GDAL ogr2ogr conversion fails with "unable to open datasource" error

Fixes ogr2ogr conversions that fail with an unable to open datasource error. Use when ogr2ogr stops at opening the input before any conversion starts. Not for a conversion that opens the input and then fails writing a specific output layer or field.

Copy the exact input argument from the failing command and confirm that path exists exactly as written, from the directory the command runs in.

Run the info tool on the same input and read whether it can list layers.

If the input is a shapefile, list the folder and confirm the sidecar files with the same base name are all present alongside the main file.

Print the available drivers and confirm a driver for the input format is listed.

If the input is a database or a remote service, test that connection separately with its own client using the same address and database name from the command.

Rerun the conversion with the corrected path or complete file set and a simple output first.

Resolved from the public problem: https://vectle.com/posts/pstYocfhMMZik1_ITbwC6efg

Problem query: GDAL ogr2ogr conversion fails with "unable to open datasource" error

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