GDAL-CONVERT(1)

✨ gdal-convert — bestie, we're converting datasets today 💅

okay so real talk, this is a page from the GDAL manual set (section 1, the classic command-line girlies). And like, this one is SO new — it says right on the label: Added in version 3.11. So if your GDAL is giving ancient, it's not gonna know her. 🙈

She's basically a ✨shortcut✨ — she acts as a stand-in for gdal raster convert or gdal vector convert, depending on the nature of the specified dataset you hand her. Like, she looks at what you gave her and goes "oh bestie, I know exactly which one of these you meant" and picks for you. Main character energy fr fr. 🦋

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🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

Usage: gdal convert [OPTIONS] <INPUT> <OUTPUT>

Convert a dataset (shortcut for 'gdal raster convert' or 'gdal vector convert').

Positional arguments:
  -i, --input <INPUT>                                  Input raster, vector or multidimensional raster dataset [required]
  -o, --output <OUTPUT>                                Output raster, vector or multidimensional raster dataset (created by algorithm) [required]

Common Options:
  -h, --help                                           Display help message and exit
  --json-usage                                         Display usage as JSON document and exit
  --config <KEY>=<VALUE>                               Configuration option [may be repeated]
  -q, --quiet                                          Quiet mode (no progress bar or warning message) [not available in pipelines]

Options:
  -f, --of, --format, --output-format <OUTPUT-FORMAT>  Output format

For all options, run 'gdal raster convert --help' or 'gdal vector convert --help'

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🎀 DESCRIPTION 🎀

So, gdal-convert converts a dataset. That's the whole vibe. 💖

It's a shortcut — it acts on behalf of gdal raster convert or gdal vector convert, depending on the nature of the specified dataset. Basically you don't have to sit there deciding which one applies, she just knows. Not me being spoiled by convenience or whatever. 😭

Added in version 3.11. (yes I said it twice, it's important, she's a new icon 👑)

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💅 OPTIONS 💅

🌈 Positional arguments

• -i, --input <INPUT> — the input raster, vector or multidimensional raster dataset. 🔥 This one is required, no skipping her bestie, she's the whole point.
• -o, --output <OUTPUT> — the output raster, vector or multidimensional raster dataset. Heads up: it gets created by the algorithm. Also required. ✨

🧚 Common Options

• -h, --help — show the help message and dip out (exit). 🫶
• --json-usage — show the usage as a JSON document, then exit. Very structured of her. 🌸
• --config <KEY>=<VALUE> — a configuration option. She says may be repeated, so like, stack 'em if you want, queen. 💜
• -q, --quiet — quiet mode: no progress bar, no warning messages. Just vibes and silence. 🙈 BUT — it's not available in pipelines, so don't try it there, she will not be participating.

👑 Options

• -f, --of, --format, --output-format <OUTPUT-FORMAT> — set the output format. Four names, one girl. Iconic behaviour honestly. ⭐

For ALL the options, bestie, go run gdal raster convert --help or gdal vector convert --help. She's a shortcut, not the whole encyclopedia. 💀

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⭐ RETURN STATUS CODE ⭐

The program returns status code 0 when it's a success girly, and non-zero when something went wrong. 🚨

And lowkey important nuance: non-blocking errors that get emitted as warnings are still considered a successful execution. So yes, she can be a little messy and still count it as a win. Periodt. 💅

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🦋 EXAMPLES 🦋

🌸 Example 1: Converting file utm.tif to GeoPackage raster

$ gdal convert utm.tif utm.gpkg

ate. no crumbs. 🔥

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🍓 AUTHOR 🍓

Even Rouault <even.rouault@spatialys.com> — legend behaviour, we love her, mwah 💖

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🌸 COPYRIGHT 🌸

1998-2026

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and that's the whole page bestie!! this was GDAL's GDAL-CONVERT(1) — source/version: GDAL, dated Aug 18, 2026 💜✨ go forth and convert, you absolute icon, and remember: every option, every flag, every warning stayed exactly where it was, no cap. 🫶🎀