topic Re: Getting XY from mouse click using python in Python Questions

Getting XY from mouse click using python

MichelleHawks — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:42:24 GMT

Hi all,
I would like to create a button that captures the location of the next mouse click and displays it in LAT/LONG. I imagine is would have to open a submenu which would be closed when the user is finished getting location information. Is there any way to do this using python?

Re: Getting XY from mouse click using python

LoganPugh — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:47:43 GMT

In 10.1 I believe Python add-ins will be able to do this, but for 10.0 and earlier you would need to use ArcObjects.

Re: Getting XY from mouse click using python

JakeSkinner — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:03:44 GMT

You can get the lat/long locations by creating a tool, but as Logan mentioned, you will most likely need ArcObjects to display the lat/long in a menu. Here is a tool sample that obtains the coordinates from where you click and copies the values to clipboard:

http://resources.arcgis.com/gallery/file/geoprocessing/details?entryID=0BF2E736-1422-2418-3416-5AA910449F6E

Re: Getting XY from mouse click using python

IanThomas1 — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 05:15:52 GMT

Hi All,

So 10.1 is now here...

I'm looking for the Python add-ins that will be able to do this neat trick
"Getting XY from mouse click using python":

Specifically I would like to rewire the Fishnet function in ModelBuilder so
that the user can simply click the screen to set both origin_coord & y_axis_coord
interactively rather than having to type all coordinates in....

CreateFishnet_management(out_feature_class, origin_coord, y_axis_coord, cell_width, cell_height, number_rows, number_columns, {corner_coord}, {labels}, {template}, {geometry_type})

Very grateful if anybody can point me in the right direction.

Many thanks,

Ian

Re: Getting XY from mouse click using python

KimOllivier — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 13:56:42 GMT

The help for addins has exactly this fishnet as an example. I did manage to get it to work, but....
Addins are quite complex and difficult to debug. For each fix you have to recompile the addin, copy the files to the addins directory and restart ArcGIS every time because there is no equivalent to the python 'reload' command.

If you only want to get a couple of points, then do this at the start using the featureset type in the dialog for a normal tool. This is a very flexible input method that can take any feature type (point, line, polygon) to generate a temporary featureclass that is delivered as a parameter to use. You can also add a geoprocessing tool to a menu with a simple icon. These abilities have been available since 9.3 but has not been properly publicised.

Popping up a coordinate in a box can be done in python using the windows message box.

import win32ui,win32con
for i in range(32) :
    ok = win32ui.MessageBox("type"+str(i),"Message Title",i)
    print "Form type",i,"Button",ok

Re: Getting XY from mouse click using python

JohnDye — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 11:26:11 GMT

Did anyone ever figure this out? The link referenced by Jskinn3 refers to getting an coordinate extent, not the X, Y point of a mouse click.

Re: Getting XY from mouse click using python

JakeSkinner — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 11:35:51 GMT

Hi John,

The extent is created from two XY locations from two mouse clicks. If you want the extent, you would click in the lower left corner and the upper right corner for the area of interest. If you just want a single location you would just specify one mouse click and execute the tool.

Re: Getting XY from mouse click using python

JohnDye — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 18:43:44 GMT

Hi Jskinn,
Thanks for the quick response. Do you know if there is anyway to do this in Python without requiring the Win32clipboard module. Rather than store the coordinate pair in the clip board, I'm trying to get them into a variable which I can then pass into a Google Map search. I'm essentially trying to rewrite this addin (http://resources.arcgis.com/gallery/file/arcobjects-net-api/details?entryID=48F2BB6C-1422-2418-8822-C06E828584E8) in Python instead of VB

Re: Getting XY from mouse click using python

JakeSkinner — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 13:56:45 GMT

You could use something like:

import arcpy

input = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(0)

cur = arcpy.SearchCursor(input)

for row in cur:
    geom = row.Shape
    X = geom.centroid.X
    Y = geom.centroid.Y
    XY = str(X) + ", " + str(Y)
    
del row, cur

arcpy.AddMessage(XY)

Here the X,Y coordinates are stored in a variable XY. For the input parameter, you will want to set the data type as Feature Set.

Re: Getting XY from mouse click using python

JohnDye — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:52:59 GMT

Jake,
Thanks a bunch. That's exactly what I did after I started playing with the code on Friday. After I posted the message, it dawned on me that the Win32 modules were just being used for the clipboard. My Code is exactly the same, except I didnt concatenate the X and Y coordinates, I want them seperate so I can pass them into a URL individually.

