Latest Contributions by MarkFawkes

‎12-30-2020

Hi curtvprice I cannot seem to find this configuration anywhere within Desktop. May be in Pro but I do not have Pro installed to be able to check. If it is available in Dektop, can you point me towards it. Thanks for your reply. ##- Please type your reply above this line

‎12-30-2020

Hi NeelKumar Your solution works if the tool is run from within ModelBuilder (i.e. while editing tool) but this does not work if running the tool from Catalog through the tool dialog window (which is how I want the tool to be run). AFAIK in Desktop the only way (other than a convoluted workaround) is to also declare the variable/output as a parameter which then makes it visible in the dialog screen for the tool which I was trying to avoid. Dan Patterson indicated that Pro can be configured to push a layer to the ToC without having to make it a parameter. AS posted in my reply to Dan, I do have a walaround using insertLayer in arcpy.mapping which would seem to be domething to get what I want - just need to delve a bit more into ArcPy to get this working. Tnakns for your suggestion.

‎12-30-2020

Hi Dan I cannot find anything similar to what you describe in Desktop, and I don't have Pro installed to see where this might reside. I do have a walkaround that seems as though I may be able to integrate into my model(s) - python script using arcpy.insertLayer in ArcPy.mapping. I had the specific model in question working but just wanted a cleaner dialog to the users (which was just a prompt to change the folder that the 2 output layers are saved to if the user wants the outputs in a specific work/projet related folder rather than some common default location). The model WAS working yesterday - it draws data from layers in the ToC of the mxd I run it from, but for some reason this morning decided that one of these layers did not exist but other layers were OK - all saved to C: drive location in fgdb. Just Arc being temperental!! Thanks for the suggestion - Pro seems to be the way to go, but I work for a State Govt department with users of many (usually very basic) experience levels and insinuating Pro into our working is a difficult thing to do (not that I have any say on the matter).

‎12-28-2020

Hi I am trying to develop a number of small tools to speed up/automate some basic and not so basic workflows for the ArcGIS users in my group, mainly using ModelBuilder to develop the tools. Users range from 'think I know a lot' to 'very basic/new user' so have to design the tool and usage to enable the most basic user to run a tool. The tools are going to be grouped in a number of toolboxes with the intent to run them from atoolbox. A number of the tools create datasets that I want to have displayed in the ToC after the tool is run. I know that to achieve this with running a tool from a toolbox I need to make the dataset a parameter in ModelBuilder. However this then makes that parameter visible to (and AFAIK changeable by) the user, and I would prefer it be not visible, or at least setup so that the user cannot change the parameter. Probably not a big issue with most of the users I work with but I would like to make things foolproof (until the new improved fool comes along). Is there a way that I can make the visible parameter/dataset not changeable for the user, or an alternative way to get the dataset added to the ToC without making it a parameter or visible when the tool is run. Perhaps a python script I could add to the tool to be able to add a specified dataset to the ToC without having to set the set the dataset as a parameter. I am somewhat comfortable with playing around with Python, but do not have a great knowledge of Python to be able to figure this out from scratch (just enough knowledge to get me into trouble). 🙂 An approach to this issue may of interest to other Desktop (and Pro) users out there.

‎12-28-2020

I would never have thought of this totally obscure method. Seems to work well for me. And the idea of using this to run oher snippets of code within a model is something I will have to look into. Thanks to TasmanianIrrigation from sunny Brisbane!

‎07-14-2018

Hi Dan Thanks for the prompt answer. As usual with Arc, will have to go with what we have available. I ws hoping for some sort of control so that my final tools could impress the basic users! Cheers

‎07-13-2018

Trying to set up some small tools for users in my agency using ModelBuilder and/or Python. I would like to be able to control the size of the dialog box that opens when getting user input to a tool. In the particular case I am requesting the user input a single value/text string. With both Modelbuilder (setting as a parameter) and python (using arcpy.GetParameterAsTest) I get a large dialog box that covers a lot of screen space (see screen grab). I can resize this when running the tool on my computer, however (1) this also applies the same resizing to other dialog boxes where I want a bigger box (e.g I have more parameters to select/enter and require more screen real estate) (2) this resizing only applies to my computer (AFAIK). Is there a way that I can configure the size of the dialog box for a particular tool (and have it saved with the tool so that the same size dialog box is used for any other users of the tool. I am going to distribute the tools as a number of Arc toolboxes, The second screenshot shows something more like the size I would like for this particular tool. Would hopefully adding tool help with the tools.

‎06-25-2018

I have a feature class with four fields (A1, A2, B1, B2) of type Double - each field has values as well as nulls. I want to be able to populate a second set of fields (A1A2, B1B2) with the sum of the values e.g. A1A2 = A1+A2, B1B2=B1+B2.. A simple addition using Field Calculator fails where A1 and/or A2 are nulls (which I expected). I can copy values to another field using a python expression to deal with nulls - Prelogic Script Code def updateValue(value): if value == None: return '0' else: return value and expression A1A2 = (updateValue(!A1!)) (this copies A1 to A1A2 field and changes the nulls to 0 in the process. If I change the expression to try and add two values ( i.e. A1A2 = (updateValue(!A1!)) + (updateValue(!A2!)) ), this works when both A1 and A2 are not nulls, but falls over if either or both fields are null (gives a value in A1A2 of null). Can someone point me towards a calculator expression (or other method) of achieving this result. I want to have the expression run within a model, with the intent to have a process that I am presently doing part manually setup as a model so that a basic user (one of my managers) can run herself when requiredwithout bothering me.all the time. I should be able to set it up so that I have new fields e.g. tmpA1 and tmpA2 which are populated with the A1 and A2 values with nulls changed to 0, and then perform the addition (and will implement this if required), but to me this is a bit of a kludge and would like to have a more elegant solution. I want to maintain the original fields with their null values as these are meaningful ( null is not 0). I feel a solution should be possible within field calculator but understand that this may or may not be possible, in which case I am willing would try something else. I have some modelbuilder skills (more like - will this work yes/no if no then try something else) without necessarily a deep understanding of what I am doing, and no real python knowledge or coding background.

