WL (Workspace File)

GISBox is a one-stop 3D GIS data editing, conversion and publishing platform that supports editing in multiple GIS formats such as OSGB/GEOTIFF/RVT, converting to 3DTiles/Terrain and publishing.

Introduction

WL files usually stand for Workspace Files, which play an important role in saving and managing geographic data and related settings in MapGIS. They help users maintain the consistency of their work status and provide convenient data access and analysis functions.

File Structure

**File header: **contains the file type identifier and the starting position of the data area header information.
**Data area header: **records the starting position of the data area, the total number of bytes, and the starting position and size of each data block.
Data area:

Index data: records the position and size of other data blocks.
Line data: stores the index information of the line.
Coordinate data: stores the coordinate point information of the line.
Attribute data: stores the attribute information related to the line.

Pros

**Project management and preservation: **WL files are used to save the working status and style of map projects, which helps users to conveniently manage multiple projects and ensure the consistency and integrity of project data.
**Data convenience: **Through WL files, users can quickly load and access the required geographic data, thereby improving work efficiency.
**Compatibility: **Although WL files are a specific file format for MapGIS, within the MapGIS software, it can work with other related file types (such as WP, WT, etc.) to form a complete geographic data processing system.

Cons

**Platform limitations: **WL files are MapGIS-specific file formats, so their compatibility with other GIS software or platforms may be poor. This means that if users need to use the data in WL files in other software environments, additional conversion or processing may be required.
**Data processing capabilities: **WL files may have certain limitations for the storage and processing of large-scale data sets. This may cause users to find other more efficient data storage and processing solutions when dealing with complex or large geographic projects.
**Version management: **With the update and development of MapGIS software, old versions of WL files may not be directly opened or edited in the new version of the software. This requires users to pay special attention to version compatibility issues when upgrading the software, and may need to convert old versions of WL files to file formats supported by the new version.