# `gdal vector make-valid`

Added in version 3.12.

Fix validity of geometries of a vector dataset

## Synopsis

    Usage: gdal vector make-valid [OPTIONS] <INPUT> <OUTPUT>

    Fix validity of geometries of a vector dataset.

    Positional arguments:
      -i, --input <INPUT>                                  Input vector datasets [required]
      -o, --output <OUTPUT>                                Output vector dataset [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)

    Options:
      -l, --layer, --input-layer <INPUT-LAYER>             Input layer name(s) [may be repeated]
      -f, --of, --format, --output-format <OUTPUT-FORMAT>  Output format ("GDALG" allowed)
      --co, --creation-option <KEY>=<VALUE>                Creation option [may be repeated]
      --lco, --layer-creation-option <KEY>=<VALUE>         Layer creation option [may be repeated]
      --overwrite                                          Whether overwriting existing output is allowed
      --update                                             Whether to open existing dataset in update mode
      --overwrite-layer                                    Whether overwriting existing output is allowed
      --append                                             Whether appending to existing layer is allowed
                                                           Mutually exclusive with --upsert
      --output-layer <OUTPUT-LAYER>                        Output layer name
      --skip-errors                                        Skip errors when writing features
      --active-layer <ACTIVE-LAYER>                        Set active layer (if not specified, all)
      --active-geometry <ACTIVE-GEOMETRY>                  Geometry field name to which to restrict the processing (if not specified, all)
      --method <METHOD>                                    Algorithm to use when repairing invalid geometries.. METHOD=linework|structure (default: linework)
      --keep-lower-dim                                     Keep components of lower dimension after MakeValid()

    Advanced Options:
      --if, --input-format <INPUT-FORMAT>                  Input formats [may be repeated]
      --oo, --open-option <KEY>=<VALUE>                    Open options [may be repeated]
      --output-oo, --output-open-option <KEY>=<VALUE>      Output open options [may be repeated]
      --upsert                                             Upsert features (implies 'append')
                                                           Mutually exclusive with --append

## Description

gdal vector make-valid ensures that geometries are valid regarding the rules of the Simple Features specification.

It runs the `OGRGeometry::MakeValid()` operation, followed by `OGRGeometryFactory::removeLowerDimensionSubGeoms()` (unless `--keep-lower-dim` is set)

It can also be used as a step of gdal vector pipeline.

Note

This command requires a GDAL build against the GEOS library.

### Standard options

-f, --of, --format, --output-format <OUTPUT-FORMAT>

  Which output vector format to use. Allowed values may be given by `gdal --formats | grep vector | grep rw | sort`

--co, --creation-option <NAME>=<VALUE>

  Many formats have one or more optional dataset creation options that can be used to control particulars about the file created. For instance, the GeoPackage driver supports creation options to control the version.

  May be repeated.

  The dataset creation options available vary by format driver, and some simple formats have no creation options at all. A list of options supported for a format can be listed with the --formats command line option but the documentation for the format is the definitive source of information on driver creation options. See Vector drivers format specific documentation for legal creation options for each format.

  Note that dataset creation options are different from layer creation options.

-lco <NAME>=<VALUE>

  Layer creation option (format specific)

--overwrite

  Allow program to overwrite existing target file or dataset. Otherwise, by default, gdal errors out if the target file or dataset already exists.

--active-layer <ACTIVE-LAYER>

  Set the active layer. When it is specified, only the layer specified by its name will be subject to the processing. Other layers will be not modified. If this option is not specified, all layers will be subject to the processing.

--active-geometry <ACTIVE-GEOMETRY>

  Set the active geometry field from its name. When it is specified, only the specified geometry field will be subject to the processing. Other geometry fields will be not modified. If this option is not specified, all geometry fields will be subject to the processing. This option can be combined together with `--active-layer`.

--method=linework|structure

  Algorithm to use when repairing invalid geometries.

  The default `linework` method combines all rings into a set of noded lines and then extracts valid polygons from that linework. This method keeps all input vertices.

  The `structure` method (only available with GEOS >= 3.10) first makes all rings valid then merges shells and subtracts holes from shells to generate valid result. It assumes that holes and shells are correctly categorized.

--keep-lower-dim

  Keep components of lower dimension after MakeValid(). For example, MakeValid() may return a GeometryCollection of a Polygon and a LineString from a Polygon input. By default only the Polygon would be returned. Setting this option will return the GeometryCollection.

### Advanced options

--oo, --open-option <NAME>=<VALUE>

  Dataset open option (format specific).

  May be repeated.

--if, --input-format <format>

  Format/driver name to be attempted to open the input file(s). It is generally not necessary to specify it, but it can be used to skip automatic driver detection, when it fails to select the appropriate driver. This option can be repeated several times to specify several candidate drivers. Note that it does not force those drivers to open the dataset. In particular, some drivers have requirements on file extensions.

  May be repeated.

## GDALG output (on-the-fly / streamed dataset)

This program supports serializing the command line as a JSON file using the `GDALG` output format. The resulting file can then be opened as a vector dataset using the GDALG: GDAL Streamed Algorithm driver, and apply the specified pipeline in a on-the-fly / streamed way.

## GDALG output (on-the-fly / streamed dataset)

This program supports serializing the command line as a JSON file using the `GDALG` output format. The resulting file can then be opened as a vector dataset using the GDALG: GDAL Streamed Algorithm driver, and apply the specified pipeline in a on-the-fly / streamed way.

## Examples

### Example 1: Basic use of make-valid

    $ gdal vector make-valid in.gpkg out.gpkg --overwrite