Processing the Geometry in a Shapefile¶

You can use the Reshape operation to modify the geometry column and then export the resulting scratch layer.

Related concepts

Constraint Query Language

Related reference

Transform operation

Converting Polygons to Points using Centroid¶

Select the contents of your shapefile
- Exapand the shapefile entry in the catalog view and select the contents
- Select the layer (if you happen to have the shape file on screen)
Run the Transform operations, this operation will show you a the current attributes being generated, along with their type and an expression used to calculate values.
Select the_geom in the Transform table
Define the expression used to generate your geometry value:

centroid(the_geom)
Press OK. A new scratch entry containing the result of the operation has been added to the scratch service in the Catalog view.
Right click on the above scratch entry in the catalog view and select Export to open the Export Wizard
Choose Resource to Shapefile and press Next>
Provide a destination directory for your new shapefile
Ensure that your scratch entry is checked off for export
Press Finish
The new shapefile is now available in the Catalog view

You can define additional columns using any CQL expression, please be advised that the shapefile format can only support one geometry column.

Select the contents of your shapefile
- Exapand the shapefile entry in the catalog view and select the contents
- Select the layer (if you happen to have the shape file on screen)
Run the Transform operations, this operation will show you a the current attributes being generated, along with their type and an expression used to calculate values.
Define the process desired for the the_geom expression:
```
buffer(the_geom,0.01)
```
Press OK. A new scratch entry containing the result of the operation has been added to the scratch service in the Catalog view.
Right click on the above scratch entry in the catalog view and select Export to open the Export Wizard
Choose Resource to Shapefile and press Next>
Provide a destination directory for your new shapefile
Ensure that your scratch entry is checked off for export
Press Finish
The new shapefile is now available in the Catalog view

You can define additional columns using any CQL expression, please be advised that the shapefile format can only support one geometry column.