topic Re: Select by location, but only return a certain number of points - is that possible? in Geoprocessing Questions

Select by location, but only return a certain number of points - is that possible?

NonieCastro1 — Wed, 09 Jun 2021 20:42:47 GMT

I have a list of points (addresses with lat/long), let's call that the Target List. I have another list of points (more addresses with lat/long) - let's call that the Master List.

How can I find the closest [enter a number] of points from the Master List that are closest to the Target List? So - not every point in a radius, only the closest 100, or 500 or 1,000 points?

Hopefully the result would be a table with Location 1, then 100 matches, then location 2 and 100 matches, etc.

Thank you so much!

Re: Select by location, but only return a certain number of points - is that possible?

DanPatterson — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 03:09:27 GMT

not unless you want to iterate the distance for each source location until you get your threshold count for the target layer

Select Layer By Location (Data Management)—ArcGIS Pro | Documentation

even near as table needs a distance and not a count and you would end up with a ridiculously large table for your sample "closest" numbers.

That would leave the iterative coding sorted by distance

Re: Select by location, but only return a certain number of points - is that possible?

JayantaPoddar — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 08:03:27 GMT

Generate Near Table should work for you.

Uncheck "Find only closest feature" in order to specify a limit to "Maximum number of closest matches".

Re: Select by location, but only return a certain number of points - is that possible?

DanPatterson — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 08:55:15 GMT

@JayantaPoddar ... True... but that will result in that ridiculously sized table I was referring to,

Re: Select by location, but only return a certain number of points - is that possible?

JayantaPoddar — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 09:21:59 GMT

You could be right. I have just laid out the feasibility of the process, rather than focusing on the size of the output table. I have left that decision at the discretion of the user.

Re: Select by location, but only return a certain number of points - is that possible?

NonieCastro1 — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 10:53:16 GMT

THANK YOU! Thank you so much - I tried it this morning, this seems to be just what I needed. I mean, yes - the table is enormous, but it we can work with that.

Re: Select by location, but only return a certain number of points - is that possible?

NonieCastro1 — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 18:46:21 GMT

Thank you again! I tried another, larger list of points, and just to be 100% certain, double checked the resulting table against the map - worked like a charm! What a relief, I was so stumped. You've been an enormous help.