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GDAL-VECTOR-INDEX(1) GDAL GDAL-VECTOR-INDEX(1)

NAME

gdal-vector-index - Create a vector index of vector datasets

Added in version 3.12.

SYNOPSIS

Usage: gdal vector index [OPTIONS] <INPUT>... <OUTPUT>
Create a vector index of vector datasets.
Positional arguments:


  -i, --input <INPUT>                                  Input vector datasets (created by algorithm) [may be repeated] [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:


  -f, --of, --format, --output-format <OUTPUT-FORMAT>  Output format


  --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


                                                       Mutually exclusive with --update


  --update                                             Whether to open existing dataset in update mode


                                                       Mutually exclusive with --overwrite


  --overwrite-layer                                    Whether overwriting existing output is allowed


  --append                                             Whether appending to existing layer is allowed


  --nln, --output-layer <OUTPUT-LAYER>                 Output layer name


  --recursive                                          Whether input directories should be explored recursively.


  --filename-filter <FILENAME-FILTER>                  Pattern that the filenames in input directories should follow ('*' and '?' wildcard) [may be repeated]


  --location-name <LOCATION-NAME>                      Name of the field with the vector path (default: location)


  --absolute-path                                      Whether the path to the input datasets should be stored as an absolute path


  --dst-crs <DST-CRS>                                  Destination CRS


  --metadata <KEY>=<VALUE>                             Add dataset metadata item [may be repeated]


  --source-crs-field-name <SOURCE-CRS-FIELD-NAME>      Name of the field to store the CRS of each dataset


  --source-crs-format <SOURCE-CRS-FORMAT>              Format in which the CRS of each dataset must be written. SOURCE-CRS-FORMAT=auto|WKT|EPSG|PROJ (default: auto)


  --source-layer-name <SOURCE-LAYER-NAME>              Add layer of specified name from each source file in the tile index [may be repeated]


  --source-layer-index <SOURCE-LAYER-INDEX>            Add layer of specified index (0-based) from each source file in the tile index [may be repeated]


  --accept-different-crs                               Whether layers with different CRS are accepted


  --accept-different-schemas                           Whether layers with different schemas are accepted


  --dataset-name-only                                  Whether to write the dataset name only, instead of suffixed with the layer index


DESCRIPTION

gdal vector index creates a vector dataset with a record for each input vector file, an attribute containing the filename (suffixed with comma and the index of the layer within the dataset) and a polygon geometry outlining the (rectangular) extent. This output is suitable for use with MapServer as a vector tileindex

The following options are available:

Standard options

Which output vector format to use. Allowed values may be given by gdal --formats | grep vector | grep rw | sort

Many formats have one or more optional creation options that can be used to control particulars about the file created. For instance, the GeoTIFF driver supports creation options to control compression, and whether the file should be tiled.

May be repeated.

The 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 Raster drivers format specific documentation for legal creation options for each format.


Layer creation option (format specific)

Allow program to overwrite existing target file or dataset. Otherwise, by default, gdal errors out if the target file or dataset already exists.

Whether the output dataset must be opened in update mode. Implies that it already exists.

--overwrite-layer
Whether overwriting the existing output vector layer is allowed.

Whether appending features to the existing output vector layer is allowed.

Provides a name for the output vector layer.

Whether input directories should be explored recursively.

Pattern that the filenames contained in input directories should follow. '*' is a wildcard character that matches any number of any characters including none. '?' is a wildcard character that matches a single character. Comparisons are done in a case insensitive way. Several filters may be specified.

For example: --filename-filter "*.shp,*.gpkg"


The output field name to hold the file path/location to the indexed vectors. The default field name is location.

The absolute path to the vector files is stored in the index file. By default the vector filenames will be put in the file exactly as they are specified on the command line.

Envelopes of the input files will be transformed to the desired target coordinate reference system. Default creates simple rectangular polygons in the same coordinate reference system as the input vectors.

The name of the field to store the CRS of each tile. This field name can be used as the value of the TILESRS keyword in MapServer

The format in which the CRS of each tile must be written. Types can be auto, WKT, EPSG, PROJ. This option should be used together with --source-crs-field-name.

Add layer of specified name from each source file in the tile index [may be repeated] If none of

Add layer of specified index (0-based) from each source file in the tile index [may be repeated]

Write an arbitrary layer metadata item, for formats that support layer metadata. This option may be repeated.

Whether layers with different CRS are accepted. By default, unless --dst-crs is specified, layers that do not have the same CRS as the first index layer will be skipped. Setting --accept-different-crs may be useful to avoid the CRS consistency check.

Whether layers with different schemas are accepted. By default, layers that do not have the same schemas as the first index layer will be skipped.

Whether to write the dataset name only, instead of suffixed with the layer index.

WARNING:

Setting this option will generate a location not compatible of MapServer.



Advanced options

Dataset open option (format specific).

May be repeated.


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.


EXAMPLES

Example 1

Produce a GeoPackage with a record for every layer that the utility found in the countries folder. Each record holds information that points to the location of the image and also a bounding rectangle shape showing the bounds of the image:

gdal vector index countries/*.shp index.gpkg


Example 2

The --dst-crs option can also be used to transform all input vector envelopes into the same output projection:

gdal vector index --dst-crs EPSG:4326 --source-crs-field-name=src_srs countries/*.shp index.gpkg


AUTHOR

Even Rouault <even.rouault@spatialys.com>

COPYRIGHT

1998-2025

November 7, 2025