topic Re: Model Builder in Geoprocessing Questions

Model Builder

BenKeller2 — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 16:54:45 GMT

I am creating a model to run a set of commands based off a data set containing 750k points. Everything works but my first command where I aggregate the points into polygon clusters where it returns an error. I have read that model builder sometimes bombs if there are too many polygon features to work with, but I just wanted to see if there was a way around it other than making my data set smaller.

Also I have tried minimizing my data set but 200k and it works, but the aggregate points tools returns a different attribute table through model builder than if run natively. This in turn throws off my next command which is a selection based off of the Shape_Area attribute that typical is in the table from aggregate points. I don't want to have to edit the data every time before I run this process because I am planning on setting up an timed automatic run every so often through python. Needless to say the frustration is building....Please help!

Ben

Re: Model Builder

BenKeller2 — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 18:35:37 GMT

Scratch that. Just need to know why the Aggregate Points tool outputs a different attribute table when used in Model Builder and when used outside of model builder. I need the Shape_Area attribute field, for selection purposes, in model builder and it is not there, along with Shape_Length. (Only returns ID and Shape).

Thank you

Re: Model Builder

DaleHoneycutt — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 02:25:36 GMT

Sounds like you're writing to a shapefile instead of a geodatabase. The reason is probably because your scratch workspace environment is set to a folder instead of a geodatabase. There are a couple of ways to fix this:

- In ModelBuilder, make sure that the output of Aggregate Points is being written to a geodatabase (file or personal--I recommend personal).
- Set you Scratch Workspace environment variable to a geodatabase. I suspect it's set to a folder.

Using the current and scratch workspace environments explains scratch workspace and autogenerate output names (interesting stuff is at the bottom of the topic).

Re: Model Builder

curtvprice — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 22:54:43 GMT

Scratch that. Just need to know why the Aggregate Points tool outputs a different attribute table when used in Model Builder and when used outside of model builder. I need the Shape_Area attribute field, for selection purposes, in model builder and it is not there, along with Shape_Length. (Only returns ID and Shape).

Dale wasn't totally clear on that. Geodatabase feature classes automatically create Shape_Area and Shape_Length fields when they are created. Shapefile output doesn't have either of these fields.

make sure that the output of Aggregate Points is being written to a geodatabase (file or personal--I recommend personal)

Really Dale - that's the first time i've heard personal geodatabases recommended! Care to elaborate?

Re: Model Builder

DaleHoneycutt — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 22:56:58 GMT

Curtis -- you're absolutely right... my mistake (late night typo). I would never recommend personal geodatabases... File geodatabases all the way! Thanks for catching this!
Dale