GDAL-VECTOR-SET-GEOM-TYPE(1) GDAL GDAL-VECTOR-SET-GEOM-TYPE(1)
gdal-vector-set-geom-type - Modify the geometry type of a vector
dataset
Added in version 3.12.
Usage: gdal vector set-geom-type [OPTIONS] <INPUT> <OUTPUT>
Modify the geometry type 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)
--layer-only Only modify the layer geometry type
Mutually exclusive with --feature-only
--feature-only Only modify the geometry type of features
Mutually exclusive with --layer-only
--geometry-type <GEOMETRY-TYPE> Geometry type
--multi Force geometries to MULTI geometry types
Mutually exclusive with --single
--single Force geometries to non-MULTI geometry types
Mutually exclusive with --multi
--linear Convert curve geometries to linear types
Mutually exclusive with --curve
--curve Convert linear geometries to curve types
Mutually exclusive with --linear
--dim <DIM> Force geometries to the specified dimension. DIM=XY|XYZ|XYM|XYZM
--skip Skip feature when change of feature geometry type failed
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 set-geom-type can be used to modify the geometry type of
geometry fields at the layer and/or feature level.
It can also be used as a step of gdal vector pipeline.
The following groups of options can be combined together: - --multi
/ --single - --linear / --curve - --dim
-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.
--layer-only
Only modify the layer geometry type. A typical use case is if
the layer geometry type is set to unknown and the user knows
that the layer only contains geometry of a given type.
--feature-only
Only modify the geometry type of features.
--geometry-type <GEOMETRY-TYPE>
Change the geometry type to be one of GEOMETRY, POINT,
LINESTRING, POLYGON, MULTIPOINT, MULTILINESTRING,
MULTIPOLYGON, GEOMETRYCOLLECTION, CURVE, CIRCULARSTRING,
COMPOUNDCURVE, SURFACE, CURVEPOLYGON, MULTICURVE,
MULTISURFACE, POLYHEDRALSURFACE or TIN. Z, M or ZM suffixes
can be appended to the above values to indicate the
dimensionality.
This option is mutually exclusive with --multi, --single,
--linear, --curve, and --dim.
--multi
Force geometries to MULTI geometry types. e.g. POINT ==>
MULTIPOINT. This option is mutually exclusive with --single.
--single
Force geometries to non-MULTI geometry types. e.g. MULTIPOINT
==> POINT. This option is mutually exclusive with --multi.
MultiPoint or MultiLinestring with more than one component
will be kept unmodified. MultiPolygon with more than one
component will be merged into a (likely invalid according to
OGC Simple Features rule) single polygon, merging all their
rings.
--linear
Force geometries to linear/non-curve geometry types,
approximating arcs with linear segments. The linear
approximation can be controlled with configuration options
OGR_ARC_STEPSIZE and OGR_ARC_MAX_GAP (specified using
--config). e.g. COMPOUNDCURVE ==> LINESTRING. This option is
mutually exclusive with --curve.
--curve
Force geometries to curve geometry types. e.g. LINESTRING ==>
COMPOUNDCURVE or POLYGON ==> CURVEPOLYGON. Points are kept
unmodified. This option is mutually exclusive with --linear.
--dim Force geometries to the specified dimension (XY, XYZ, XYM, or
XYZM). If the input geometry lacks Z or M components, they
will be set to 0. This option is mutually exclusive with
--geometry-type.
--skip Skip feature when change of feature geometry type failed (e.g.
attempting to force a Point geometry type for a LineString
geometry). Otherwise the source geometry will be kept
unmodified (which may make it incompatible with the output
layer if it does not support mix of geometry types). This
option applies both when the target geometry type is defined
with --geometry-type, or with any of --multi, --single,
--linear, and --curve.
--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.
Example 1: Convert a shapefile mixing polygons and multipolygons to a
GeoPackage with multipolygons.
$ gdal vector set-geom-type --geometry-type=MULTIPOLYGON in.shp out.gpkg --overwrite
Example 2: Convert a GeoPackage with curve geometries to a Shapefile
(that does not support them).
$ gdal vector set-geom-type --linear in.gpkg out.shp --overwrite
Even Rouault <even.rouault@spatialys.com>
1998-2026
March 20, 2026 GDAL-VECTOR-SET-GEOM-TYPE(1)
NAME
gdal-vector-set-geom-type - Modify the geometry type of a vector
dataset
Added in version 3.12.
