--active-layer <ACTIVE-LAYER>
Set the active layer. When it is specified, only the layer
specified by its name will be subject to the processing. Other
layers will be not modified. If this option is not specified,
all layers will be subject to the processing.
--active-geometry <ACTIVE-GEOMETRY>
Set the active geometry field from its name. When it is
specified, only the specified geometry field will be subject
to the processing. Other geometry fields will be not modified.
If this option is not specified, all geometry fields will be
subject to the processing. This option can be combined
together with --active-layer.
--method=linework|structure
Algorithm to use when repairing invalid geometries.
The default linework method combines all rings into a set of
noded lines and then extracts valid polygons from that
linework. This method keeps all input vertices.
The structure method (only available with GEOS >= 3.10) first
makes all rings valid then merges shells and subtracts holes
from shells to generate valid result. It assumes that holes
and shells are correctly categorized.
--keep-lower-dim
Keep components of lower dimension after MakeValid(). For
example, MakeValid() may return a GeometryCollection of a
Polygon and a LineString from a Polygon input. By default
only the Polygon would be returned. Setting this option will
return the GeometryCollection.
--oo, --open-option <NAME>=<VALUE>
Dataset open option (format specific).
May be repeated.
--if, --input-format <format>
Format/driver name to be attempted to open the input file(s).
It is generally not necessary to specify it, but it can be
used to skip automatic driver detection, when it fails to
select the appropriate driver. This option can be repeated
several times to specify several candidate drivers. Note that
it does not force those drivers to open the dataset. In
particular, some drivers have requirements on file extensions.
May be repeated.
GDALG OUTPUT (ON-THE-FLY / STREAMED DATASET)
This program supports serializing the command line as a JSON file
using the GDALG output format. The resulting file can then be opened
as a vector dataset using the GDALG: GDAL Streamed Algorithm driver,
and apply the specified pipeline in a on-the-fly / streamed way.
GDALG OUTPUT (ON-THE-FLY / STREAMED DATASET)
This program supports serializing the command line as a JSON file
using the GDALG output format. The resulting file can then be opened
as a vector dataset using the GDALG: GDAL Streamed Algorithm driver,
and apply the specified pipeline in a on-the-fly / streamed way.
Example 1: Basic use of make-valid
$ gdal vector make-valid in.gpkg out.gpkg --overwrite
Even Rouault <even.rouault@spatialys.com>
1998-2026
March 20, 2026 GDAL-VECTOR-MAKE-VALID(1)
NAME
gdal-vector-make-valid - Fix validity of geometries of a vector
dataset
Added in version 3.12.
SYNOPSIS
Usage: gdal vector make-valid [OPTIONS] <INPUT> <OUTPUT>
Fix validity of geometries of a vector dataset.
Positional arguments:
-i, --input <INPUT> Input vector datasets [required]
-o, --output <OUTPUT> Output vector dataset [required]
Common Options:
-h, --help Display help message and exit
--json-usage Display usage as JSON document and exit
--config <KEY>=<VALUE> Configuration option [may be repeated]
-q, --quiet Quiet mode (no progress bar)
Options:
-l, --layer, --input-layer <INPUT-LAYER> Input layer name(s) [may be repeated]
-f, --of, --format, --output-format <OUTPUT-FORMAT> Output format ("GDALG" allowed)
--co, --creation-option <KEY>=<VALUE> Creation option [may be repeated]
--lco, --layer-creation-option <KEY>=<VALUE> Layer creation option [may be repeated]
--overwrite Whether overwriting existing output is allowed
--update Whether to open existing dataset in update mode
--overwrite-layer Whether overwriting existing output is allowed
--append Whether appending to existing layer is allowed
Mutually exclusive with --upsert
--output-layer <OUTPUT-LAYER> Output layer name
--skip-errors Skip errors when writing features
--active-layer <ACTIVE-LAYER> Set active layer (if not specified, all)
--active-geometry <ACTIVE-GEOMETRY> Geometry field name to which to restrict the processing (if not specified, all)
--method <METHOD> Algorithm to use when repairing invalid geometries.. METHOD=linework|structure (default: linework)
--keep-lower-dim Keep components of lower dimension after MakeValid()
Advanced Options:
--if, --input-format <INPUT-FORMAT> Input formats [may be repeated]
--oo, --open-option <KEY>=<VALUE> Open options [may be repeated]
--output-oo, --output-open-option <KEY>=<VALUE> Output open options [may be repeated]
--upsert Upsert features (implies 'append')
Mutually exclusive with --append
DESCRIPTION
gdal vector make-valid ensures that geometries are valid regarding
the rules of the Simple Features specification.
