Open ArcMap and ArcGIS Pro maps in QGIS
ArcMap is retired, and a folder of .mxd documents is often all that is left of years of map
work: no licence, no ArcGIS, and no way to see which data each map used. This converter reads the
documents directly and rebuilds them for QGIS: the layers in their groups, the symbols and labels,
scale ranges and queries, and the page layout. It also lists every data source, so you can see
where each layer's data was and whether it came with the upload.
What to upload
| File | What it is | What is read |
|---|---|---|
.mxd, .mxt | ArcMap map documents and templates, ArcGIS 8 to 10.8 | every data frame, its layers and tables, the page layout, the document properties |
.pmf | ArcReader published maps | the data frames and the layout |
.lyr | ArcMap layer files | the layers with their data source, symbols and labels |
.style | ArcMap style libraries | fill, line, marker and text symbols, colours and colour ramps |
.aprx | ArcGIS Pro projects | every map and layout in the project |
.lyrx, .mapx, .pagx | ArcGIS Pro layer, map and layout files | the layers, maps and layouts they hold |
.zip | a project folder | all of the above inside it, plus the data next to them |
Upload several files at once, or a ZIP of the whole project folder. With the data in the ZIP (shapefiles, file geodatabases, rasters), the layers are matched to it and you get the folder back with the QGIS projects next to the documents, ready to open.
What you get
- A QGIS project (
.qgz, and.qgsas plain XML) for every document: the layer tree with groups, visibility and scale ranges, transparency, definition queries, field aliases and hidden fields, the symbology, the labels, bookmarks and the coordinate system. Each data frame keeps its own map theme, text and graphics drawn in a data frame become an annotation layer, and the page layout becomes a QGIS print layout (with data driven pages as an atlas). - Layer styles: a QML file for QGIS and an SLD file (for GeoServer, MapServer or QGIS) for every layer, in one ZIP.
- A data source report in Excel and CSV: every layer of every document with its source type, workspace, dataset, stored path, whether the path is relative or absolute, the server and database for enterprise geodatabases, definition queries, joins and relates, and whether the data was found in the upload.
- A QGIS style library (XML) for every
.stylefile, with its symbols, text formats, colours and colour ramps tagged by category, to import in the QGIS Style Manager. - An overview page with the layer tree, small pictures of every symbol and class, the labels and the layout, and a legend as PNG and SVG.
Symbols and labels
Simple, unique values (also on several fields), class breaks, proportional symbol, dot density, chart and scale-dependent renderers are converted, and so are raster stretch, RGB, classified, unique values and colour map renderers. Fill, line and marker symbols with all their layers come across: hatches, marker fills, gradients, picture fills and markers (including EMF pictures), cartographic lines with dashes and decorations, marker lines and hash lines. Markers from the Esri marker fonts become plain QGIS markers where the glyph is a simple shape, so they show without the font. Label classes keep their expression, SQL query, font, size, colour, halo, placement and scale range; VBScript, JScript, Python and Arcade expressions are translated where they are simple field combinations.
Data paths
Paths to the data are kept as the document stored them. Relative paths stay relative to the project, so the project works where the data sits in the same place. Absolute paths that point inside the document's own folder are made relative. If the data has moved, fill in the old and the new folder under "More options" and the paths are rewritten. Layers from enterprise geodatabases keep their server, database and dataset names, never passwords; QGIS asks for the login when it connects.
What is approximated or left out
QGIS has no equivalent for some ArcGIS features, and the conversion notes say where they occur: cartographic representations and dictionary renderers get a plain symbol, raster functions and mosaic datasets are listed with their sources, rectangular gradients follow the shape outline, and text set along curves in the layout runs straight. Annotation feature classes keep their data but not the stored text graphics. Glyphs of Esri marker fonts without a simple shape need the font installed where you open the project.
Privacy
The files are used only to produce your downloads and are not shared with anyone. Results are deleted after 30 minutes, or straight away with "Delete now".