topic Re: ArcGIS PRO: ArcPy: Creating a 3D polyline, visible in Map_3D? in Python Questions

ArcGIS PRO: ArcPy: Creating a 3D polyline, visible in Map_3D?

MatthiasBuehler — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 15:21:41 GMT

Hi,

I am using this code to create a polylineZM in PRO, but I cannot see it in Map_3D (3d viewport).

I do have x,y,z coordinates..

Could somebody help me with this?

Any input welcome!

Matt

def write_polyLine(data,outfile):
array = arcpy.Array()
point = arcpy.Point()
features=[]
for feature in data:
for part in feature:
point.X=part[0]
point.Y=part[1]
point.Z=part[2]
array.add(point)
MP=arcpy.Polyline(array,None,True,True)
array.removeAll()
features.append(MP)
arcpy.CopyFeatures_management(features, outfile, "", "0", "0", "0")

Re: ArcGIS PRO: ArcPy: Creating a 3D polyline, visible in Map_3D?

MatthiasBuehler — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 16:18:52 GMT

ps.

this is how I create the target polygon FC first:

arcpy.CreateFeatureclass_management(ws, 'diag', 'POLYGON', has_z = 'ENABLED', spatial_reference = spatialRef)

I noticed the spatial reference sometimes gets created correctly, sometimes not. pretty erratic though.

Re: ArcGIS PRO: ArcPy: Creating a 3D polyline, visible in Map_3D?

DanPatterson_Retired — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 16:30:19 GMT

Xander Bakker has a series of blog posts on creating 3D features which you may be interested. There are code examples, see Creating a 3D tree with Arcpy for 3D Analysis the bottom example and refer to his other posts for more code samples and examples

Re: ArcGIS PRO: ArcPy: Creating a 3D polyline, visible in Map_3D?

MatthiasBuehler — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 17:41:06 GMT

Hi ..

thanks, this did help.

I came up with this method that works now:

def write_one_line_feature(linePointList, fc, spatialRef):

pnt1 = arcpy.Point(linePointList[0][0], linePointList[0][1], linePointList[0][2])

pnt2 = arcpy.Point(linePointList[1][0], linePointList[1][1], linePointList[1][2])

line = arcpy.Polyline(arcpy.Array([pnt1, pnt2]), spatialRef, True, False)

arcpy.CopyFeatures_management(line, fc)

[[

I'm not perfectly sure what it was, but I think I made 2 errors:

1] I think the FC I created was polygon, not polyline

2] in arcpy.Polyline(), I did not define the spatial reference

either or .. not sure.

]]

huge thanks, also to Xander Bakker

Re: ArcGIS PRO: ArcPy: Creating a 3D polyline, visible in Map_3D?

XanderBakker — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 18:43:22 GMT

You are very welcome, although I can't remember doing anything...

What I am curious about is the data format of the linePointList. You use it as a list of lists (each element in linePointList is a list that consists of a list with at least X, Y, and Z elements). Is this always a straight line (so two points)?. And do you always want to write each line to a different featureclass?

Re: ArcGIS PRO: ArcPy: Creating a 3D polyline, visible in Map_3D?

MatthiasBuehler — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 19:19:14 GMT

hi .. basically yes. this was just a quick test method .. I will probably adapt it again.

in your experience, writing n lines individually to an FC compared to sending a list full and write once .. is there a big performance difference?

Re: ArcGIS PRO: ArcPy: Creating a 3D polyline, visible in Map_3D?

XanderBakker — Sun, 14 Aug 2016 03:24:36 GMT

Probably the best way is using an arcpy.da.InsertCursor. If you have a list with features and copy them to a featureclass, a single invalid feature will cause the entire process to fail. Using an Insert cursor provides mores options to avoid that. Also the insert cursor will allow you to store attributes. This is not possible with the Copy Feature tool.

Re: ArcGIS PRO: ArcPy: Creating a 3D polyline, visible in Map_3D?

MatthiasBuehler — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 07:42:51 GMT

sounds good, I may actually also need to add some attrs in the workflow. Thanks!!