topic Re: Trying to create a point shapefile from a text file in Python Questions

Trying to create a point shapefile from a text file

MikeSquires — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 09:16:02 GMT

I am attempting to create a point shapefile from a text file. The text file is space delimited with three columns; latitude, longitude, and snowfall. I have done this before in ArcGIS 9.x. However in Arc 10 I am having problems. The script below produces a shapefile with the proper attributes and number of rows, but the geometry is messed up. All points are located at 0, 0 lat/lon. I have tried multiple variations but keep coming up with the same problem. I have SP2 installed. Any suggestions are appreciated.

Re: Trying to create a point shapefile from a text file

DanPatterson_Retired — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 09:37:24 GMT

as of version 10, properties are case sensitive, hence your line
point.x
should be
point.X
and
point.Y and point.ID

Re: Trying to create a point shapefile from a text file

MikeSquires — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 09:52:23 GMT

Thanks Dan! Can you suggest any references for ArcPy, especially for converting existing code.

Mike

Re: Trying to create a point shapefile from a text file

DanPatterson_Retired — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 11:23:12 GMT

Start here http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcgisdesktop/10.0/help/index.html#//000v00000001000000.htm and keep reading.

other tips from within Pythonwin or other command line IDE

>>> import arcpy
>>> dir(arcpy)
['ASCII3DToFeatureClass_3d', 'ASCIIToRaster_conversion', 'AddCADFields_conversion', 'AddCodedValueToDomain_management', 'AddColormap_management', 'AddError', 'AddFeatureClassToTerrain_3d', 'AddFeatureClassToTopology_management', 'AddFieldDelimiters', 'AddFieldToAnalysisLayer_na', 'AddField_management', 'AddGlobalIDs_management', 'AddIDMessage', 'AddIndex_management', 'AddItem_arc', 'AddJoin_management', 'AddLocations_na', 'AddMessage', 'AddRastersToMosaicDataset_management', 'AddRepresentation_cartography', 'AddReturnMessage', 'AddRuleToTopology_management', 'AddSpatialIndex_management',.....etc etc

Or for a particular class...
>>> dir(arcpy.Point)
['ID', 'M', 'X', 'Y', 'Z', '__class__', '__delattr__', '__dict__', '__doc__', '__eq__', '__format__', '__getattribute__', '__hash__', '__init__', '__module__', '__new__', '__reduce__', '__reduce_ex__', '__repr__', '__setattr__', '__sizeof__', '__str__', '__subclasshook__', '__weakref__', '_arc_object', '_go', 'clone', 'contains', 'crosses', 'disjoint', 'equals', 'overlaps', 'touches', 'within']
>>>

Or for help...
>>> help(arcpy.Point)
Help on class Point in module arcpy.arcobjects.arcobjects:

class Point(arcpy.arcobjects.mixins.PointMixin, arcpy.arcobjects._base._BaseArcObject)
| The point object is used frequently with cursors. Point features return a
| single point object instead of an array of point objects. All other feature
| typesâ�?��?�polygon, polyline, and multipointâ�?��?�return an array of point
| objects or an array containing multiple arrays of point objects if the
| feature has multiple parts.
|
| Method resolution order:
etc
etc etc

Have fun

Re: Trying to create a point shapefile from a text file

MikeSquires — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 12:47:43 GMT

Thanks! This is helpful.

Mike