Load map shapefiles as a stream in Xamarin Maps

5 Sep 20233 minutes to read

You can convert shape file into stream and load to maps using the ReadAsStream method instead of referring the shape files directly to maps using the Uri property.

Load shape file as stream

A shape file is non-topological format for storing the geometric location, attribute information of geographic features like points, lines, and polygons.

The following code snippet demonstrates the stream conversion of a shape file. The shape file added in the project is converted into stream.

XAML

<maps:SfMaps>
            <maps:SfMaps.Layers>
                <maps:ShapeFileLayer x:Name="ShapeLayer"/>
            </maps:SfMaps.Layers>
        </maps:SfMaps>

C#

// The following code snippet demonstrates the stream conversion of a shape file. The shape file added in the project is converted into stream.

shstream = typeof(MainPage).Assembly.GetManifestResourceStream("Maps.ShapeFiles.usa_state.shp");

// The following code snippet demonstrates how to load the converted stream into shape file layer.
ShapeLayer.ReadAsStream(shstream);

Load shape file and dbf file as stream

In db file, the additional attributes are stored that can be joined to a shape files features like color mapping, Data Labels etc.

XAML

<maps:SfMaps>
            <maps:SfMaps.Layers>
                <maps:ShapeFileLayer x:Name="ShapeLayer"
                                 ShapeIDPath="State" ShowMapItems="True"
                                 ShapeIDTableField="STATE_NAME"
                                 ItemsSource="{Binding Data}">
                    <maps:ShapeFileLayer.ShapeSettings>
                        <maps:ShapeSetting ShapeValuePath="State"/>
                    </maps:ShapeFileLayer.ShapeSettings>
                </maps:ShapeFileLayer>
            </maps:SfMaps.Layers>
        </maps:SfMaps>

C#

// The following code snippet demonstrates the stream conversion of a shape and db file. The shape and db file added in the project is converted into stream.

shstream = typeof(MainPage).Assembly.GetManifestResourceStream("Maps.ShapeFiles.usa_state.shp");
dbstream = typeof(MainPage).Assembly.GetManifestResourceStream("Maps.ShapeFiles.usa_state.dbf");


// The following code snippet demonstrates how to load the converted stream into shape file layer.
ShapeLayer.ReadAsStream(shstream, dbstream);