Validate your shape file using QGIS

To ensure your shape file is correctly formatted to meet all requirements, you can validate it using desktop software such as ArcGIS, or open source software such as QGIS.
  1. Open QGIS.
  2. Click Layers > Add Layer > Add Vector Layer.
  3. Click Source and select the shape file or zipped shape file. The shape .zip file must contain the .shp, .dbf, and .prj files. The shape .zip file can also contain a .shx file that is used to increase the performance of the shape file, but it is not required. If the shape .zip file does not include the required files, the import stops and an error is displayed.
  4. Select file for Source Type.
  5. Select UTF-8 for encoding.
  6. Click Add.
  7. Click Layers.
  8. Right-click the new layer.
  9. In the menu that appears, click Properties.
  10. Click Information.
  11. In the Information from provider section, verify the following values:
    • Storage: ESRI Shapefile
    • CRS: EPSG:4326 - WGS 84 - Geographic
    • Extent: should be within the range of -180.00, -90.00, 180.00, 90.00
    • Unit: degrees
      QGIS information screen with highlighted values

If your shape file does not display the correct values in the Information from provider section, Convert projection of shape file using QGIS.