Routines (alphabetical) > Object Classes > File Format Object Classes > IDLffShape::Open

# IDLffShape::Open

The IDLffShape::Open function method opens a specified Shapefile.

## Syntax

Result = Obj->[IDLffShape::]Open( ‘Filename’ [, /DBF_ONLY] [, ENTITY_TYPE=’value’] [, /UPDATE] )

## Return Value

Returns 1 if the file can be read successfully. If not able to open the file, it returns 0.

## Arguments

### Filename

A scalar string containing the full path and filename of a Shapefile (`.shp`) to open. Note that the `.shp`, `.shx`, and `.dbx` files must exist in the same directory for you to be able to open and access the file unless the UPDATE keyword is set.

## Keywords

### DBF_ONLY

If this keyword is set to a positive value, only the underlying dBASE table (.`dbf`) component of the shapefile is opened. All entity related files are left closed. Two values to this keyword are accepted: 1 - Open an existing .`dbf` file, > 1 - Create a new .`dbf` file

The UPDATE keyword is required to open the .`dbf` file for updating.

### ENTITY_TYPE

Set this keyword to the entity type of a new Shapefile. Use this keyword only when creating a new Shapefile. For more information on entity types, see Entities.

### UPDATE

Set this keyword to have the file opened for writing. The default is read-only.

## Examples

In the following example, the file `examples/data/states.shp` is opened for reading and writing:

status = myShape->Open(FILEPATH('states.shp', $

SUBDIR=['examples', 'data']), /UPDATE)

## Version History

5.4 | Introduced