# Can I import (and repair) damaged GIS shape files?

Five GIS shape files are available online at

Mathematica 10 imports 4 of the 5 files just fine (in the sense that, after download,

Import["municipalities.zip", "Graphics"]


prints a map with no error messages). However, the Tax Parcels file (which is by far the largest of the 5) fails with the error message

LinkRead::linkep : An unexpected end of packet was received.


Assuming that this file is genuinely damaged (and that it wasn't just too big for Mathematica on my computer to handle), is there a way to import such a damaged or incomplete file anyway so that I can fix it within Mathematica?

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• Just checked, and parcels.zip loads fine into QGIS, so I guess my question is moot. (Or becomes the question: Why can't Mathematica import this?) – Chris Grant Feb 20 '15 at 20:09
• Is The Tax Parcels file a graphics or a text or data file? – user26528 Feb 20 '15 at 22:43