SYNOPSIS
Usage: gdal vector set-geom-type [OPTIONS] <INPUT> <OUTPUT>
Modify the geometry type 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)
--layer-only Only modify the layer geometry type
Mutually exclusive with --feature-only
--feature-only Only modify the geometry type of features
Mutually exclusive with --layer-only
--geometry-type <GEOMETRY-TYPE> Geometry type
--multi Force geometries to MULTI geometry types
Mutually exclusive with --single
--single Force geometries to non-MULTI geometry types
Mutually exclusive with --multi
--linear Convert curve geometries to linear types
Mutually exclusive with --curve
--curve Convert linear geometries to curve types
Mutually exclusive with --linear
--dim <DIM> Force geometries to the specified dimension. DIM=XY|XYZ|XYM|XYZM
--skip Skip feature when change of feature geometry type failed
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 set-geom-type can be used to modify the geometry type of
geometry fields at the layer and/or feature level.
It can also be used as a step of gdal vector pipeline.
The following groups of options can be combined together: - --multi
/ --single - --linear / --curve - --dim
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.
--layer-only
Only modify the layer geometry type. A typical use case is if
the layer geometry type is set to unknown and the user knows
that the layer only contains geometry of a given type.
--feature-only
Only modify the geometry type of features.
--geometry-type <GEOMETRY-TYPE>
Change the geometry type to be one of GEOMETRY, POINT,
LINESTRING, POLYGON, MULTIPOINT, MULTILINESTRING,
MULTIPOLYGON, GEOMETRYCOLLECTION, CURVE, CIRCULARSTRING,
COMPOUNDCURVE, SURFACE, CURVEPOLYGON, MULTICURVE,
MULTISURFACE, POLYHEDRALSURFACE or TIN. Z, M or ZM suffixes
can be appended to the above values to indicate the
dimensionality.
This option is mutually exclusive with --multi, --single,
--linear, --curve, and --dim.
--multi
Force geometries to MULTI geometry types. e.g. POINT ==>
MULTIPOINT. This option is mutually exclusive with --single.
--single
Force geometries to non-MULTI geometry types. e.g. MULTIPOINT
==> POINT. This option is mutually exclusive with --multi.
MultiPoint or MultiLinestring with more than one component
will be kept unmodified. MultiPolygon with more than one
component will be merged into a (likely invalid according to
OGC Simple Features rule) single polygon, merging all their
rings.
--linear
Force geometries to linear/non-curve geometry types,
approximating arcs with linear segments. The linear
approximation can be controlled with configuration options
OGR_ARC_STEPSIZE and OGR_ARC_MAX_GAP (specified using
--config). e.g. COMPOUNDCURVE ==> LINESTRING. This option is
mutually exclusive with --curve.
--curve
Force geometries to curve geometry types. e.g. LINESTRING ==>
COMPOUNDCURVE or POLYGON ==> CURVEPOLYGON. Points are kept
unmodified. This option is mutually exclusive with --linear.
--dim Force geometries to the specified dimension (XY, XYZ, XYM, or
XYZM). If the input geometry lacks Z or M components, they
will be set to 0. This option is mutually exclusive with
--geometry-type.
--skip Skip feature when change of feature geometry type failed (e.g.
attempting to force a Point geometry type for a LineString
geometry). Otherwise the source geometry will be kept
unmodified (which may make it incompatible with the output
layer if it does not support mix of geometry types). This
option applies both when the target geometry type is defined
with --geometry-type, or with any of --multi, --single,
--linear, and --curve.
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.
EXAMPLES
Example 1: Convert a shapefile mixing polygons and multipolygons to a
GeoPackage with multipolygons.
$ gdal vector set-geom-type --geometry-type=MULTIPOLYGON in.shp out.gpkg --overwrite
Example 2: Convert a GeoPackage with curve geometries to a Shapefile
(that does not support them).
$ gdal vector set-geom-type --linear in.gpkg out.shp --overwrite
AUTHOR
Even Rouault <even.rouault@spatialys.com>
COPYRIGHT
1998-2026
March 20, 2026 GDAL-VECTOR-SET-GEOM-TYPE(1)