Re: Getting XY from mouse click using python

TonyAlmeida — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 21:52:28 GMT

I have tried to had this as a scipt tool and as an addin but i am not having any look.

Could someone please guide me through to create this xy button please?

Thanks!

Re: Getting XY from mouse click using python

TonyAlmeida — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 13:56:47 GMT

Thank you for the replay but when i replace my exsiting code with what you provided my tool icon indicates it's missing.
Any ideas?

import arcpy
import pythonaddins

class XYTool(object):
    """Implementation for xy_addin.XYTool (Tool)"""
   def __init__(self):
        self.enabled = True
        self.cursor=3
    def onMouseDownMap(self, x, y, button, shift):
        
        mxd=arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("current")
        df = arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(mxd)[0]
        pt=arcpy.PointGeometry(arcpy.Point(x,y))
        #ptfeat=arcpy.management.CopyFeatures(pt,r"in_memory\pt")
        print x,y

Re: Getting XY from mouse click using python

TonyAlmeida — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 14:44:25 GMT

I got it to work kind of, i had a syntax error problem. I have fixed it and added the tool button but when i click the button and click on the map nothing happens, nothing is displayed... i am i missing something?

Thanks!

Re: Getting XY from mouse click using python

JakeSkinner — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 14:48:12 GMT

The coordinates will be printed to your Python window. Open that window before executing the tool.

Re: Getting XY from mouse click using python

TonyAlmeida — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:39:26 GMT

I found that out just before i saw your post. Thanks!

Is there a way to popup a message with out having to turn on the python window?

Re: Getting XY from mouse click using python

DeanCarstens — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 23:57:04 GMT

Hi Tony,

You can do this using the MessageBox in the pythonaddins module. Pass the coordinates to the message property as text.

Re: Getting XY from mouse click using python

TonyAlmeida — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 13:55:41 GMT

I got to pop up the message box, but it has NaN Nan at the end.. what is that?
Would there be a possible way to add the "Long" & "Lat" text to the beginning or the end of the coordinates?

to display like this,

Latitude = 43.5373, Longitude = -114.2578
or
Lat = 43.5373, Long = -114.2578

Re: Getting XY from mouse click using python

JakeSkinner — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 13:56:50 GMT

You will just need to add pythonaddins.Messagebox to the end of your code. Ex:

import arcpy
import pythonaddins

class XYTool(object):
    """Implementation for xy_addin.XYTool (Tool)"""
   def __init__(self):
        self.enabled = True
        self.cursor=3
    def onMouseDownMap(self, x, y, button, shift):
        
        mxd=arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("current")
        df = arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(mxd)[0]
        pt=arcpy.PointGeometry(arcpy.Point(x,y))
        #ptfeat=arcpy.management.CopyFeatures(pt,r"in_memory\pt")
        print x,y
        pythonaddins.MessageBox(str(x) + ", " + str(y), 'Coordinates', 0)

Re: Getting XY from mouse click using python

TonyAlmeida — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 13:56:53 GMT

my current code;

import arcpy
import pythonaddins

class XY(object):
    """Implementation for xy_addin.tool (Tool)"""
    def __init__(self):
        self.enabled = True
        self.cursor=3
    def onMouseDownMap(self, x, y, button, shift):
        
        mxd=arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("current")
        df = arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(mxd)[0]
        pt=arcpy.PointGeometry(arcpy.Point(x,y))
        #ptfeat=arcpy.management.CopyFeatures(pt,r"in_memory\pt")
        print x,y
        pythonaddins.MessageBox (arcpy.Point(x,y) ,'Location','0')
        pass

Re: Getting XY from mouse click using python

TonyAlmeida — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 13:56:56 GMT

Thank you JSkinns3!

I was able to figure it out.

import arcpy
import pythonaddins

class XY(object):
    """Implementation for xy_addin.tool (Tool)"""
    def __init__(self):
        self.enabled = True
        self.cursor=3
    def onMouseDownMap(self, x, y, button, shift):
        
        mxd=arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("current")
        df = arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(mxd)[0]
        pt=arcpy.PointGeometry(arcpy.Point(x,y))
        #ptfeat=arcpy.management.CopyFeatures(pt,r"in_memory\pt")
        print x,y
        pythonaddins.MessageBox("Long" + " " + str(x) + '\n'+ "Lat"+ " " + str(y), 'Coordinates', 0)