SPM Desktop > Features > Layer Management > Disconnect layers from external sources

Disconnect layers from external sources

Convert external layers to internal layers by disconnecting them from their data source. Disconnecting all the layers allows the saving of self-contained maps

Editions: Basic Standard Professional

Disconnect layers from external sources

Convert external layers into internal ones by disconnecting them from their original data sources.

This process creates fully self-contained maps, ensuring all layer data is embedded within the drawing for easier sharing and portability.

Resources and Information
links
Layer management- User manual
Related features
Make new layers from selections or queries<span style='font-size: 1rem;'> - <a href='../make-new-layers-from-selections-or-queries/' class='app_color_link'>More info ></a></span>

Make new layers from selections or queries

New layers in a map to export, emphasize, etc. features of a map. The new layers can be saved inside the maps or exported to external sources and can include features coming from multiple existing layers. Convert read-only layers to editable layers

Project layers in maps<span style='font-size: 1rem;'> - <a href='../project-layers-in-maps/' class='app_color_link'>More info ></a></span>

Project layers in maps

Projecting on the fly the features in the layers according their CRSs and the CRS of the map. If any of these parameters are modified, the map is updated and the new projection can be seen automatically in the workspace

Separate layers into new layers<span style='font-size: 1rem;'> - <a href='../separate-layers-into-new-layers/' class='app_color_link'>More info ></a></span>

Separate layers into new layers

Create new layers based on another layer according to the values of a field in the original layer, for thematic or data discrimination

External and internal layers<span style='font-size: 1rem;'> - <a href='../external-and-internal-layers/' class='app_color_link'>More info ></a></span>

External and internal layers

Merge external and internal layers inside a map. The external layers are loaded from an external spatial source. The internal (or embedded in the map) layers are saved inside the maps using a SQLite structure

Copy features to layers<span style='font-size: 1rem;'> - <a href='../copy-features-to-layers/' class='app_color_link'>More info ></a></span>

Copy features to layers

Copy features coming from various layers inside another layer to merge them. Export this layer to get a combined external table

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frequently asked questions
  • Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7 SP1, Windows Vista SP2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and higher
  • 1024 x 768 VGA graphics, or higher
  • 1 GHZ 32-bit or 64-bit processor, or faster
  • 1 GB RAM or more (4GB recommended)
  • 2 GB free disk space, or more
  • Microsoft .NET 4.5 (installer included)
  • Windows Installer 3.1 or later
Spatial files
  • Esri Shape file - (SHP)
  • Google Earth file - (KML, KMZ)
  • OpenStreetMap file - (OSM, PBF, OSC) (1)
  • LiDAR file - (LAS, LAZ)
  • GPS exchange format file - (GPX)
  • Esri ASCII Grid file - (ASC, ASCII) (1)
  • ASCII text file - (ASC, CSV, NEZ, TXT, XYZ, UPT)
  • SQLite file - (SQLITE, DB)
  • GeoPackage file - (GPKG)
  • GML file - (GML, GZ, XML)
  • Autodesk SDF file - (SDF) (3)
  • MicroStation v.7 file - (DGN) (2)
  • AutoCAD DXF file - (DXF) (2)
  • Esri ArcInfo export file (ASCII) - (E00) (1) (2)
  • MapInfo file - (TAB) (2)
  • MapInfo interchange format file - (MIF/MID) (2)
  • GeoJSON file - (GEO.JSON)

Spatial raster files
  • Variable resolution Raster image file - (Cloud Optimized GeoTIFF/COG TIFF) (1) (4)

Spatial data servers and Geo-databases
  • Esri Geodatabase File - (GDB) (1)
  • PostGIS database
  • Microsoft SQL Server Spatial database
  • MySQL database (1) (3)

Image map servers
  • WMS/OGC API Maps Web Map Services (4)
  • WMTS/OGC API Tiles Web Map Tile Services (4)
  • XYZ/TMS Tile Map Services (4)

Other spatial data sources
  • Open Database Connectivity ODBC (1)
  • WFS/OGC API Features data store (1)
  • WFS data store (FDO) (1) (3) (5)
  • WFS data store (OGR) (1) (2) (5)

(1) Read-only
(2) OGR data source
(3) FDO provider
(4) Background Maps technology
(5) DEPRECATED - Whenever possible use the native WFS/OGC API Features data provider

Note: certain data Providers are only valid for some Editions of the application
  • Spatial Manager applications are updated and released every 3 or 4 months