shapefile name lenght

1938
3
11-16-2012 03:08 PM
FranceLabrecque
New Contributor
Hello,
Is there a maximum length for the shapefile name? I read somewhere it is 10 characters.
Is it true?
Thanks
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3 Replies
curtvprice
MVP Esteemed Contributor
Is there a maximum length for the shapefile name? I read somewhere it is 10 characters.


Yes, for this and other details of shapefile limitations, see this article in the help:

Geoprocessing considerations for shapefile output
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Luke_Pinner
MVP Regular Contributor
Field names cannot be longer than 10 characters. No limitation for the file name that I'm aware of.
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curtvprice
MVP Esteemed Contributor
Field names cannot be longer than 10 characters. No limitation for the file name that I'm aware of.


Luke you're absolutely right. I posted a little quick there. The 10-char limitation is indeed on the field names. In general, you should always at least start with a letter and stick to alphanumeric characters plus "_" for folder paths and names in ArcGIS.
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