‎04-10-2018

This might also help? I have never had to do a conversion from MapInfo. https://esriaustraliatechblog.wordpress.com/2016/02/16/a-hidden-gem-how-to-convert-mapinfo-files-mif-mid-into-esris-shape-files-using-arcgis-for-desktop/

‎04-16-2017

This solution worked for me. Did not see this page before finding the solution below, so can't comment on any of the above two solutions. https://community.esri.com/thread/172626#comments

‎02-18-2017

I checked your input spreadsheet again at home (previously at work) with Excel 2013. I can see that the cells are formatted as numbers (with 2 decimal places). However this should mean that the values in the cells that are causing you grief should show with two decimal places, which they are not. If I copy a collection of the cells - that has both 'good' and 'bad' values - to to one of your blank columns (which would normally be formatted as general), I see that cells with 'good' values are right justified, the cells with 'bad' values are left justified - which would normally mean that the 'bad' values are text and the 'good' values are numbers. If I sort the worksheet on one of the columns with 'bad' data, Excel tells me I have some numbers formatted as text - if I select to sort numbers and numbers stored as text separately it sorts all of the 'bad' values together. Also if I change the formatting of one of these columns to 4 decimal places, then the 'good' values change and the 'bad' values do not. If I retype the 'bad' values in this new column, they revert to numbers with the 2 decimal places. If I copy the same set of values to a new column formatted as as numerical and copy values then I still get the 'bad' cells copying as text, which is even stranger. It is obvious that Excel sees these 'bad' values as text and thus when importing to Arc will not import these values. I have no idea why this is happening, as they look like numerical values to me. I have found a fix (to change the values). Try this method (from Microsoft Office support site). Unfortunately you can only process one column at a time. It worked for me with your input spreadsheet (all values show with two decimal places). Convert numbers stored as text to numbers - Office Support This would be OK as a one off method, if you have to repeat this import frequently then save as a CSV file and import that might be a better alternative. One of those unexplained mysteries.

‎02-16-2017

When I opened the Input spreadsheet (using Excel 2010) the cells next to the D values (i.e. the ones having the problem) I get an error that "The number in the cell is formatted as text or preceded by an apostrophe". Perhaps you need to revisit the input spreadsheet, apply formatting as number to whole column or figure out why there is an apparent difference in formatting, and try to import again.

‎11-06-2016

Re the "don't ignore data frames. AFAIK this is not possible in Arc, as the labelling is determined by elements only within the data frame. Whenever I have had to approach this problem (overlapping data frames and do not want to go down the annotation route) the workaround used has been to position all data frames, then to the base data frame (in your example this would be the one with the Lake Ontario label) to insert a square/rectangular graphic (no fill, no border) to 'shepherd' the labels away from the overlying data frames. A truly horrible clunky workaround but the only one that I have found that works. Another method is to use clipped data frames in which case the data frames are clipped to shapes - the base data frame would have to be clipped to exclude the overlying frames, this would probably be even more horrendous of a workaround and not very manageable to do any frame placement changes.

‎09-01-2016

Are you trying to open shapefile data or adding other (non shapefile) data? If a shapefile, sounds like you are trying to move one of the component files of a shapefile . A "shapefile" actually consists of several separate files (as seen in Windows Explorer). Basic shapefile will have four files - .shp, .shx, .dbf, .cpg - with potentially others (e.g. a .prj file if the files has a coordinate system described for it). All the files must be in the same folder location and cannot be separated. If you are trying to add other data (e.g. .dbf file of point data which has coordinates) try adding through File > Add Data > Add XY Data - you can select the data location and match the XY coordinates to the relevant dbf file field names.

‎08-22-2015

Thanks Neil Took the easy way out and have decided to change our mxd naming convention to include the info I wanted. Easier to use dynamic text to just add the mxd name than try and parse the file path.

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My Ideas

Latest Contributions by MarkFawkes

Re: ModelBuilder and displaying results in ToC

Re: ModelBuilder and displaying results in ToC

Re: ModelBuilder and displaying results in ToC

ModelBuilder and displaying results in ToC

Re: ModelBuilder...refresh map

Re: Dialog box size for custom tools user input

Dialog box size for custom tools user input

Calculations with null values

Re: MapInfo files to be opened in ArcGIS

Re: Web Browser - ActiveX Control Error

Re: import table ignores values

Re: import table ignores values

Re: How do I force Maplex to ignore transparent polygons, not ignore Data Frames?

Re: ArcMap won't open any other kind of file except .shp

Re: Return partial file path in dynamic text

Re: Change Legend Item names

Re: ModelBuilder and displaying results in ToC

ModelBuilder and displaying results in ToC

Re: ArcMap won't open any other kind of file excep...

Re: import table ignores values