topic Re: How to add an input text area in ArcToolBox as a parameter? in Python Questions

How to add an input text area in ArcToolBox as a parameter?

SaidAkif — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 20:41:57 GMT

Hi all,

I want to add a text zone (or an sql expression zone) to add text or sql statement when I lunch my tool.

I tried to do so by using string or sql expression parameter with multi-values. the problem is that I can not write any text.

I noticed also that there is a button at the right of Select all/Unselect all but it is all the time not activated

Any help please??

Thanks in advance

Re: How to add an input text area in ArcToolBox as a parameter?

DanPatterson_Retired — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 20:53:16 GMT

you can add a parameter of text/string type with direction as input. Don't expect a big text area to enter prose, just a line. If you want an sql statement, then you can use that as well, but you are limited to what it allows.

What is the purpose of the text? The only time I have used one is for someone to enter multiple values as a line or a list, which I then parse within the script.

So some background would help

Setting script tool parameters—Help | ArcGIS for Desktop

Understanding script tool parameters—Help | ArcGIS for Desktop

Re: How to add an input text area in ArcToolBox as a parameter?

curtvprice — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 02:01:04 GMT

If you want a SQL dialog to work, you may need to set the Obtained from property to link the input parameter to a feature layer or feature class input parameter. (This property is way down at the bottom of the parameter list in the script tool parameter dialog.) (Right click script tool, Properties, Parameters tab.)

Re: How to add an input text area in ArcToolBox as a parameter?

SaidAkif — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 12:53:43 GMT

Thanks all for your prompt answers

Yes I add a string parameter and it was fine when I set its MultiValue property as No.

I wanted a big text area so I set MultiValue property as Yes. At this time I got a big area but I wasn't able to add text.

Do I can write in this area with MultiValue property = Yes

When I used SQL expression parameter and another parameter as Feature class or Feature layer, The Obtained from property of the SQL expression parameter was not reachable, meaning that I was not able to link this parameter to the layer

Any help please?

Thanks

Re: How to add an input text area in ArcToolBox as a parameter?

DanPatterson_Retired — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 13:00:35 GMT

text stuff...you will get multiple input lines, not one big area, If you have the need to get a big block of text, load a text file or tweet within the limits of the input line.

sql stuff... you have to have a feature class/layer/table as a parameter in order for the derived parameter to derive something from. Think along the lines... when you want to get the information from a field, the field parameter is derived from the featureclass/shapefile that is a preceeding parameter. You can't do an SQL on something that isn't a parameter first...there is nothing to sql from, ergo, the thing you want to query has to be a parameter, then you can query it

Re: How to add an input text area in ArcToolBox as a parameter?

SaidAkif — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 13:32:05 GMT

Thanks

For the SQL expression parameter I am still can not link it to my Feature layer parameter

Said

Re: How to add an input text area in ArcToolBox as a parameter?

DanPatterson_Retired — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 13:46:37 GMT

the fc and the sql should be able to be linked...obviously you are going to have to provide some visuals.. interest is waining since there is too much conjecture and guess work

Re: How to add an input text area in ArcToolBox as a parameter?

SaidAkif — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 13:52:56 GMT

I can not change the yellow zone below

Re: How to add an input text area in ArcToolBox as a parameter?

DanPatterson_Retired — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 14:20:10 GMT

sql... type derived... obtained from... featureclass (feature layer may be ok) You have it as optional and the sql statement is superfluous

Re: How to add an input text area in ArcToolBox as a parameter?

DanPatterson_Retired — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 01:12:15 GMT

Lots of lookers, but no other suggestions, did you get it to work with the fixes?

Re: How to add an input text area in ArcToolBox as a parameter?

SaidAkif — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 12:38:19 GMT

Hi Dan

No, it did not work. When I make it derived, it is like an output. But even with derived, I could not link it to my feature layer from Obtained from property

Re: How to add an input text area in ArcToolBox as a parameter?

DanPatterson_Retired — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 12:50:42 GMT

Strange... your featureclass does have fields in it and it is an input parameter, so perhaps you have to add a field parameter in there derived from the featureclass.. The only thing I can suggest now, is create your workflow using tools from arctoolbox solely, then examine the results in the Results window to see the linkages.

Re: How to add an input text area in ArcToolBox as a parameter?

SaidAkif — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 12:53:53 GMT

Thanks

I will try it