Creation of projection metadata file (*.prj) for shapefiles

Dear All,

The in-built shapewrite function creates three output files: [basename '.shp'], [basename '.shx'], and [basename '.dbf']. There is no option to export the projection metadata (.prj) file, whose absence causes a crucial problem while using the shapefile in the GIS software environment. Is there any workaround to create a projection metadata (.prj) file in MATLAB?

Cheers,

Mel

[PADMAKAR]

Facing the same issue. I dont seen any workaround..

[Melanie VT]

I could also find nothing in other forums @PADMAKAR. I thought it might be added in the R2023a, but unfortunately, it didn't. Fingers crossed for future versions😊

Answer 1

[Kojiro Saito]

As of R2023a, shapewrite does not create .prj file, so you need to create it with wktstring and writematrix.

Here is a sample.

shp = shaperead('boston_placenames.shp');
shpInf = shapeinfo('boston_placenames.shp');

% Create .shp, .shx and .dbf files
shapewrite(shp, 'out.shp') 

% Create Well-known text string
wkt = wktstring(shpInf.CoordinateReferenceSystem);

% Create .prj file
writematrix(wkt,'out.prj','FileType','text', 'QuoteStrings', false)

Now R2023b Prerelease is open and shapewrite will support creating .prj file.

[Prerelease Documentation] Mapping Toolbox Release Notes

[Melanie VT]

Thank you so much🙏🏽