topic Re: Failed to Import Shapefile, Invalid Shapefile in ArcGIS Explorer Online Questions

Failed to Import Shapefile, Invalid Shapefile

JosephRenzetti — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 19:45:29 GMT

When I export out a shapefile or create a new one, all of a sudden ArcGIS Explorer online is not able to import a shapefile. I keep getting an error box with the message, "Failed to Import Shapefile - Invalid Shapefile." I wish it would let me know why it was invalid. Anyone know of a solution to this? I had it working a few days ago.
Thanks.

Re: Failed to Import Shapefile, Invalid Shapefile

ShellyGill2 — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 07:23:05 GMT

I keep getting an error box with the message, "Failed to Import Shapefile - Invalid Shapefile."

Hi - there's a few things that can prevent an import working - you must have all of the required files in the zipfile you import for example. There's a few tips at the bottom of the Import Shapefile help topic:
http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcgisexplorer/help/#/Import_a_shapefile/01560000005p000000/
I think the simplest way to figure this out would be if you can post your shapefile on the forum we can test it out.

Re: Failed to Import Shapefile, Invalid Shapefile

GISUser1 — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:43:34 GMT

Shelly,

I am having the same problem in that I get 'Invalid Shapefile' when trying to upload to Explorer Online. This is my first time using Explorer Online. I can open the shapefile in ArcMap so I know it is not corrupt. It was created as an export from a pgdb feature class. I have attached it as a zip file. If you could take a look at it, I'd appreciate it.

Re: Failed to Import Shapefile, Invalid Shapefile

ShellyGill2 — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 15:15:14 GMT

Hi Nemorosus - I think the problem with your zipfile is that it contains a directory that then contains the files (e.g. see the Path column if you're using WinZip). http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcgisexplorer/help/#/Import_a_shapefile/01560000005p000000/
I just unzipped the files, and re-zipped them up directly, not inside a directory, and the upload worked fine for me.

Re: Failed to Import Shapefile, Invalid Shapefile

GISUser1 — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 16:43:16 GMT

Thanks so much, Shelly. I misunderstood the zip note - I thought it had to be in a folder. I really appreciate your help on this.

Re: Failed to Import Shapefile, Invalid Shapefile

ShellyGill2 — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 07:52:32 GMT

I misunderstood the zip note - I thought it had to be in a folder

No problem. I'll see if I can make that note about directories in zipfiles clearer in the help files.

Re: Failed to Import Shapefile, Invalid Shapefile

ToddGys — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 16:19:06 GMT

I'm currently dealing with a similar issue with a point shapefile (1 point) where ArcExplorer seems to be trying to import it as a polygon. I keep getting an error saying that a polygon must have a certain number of rings or vertices to display. The error # is 24305.

Anyone encountered this? Other shapefiles have imported fine.

Re: Failed to Import Shapefile, Invalid Shapefile

ShellyGill2 — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 07:43:58 GMT

I'm currently dealing with a similar issue with a point shapefile (1 point) where ArcExplorer seems to be trying to import it as a polygon. I keep getting an error saying that a polygon must have a certain number of rings or vertices to display. The error # is 24305.

Anyone encountered this? Other shapefiles have imported fine.

I'm afraid we've seen this error message returned when the actual reason for the failure is something else. Would you be able to post the problematic shapefile up on the forum (or email directly if you prefer - I'm sgill at esri.com) so we can check out the problem?

Thanks,

Re: Failed to Import Shapefile, Invalid Shapefile

JosephRenzetti — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 14:17:25 GMT

Hi - there's a few things that can prevent an import working - you must have all of the required files in the zipfile you import for example. There's a few tips at the bottom of the Import Shapefile help topic:
http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcgisexplorer/help/#/Import_a_shapefile/01560000005p000000/
I think the simplest way to figure this out would be if you can post your shapefile on the forum we can test it out.

Thank you! Yes, my issue was I had the shapefile and the zipped file named differently. Since the Explorer Online will only recognize the name of the shapefile exactly, you must name the shapefile the way you want it to appear in Explorer Online.

Re: Failed to Import Shapefile, Invalid Shapefile

JeffJensen1 — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 11:00:31 GMT

Hello Shelly,

I'm getting an error when attempting to import a shapefile that has more than 1000 points. Do you know if this is documented? For example, what are the limitations on line and polygon features as well?

Thanks,

Jeff Jensen

Re: Failed to Import Shapefile, Invalid Shapefile

MikeRudden — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:33:43 GMT

Hi,

Yes it's documented here under 'Tips on importing CSV data':
http://helpdev.arcgis.com/en/arcgisexplorer/help/#/Import_CSV_data/01560000004t000000/

There is a 1000 feature limit for importing points, lines or polygons.