It runs the OGRGeometry::MakeValid() operation, followed by
OGRGeometryFactory::removeLowerDimensionSubGeoms() (unless
--keep-lower-dim is set)
It can also be used as a step of gdal vector pipeline.
NOTE:
This command requires a GDAL build against the GEOS library.
Standard options
-f, --of, --format, --output-format <OUTPUT-FORMAT>
Which output vector format to use. Allowed values may be given
by gdal --formats | grep vector | grep rw | sort
--co, --creation-option <NAME>=<VALUE>
Many formats have one or more optional dataset creation
options that can be used to control particulars about the file
created. For instance, the GeoPackage driver supports creation
options to control the version.
May be repeated.
The dataset creation options available vary by format driver,
and some simple formats have no creation options at all. A
list of options supported for a format can be listed with the
--formats command line option but the documentation for the
format is the definitive source of information on driver
creation options. See Vector drivers format specific
documentation for legal creation options for each format.
Note that dataset creation options are different from layer
creation options.
-lco <NAME>=<VALUE>
Layer creation option (format specific)
--overwrite
Allow program to overwrite existing target file or dataset.
Otherwise, by default, gdal errors out if the target file or
dataset already exists.
--active-layer <ACTIVE-LAYER>
Set the active layer. When it is specified, only the layer
specified by its name will be subject to the processing. Other
layers will be not modified. If this option is not specified,
all layers will be subject to the processing.
--active-geometry <ACTIVE-GEOMETRY>
Set the active geometry field from its name. When it is
specified, only the specified geometry field will be subject
to the processing. Other geometry fields will be not modified.
If this option is not specified, all geometry fields will be
subject to the processing. This option can be combined
together with --active-layer.
--method=linework|structure
Algorithm to use when repairing invalid geometries.
The default linework method combines all rings into a set of
noded lines and then extracts valid polygons from that
linework. This method keeps all input vertices.
The structure method (only available with GEOS >= 3.10) first
makes all rings valid then merges shells and subtracts holes
from shells to generate valid result. It assumes that holes
and shells are correctly categorized.
--keep-lower-dim
Keep components of lower dimension after MakeValid(). For
example, MakeValid() may return a GeometryCollection of a
Polygon and a LineString from a Polygon input. By default
only the Polygon would be returned. Setting this option will
return the GeometryCollection.
Advanced options
--oo, --open-option <NAME>=<VALUE>
Dataset open option (format specific).
May be repeated.
--if, --input-format <format>
Format/driver name to be attempted to open the input file(s).
It is generally not necessary to specify it, but it can be
used to skip automatic driver detection, when it fails to
select the appropriate driver. This option can be repeated
several times to specify several candidate drivers. Note that
it does not force those drivers to open the dataset. In
particular, some drivers have requirements on file extensions.
May be repeated.
GDALG OUTPUT (ON-THE-FLY / STREAMED DATASET)
This program supports serializing the command line as a JSON file
using the GDALG output format. The resulting file can then be opened
as a vector dataset using the GDALG: GDAL Streamed Algorithm driver,
and apply the specified pipeline in a on-the-fly / streamed way.
GDALG OUTPUT (ON-THE-FLY / STREAMED DATASET)
This program supports serializing the command line as a JSON file
using the GDALG output format. The resulting file can then be opened
as a vector dataset using the GDALG: GDAL Streamed Algorithm driver,
and apply the specified pipeline in a on-the-fly / streamed way.
EXAMPLES
Example 1: Basic use of make-valid
$ gdal vector make-valid in.gpkg out.gpkg --overwrite
AUTHOR
Even Rouault <even.rouault@spatialys.com>
COPYRIGHT
1998-2026
March 20, 2026 GDAL-VECTOR-MAKE-VALID(1)