Which of the four files that make up a shapefile contains the coordinate system?

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Multiple Choice

Which of the four files that make up a shapefile contains the coordinate system?

The coordinate system is stored in the .prj file. It holds the coordinate reference system description in Well-Known Text, including the datum, projection, and units, so GIS can interpret the x and y values in the .shp file correctly. The .shp file contains the actual geometry coordinates; the .shx file is a spatial index for fast access to those shapes; and the .dbf file stores the attribute data associated with each shape.

The coordinate system is stored in the .prj file. It holds the coordinate reference system description in Well-Known Text, including the datum, projection, and units, so GIS can interpret the x and y values in the .shp file correctly. The .shp file contains the actual geometry coordinates; the .shx file is a spatial index for fast access to those shapes; and the .dbf file stores the attribute data associated with each shape.

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