[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"howto:shx:mac:en":3},{"resolvedFromAlias":4,"canonicalExt":5,"ext":5,"name":6,"category":7,"categoryName":8,"updatedAt":9,"os":10,"osLabel":11,"quickSolution":12,"stepByStep":13,"recommendedSoftware":16,"alternativeMethods":17,"commonIssues":18,"securityNote":37,"extensionPath":38,"extensionLabel":39,"breadcrumbs":40,"metaDescription":50},false,"shx","Esri Shapefile Index (SHX)","gis","GIS","2026-06-12T08:56:46.999Z","mac","Mac","To open .SHX files on Mac, check that the matching .shp and .dbf exist next to the .shx with the same base name.",[14,15],"Check that the matching .shp and .dbf exist next to the .shx with the same base name.","Open the .shp in a shapefile-capable GIS tool (for example QGIS, or GDAL/OGR tools).",[],[],[19,25,31],{"title":20,"description":21,"steps":22},"Only opening the .shx shows nothing (or errors)","The .shx is an index, not a standalone dataset; most software expects you to open the shapefile layer via the .shp and will read the .shx automatically.",[23,24],"Make sure the matching .shp and .dbf exist in the same folder and share the same base name.","Open/load the .shp (not the .shx) in your GIS software.",{"title":26,"description":27,"steps":28},"Shapefile won’t load because the set is incomplete","Shapefiles are multi-file datasets and commonly require the core components .shp, .shx, and .dbf; missing one can prevent loading or uploading/downloading in GIS systems.",[29,30],"Re-download or re-export the data ensuring the .shp, .shx, and .dbf are included together.","Keep all three files in the same directory with identical base names (e.g., roads.shp/roads.shx/roads.dbf).",{"title":32,"description":33,"steps":34},".shx appears to be a CAD SHX (AutoCAD shapes/fonts), not GIS",".shx is also used by AutoCAD for compiled shapes/fonts (compiled from SHP shape definition files). A CAD SHX won’t behave like a shapefile index and won’t load as GIS data.",[35,36],"Look for context: if there is no matching .shp/.dbf, or the file came with AutoCAD fonts/shapes, treat it as an AutoCAD SHX file.","Open/use it within the relevant CAD workflow instead of a GIS shapefile reader.","A .shx is typically parsed by GIS/CAD software as structured binary data; avoid opening shapefile components from untrusted sources in sensitive environments because bugs in file parsers can be exploited even when files are “just data”.","/file-extension/shx",".SHX",[41,44,47],{"label":42,"to":43},"Home","/",{"label":45,"to":46},"How To","/file-extension",{"label":48,"to":49},"Open .SHX on Mac","/how-to/open-shx-on-mac","Learn how to open .SHX files on Mac with step-by-step instructions, recommended software, and troubleshooting tips."]