idea Create a new function in ArcMAP TOOLBOX to allow "one step" importing and conversion of GPS file to Polyline SHP file. in ArcGIS Pro Ideas

Create a new function in ArcMAP TOOLBOX to allow "one step" importing and conversion of GPS file to Polyline SHP file.

LawrenceTucker — Fri, 01 Jan 2021 14:54:14 GMT

ESRI Development TEAM;

I very much appreciate your responding to my working issue. I would like to further clarify the issue and the help that I could use:

GOAL: I would like to have available a “one step process” to convert and import a GPX file- to- a PolyLine or SHP file in ArcMap or ArcGIS Pro.

AS of Now, I am finding myself using either of two very archaic methods consisting of the following steps:

Method 1)- Utilizing only ArcMap functions

Step1)- import GPX file by using Conversion tool>From GPS>GPX-to-Feature. (Note: I have found this function to be useless as it only takes the GPX point file and converts it to a Feature point file.)

Step 2)- Data Management>Feature>Points-to-Line.

Method 2)- Utilizing a secondary software package called DNR Garmin

which is a 6 step process to convert and import a GPX file to a SHP file in ArcMap.

As I hike and collect GPX data quite frequently for the trails I am creating, I sometimes return to my office with 30-50 GPX files that I need to convert and import to my ArcMap projects.

Any and all help in, perhaps creating a new function in ArcMap to more efficiently handle this type of data would be very much appreciated.

If there is anything else I can do please let me know.

Thanks,

Lawrence Tucker

7 West Cornell Street

South Hadley, Mass. 01075

413-533-4092

TuckerTrail@comcast.net

Re: Create a new function in ArcMAP TOOLBOX to allow "one step" importing and conversion of GPS file to Polyline SHP file.

DanPatterson — Fri, 01 Jan 2021 16:15:47 GMT

So basically you want GPX to point to be combined with

Feature To Line (Data Management)—ArcGIS Pro | Documentation

Re: Create a new function in ArcMAP TOOLBOX to allow "one step" importing and conversion of GPS file to Polyline SHP file.

Anonymous User — Sun, 03 Jan 2021 13:18:56 GMT

Thank you very much !!!!

Re: Create a new function in ArcMAP TOOLBOX to allow "one step" importing and conversion of GPS file to Polyline SHP file.

Anonymous User — Mon, 04 Jan 2021 06:27:44 GMT

Hi Lawrence,

Thanks for creating the ArcGIS Idea. Just wanted to highlight two existing solutions that could consolidate the two geoprocessing tools into one:

Use ArcGIS Model Builder to create a single, custom geoprocessing tool. It's relatively easy to get started, and you could drag and drop the existing geoprocessing results in to prepopulate a lot of the variable entries. Parameters can be added to allow the tool to run with different inputs, outputs etc.

https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/help/analysis/geoprocessing/modelbuilder/what-is-modelbuilder-.htm

Use the Python Script listed on the GPX to Feature Tool documentation page, that incorporates the point to line tool:

https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/tool-reference/conversion/gpx-to-features.htm

The above solutions are also available in ArcGIS Pro.

Cheers, Chris

Re: Create a new function in ArcMAP TOOLBOX to allow "one step" importing and conversion of GPS file to Polyline SHP file.

LawrenceTucker — Wed, 14 Apr 2021 17:12:01 GMT

Dan/Chris/Dominique,

Thanks to all for responding. I am going to try to utilize ModelBuilder--but, am not sure it is the answer I am looking for.

However, please keep in mind that after I go into the field, and when I get back to my workstation, I will usually have about 20-30 tracks, each consisting of GPX point files, that I will need to get converted and imported to ArcMap in the form of (.SHP) files.

You can see that I really need a single geoprocessing function that will accomplish this task. Any other ideas or info to accomplish this, would be appreciated.

thanks,

Larry

Re: Create a new function in ArcMAP TOOLBOX to allow "one step" importing and conversion of GPS file to Polyline SHP file.

Anonymous User — Tue, 20 Apr 2021 23:44:19 GMT

Hi Lawrence,

ArcGIS Ideas request functionality for products. The functionality you are looking for is to combine two existing geoprocessing tools together into one, to suit your workflow.

ArcGIS Desktop has hundreds of geoprocessing tools that are frequently used in succession. For example, 'Add Field' and 'Calculate Field' are two I would commonly use in conjunction.

The ability to combine these two tools into one already exists through ModelBuilder. This is a user-intuitive builder, with drag and drop functionality, that will offer a similar experience when configuring the tools in the builder. You can run the model in the builder, or expose parameters so that users can run it from a custom toolbox likely any other geoprocessing tool.

To move forward, I would encourage you to post on the ArcGIS Pro forum as a question seeking assistance. This could be done one or two ways:

Help with workflow (how to use the two suggested tools with your data/workflows, if required)
Help with ModelBuilder (should you have the workflow, but want to build your own tool going forward).

https://community.esri.com/t5/arcmap-questions/bd-p/arcmap-questions

Moving the conversation into a new post in the right community will ensure that people can help you with the above.

Cheers,

Chris

Re: Create a new function in ArcMAP TOOLBOX to allow "one step" importing and conversion of GPS file to Polyline SHP file. - Status changed to: Closed

DrewFlater — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 23:08:03 GMT

The suggestions to use ModelBuilder is ideal for this case. As originally reported, this is a workflow that needs to be done repetitively for a large number of gpx files. ModelBuilder provides the capability for batch processing to iterate through every gpx file in a folder and perform the feature class conversion and step to transform the points into lines.
Here is an example model, and I sent the toolbox containing the model to Larry.

Re: Create a new function in ArcMAP TOOLBOX to allow "one step" importing and conversion of GPS file to Polyline SHP file.

JessicaIEMA — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 09:19:35 GMT

Hi Drew

Was it possible to get the toolbox for this model? I have been trying to create it and cannot get it to work at all. No idea what I am doing wrong.

Thanks

Jessica

Re: Create a new function in ArcMAP TOOLBOX to allow "one step" importing and conversion of GPS file to Polyline SHP file.

DrewFlater — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 17:46:31 GMT

@JessicaIEMA I have uploaded this as a geoprocessing sample https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=a8e491cfc8bb4e31a8726eae11c12a6c