GeoUnpackA file geodatabase is a folder, not a single file. Compress the whole .gdb folder to a .zip, drop it below, and export any feature class to Shapefile.
How to zip a file geodatabase correctly
A file geodatabase looks like a folder named something.gdb full of files such as a00000001.gdbtable. Zip the folder itself, not the files inside it: on Windows right-click the .gdb folder and choose Send to › Compressed (zipped) folder; on a Mac right-click and choose Compress. A .zip you downloaded from an open-data portal is usually already in the right shape and can be dropped in as it is.
What converts and what doesn't
- Feature classes, including those inside feature datasets, are listed as layers.
- Standalone tables are listed and export as CSV.
- Domains and subtypes are not applied: you get the stored codes, not the descriptions.
- Topologies, network datasets, relationship classes and raster datasets are skipped.
- Personal geodatabases (
.mdb) and enterprise geodatabase connections (.sde) are different formats and are not supported.
Shapefile limits to keep in mind
Geodatabase field names can be 64 characters; Shapefile allows 10, so long names are shortened. Shapefiles also top out at 2 GB per file and drop the time part of date fields. For anything large or with long field names, GeoPackage is the better target.
How to use it
- Right-click the .gdb folder and compress it to a .zip file.
- Drop the .zip into the box.
- Select feature classes and export as 'SHP (Shapefile)'.
Supported formats
| Input | What it is |
|---|---|
.lpk / .lpkx | ArcGIS layer package (ArcMap / ArcGIS Pro) |
.mpk / .mpkx | ArcGIS map package (ArcMap / ArcGIS Pro) |
.gdb (zipped) | File geodatabase folder, compressed to .zip |
Output: Shapefile, GeoPackage, GeoJSON, KML, CSV. Vector layers and tables only; raster and tile packages are not supported yet.
FAQ
Why do I need to zip the .gdb folder?
Browsers can only receive single files. Zipping the folder keeps all of its internal files together.
Are feature datasets supported?
Yes, feature classes inside feature datasets are listed like any other layer.