Mike

Re: Failed to Import Shapefile, Invalid Shapefile

ShellyGill2 — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 07:54:59 GMT

I'm getting an error when attempting to import a shapefile that has more than 1000 points. Do you know if this is documented? For example, what are the limitations on line and polygon features as well?

There's a number of additions to the doc to help clarify some limits on uploads that will be available very soon (should be next couple of days), apologies this is not currently online. As the message you saw indicates, there is a feature limit on any type of upload (so that includes CSV) of 1000 features, and when geocoding address-based CSV data, there is a lower limit of 250 features. There is also a size limit on uploads of 10MB.

Re: Failed to Import Shapefile, Invalid Shapefile

SusanRadke — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 23:53:52 GMT

I'm afraid we've seen this error message returned when the actual reason for the failure is something else. Would you be able to post the problematic shapefile up on the forum (or email directly if you prefer - I'm sgill at esri.com) so we can check out the problem?

Thanks,

Shelly...can you also check my shapefile? I'm having the same problem uploading a zipped polygon shapefile to the ArcGIS Explorer site. I'm getting the same error #24305 "...the ring does not have enough distinct points." I've uploaded a bunch already, but this one won't work. Thanks!
slr

Re: Failed to Import Shapefile, Invalid Shapefile

ShellyGill2 — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 09:38:48 GMT

I'm having the same problem uploading a zipped polygon shapefile to the ArcGIS Explorer site. I'm getting the same error #24305 "...the ring does not have enough distinct points."

Hi Susan - thanks for posting the shapefile, I get the error too. I'm not actually sure what's causing the error in this case, I have forwarded this to the team and will post back when I know about a fix.

The other failures in this thread are being looked at, although I dont have any news at this point, I will update when I get any information.

Failed to Import Shapefile, Invalid Shapefile Please test mine :)

Margaret_ShawChernosky — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 18:39:44 GMT

Dear Shelly, I have followed the directions to import shapefile; only to get an error.
Could you check to see if this shapefile will work?

Re: Failed to Import Shapefile, Invalid Shapefile

Margaret_ShawChernosky — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 21:52:52 GMT

Dear Shelly,
Update.... I defined a projection for the Atlanta shapefiles, then reprojected them to WGS 1984; but I still get a error. Please advise.
Margaret

Re: Failed to Import Shapefile, Invalid Shapefile

ShellyGill2 — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 08:34:29 GMT

Hi Margaret - your zipfile has three shapefiles in it - you should only have one shapefile in an upload. I will update the tips in the helpfile to make this clearer.
When I separated your data into 3 zipfiles and gave each a prj (I guessed at NAD 83 projection), the import of ATHIGH and ATTRACT shapefiles all worked fine for me, but Streets has greater than the 1000 feature limit (you should get a message indicating this), so would need to be split into separate uploads.

then reprojected them to WGS 1984; but I still get a error.

To be clear, as long as the data has that prj so the coordinate system is known, the data will be reprojected when it's imported to the map, to match the coordinate system of the map, so doesnt have to be reprojected beforehand.

Re: Failed to Import Shapefile, Invalid Shapefile

Margaret_ShawChernosky — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 18:36:06 GMT

Dear Shelly,
I tried to "define projection" of each of the files and got errors in the redefining. I tried to use Geographic>North America >NAD1983 and Projected> UTM> Nad 1983 Zone 16 North.
Please advise, I am going crazy 🙂 with this.
Margaret

Re: Failed to Import Shapefile, Invalid Shapefile

ShellyGill2 — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 07:54:34 GMT

Hi Margaret - I've attached here the zipfiles that I uploaded - I had used ArcMap Catalog window to assign the geographic coordinate system NAD 1983. Here's a map with the Athigh and Attract zipfiles uploaded - the streets upload will fail unless you split the data into files with less than 1000 features.

Re: Failed to Import Shapefile, Invalid Shapefile

Margaret_ShawChernosky — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 13:36:27 GMT

Dear Shelly,
I used your shapefiles for athigh and attracks and they worked perfectly!! Thank you.

In the ArcExplorer Online HELP pages, could you write up a "step by step" on how to prepare a shapefile. I was using Arctool box to assign a projection rather than ArcCatalog. Also, what is your best guess for a projection when you don't know it's source? The Atlanta data was from a ESRI Quick Start data set from ArcView 3.

Also, thank you for "being there" for me. This software is so new; there is no one close by to ask for help.
Margaret