topic Re: map grid and creating an index of points in ArcGIS Pro Questions

map grid and creating an index of points

clt_cabq — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 21:07:28 GMT

I'm making a map that I want to use a map grid on so that features can be referenced by Row and Column of the grid (feature one is located at cell C-5 for instance). Maybe its late in the day and my brain is rubber but I can't figure out how to assign a grid value from the map grid to the set of points I am interested in, or alternatively to the centroid of polygons that surround my point layer. Thoughts?

Re: map grid and creating an index of points

BrendanNewell — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 22:39:08 GMT

Spatial Join may do the trick here for you.

https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/tool-reference/analysis/spatial-join.htm

Re: map grid and creating an index of points

clt_cabq — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 12:55:39 GMT

@BrendanNewell thanks, however the map grid isn't a spatial feature, its an element of the layout so you can't use it in geoprocessing tools. I suppose i could create an index grid as you do for setting up a map series and make sure it matches the layout generated surround, but I was hoping there was some way to report for each feature what grid cell it falls into without going into extra steps.

Re: map grid and creating an index of points

BobBooth1 — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 14:34:14 GMT

I think you need to convert the grid to features first.

https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/3.4/help/layouts/convert-grids-to-features.htm

Re: map grid and creating an index of points

clt_cabq — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 15:34:59 GMT

yeah, unfortunately this can't be done - once upon a time i thought it was possible to create a through a geoprocessing tool that told you what features fall within which grid cell but maybe I am misremembering that. This seems like it would be a pretty common need, seems useful for including in an appendix of a report or something, though in all honesty in all my years of doing GIS I have rarely used the reference grid capability. Appreciate the suggestion!