If you have tried to import a shapefile but have received an error message, there may be several reasons why your shapefile could not be imported. Below are some of the most common.
Wrong file format
Please check that you are uploading:
- A zip file
- The zip file includes
- The mandatory .shp, .shx and .dbf files
- If the shapefile was originally created with more than required 3 files, you will need to include all of these in the zip file
If the above requirements are not met, the tool will not begin the import process. You will need to ensure the above has been met and then re-import your shapefile.
Wrong area type
An area may not import if the area's polygon has holes/cutout areas, an area contains multiple polygons, or the shapefile has more than 1 layer.
See the section 'Preparing the shapefile' in our Import your shapefile article.
Duplicate Areas:
- Do you already have a custom area with the same name as the name of an area you're trying to import in the shapefile?
- If this is the case, the tool will not import those areas but will carry on importing others that aren't duplicates.
- You will need to edit your shapefile to change the area name for that entry, resave the shapefile and re-import.
Wrong data formatting or missing data for an entry:
It's possible there may be blank or ill-formatted data for an area entry. If this is detected, the tool will not import this area and move on to the next area.
You will need edit your shapefile to ensure all blanks are filled in and check for any ill-formatted data before attempting to re-import your shapefile (any duplicate areas will not be processed - see above for more details).
Could not find the field '[namefield]' in the shapefile
Please note: This name field is case sensitive, so please double check before uploading
If the term you entered in the name field doesn't match the term used in the shapefile that identifies the name-field for each area (column header title), then the tool will not import any areas.
In the .dbf (data base file) there is a column which will have the area name for each row (area entry). We need to know the name of the heading for this column (usually 'Name' or 'name').
You should enter the text you have used in the column header to identify it as the 'area name' field (so, usually 'Name' or 'name'). If this column header doesn't match the text you entered in the name field, then your shapefile will fail to import any areas.
Top tip: If you are unsure of your name field, open the .dbf file in excel, and look for the column containing your area names. The header text of this column is what you need to enter into the name field.
The following shows the .dbf file and name field column when opened in excel. In this example, when filling out the name field you will need to enter 'NAME'.
Once you have changed your name field entry to match your column header text, please re-import your shapefile.
Specific error messages and required action
You must complete the name field:
- Please enter a value in the name field
You must send a zip file:
- See 'Wrong file format' above
Files needed:
- See 'Wrong file format' above
No areas found in shapefile:
- See 'Wrong data formatting / Missing data for an entry' above
Could not import area '[name of area]' - multi-polygon features cannot be imported:
- See 'Preparing the shapefile' in our Import your shapefile article
Skipped area: [namefield] because it has a cutout:
- See 'Preparing the shapefile' in our Import your shapefile article
Could not import area '[namefield]' - no polygon features found:
- See 'Wrong data formatting / Missing data for an entry' above
- See 'Preparing the shapefile' in our Import your shapefile article
No areas/features found in shapefile:
- See 'Preparing the shapefile' in our Import your shapefile article.
- See 'Wrong data formatting / Missing data for an entry' above
No areas/features/layers found in shapefile:
- See 'Preparing the shapefile' in our Import your shapefile article.
- See 'Wrong data formatting / Missing data for an entry' above
Coordinate reference system is missing from shapefile:
- We only support shapefiles created using the Coordinate Reference System. Please change your shapefile in order to use this
Requested shapefile was not in a valid format:
- See 'Wrong file format' above
- See 'Preparing the shapefile' in our Import your shapefile article.
The zip file did not contain a .shp file:
- See 'Wrong file format' above
Missing form Data:
- Make sure you've supplied a name field and file when you Import your shapefile
If you are still having trouble, please get in touch at support@ocsi.co.uk