I would like to know if there is another way round to calculate the shortest route between two points (one shp file with two points) in a polyline network without actually using Network Analyst (ArcInfo10).
Actually I don't see the reason to calculate the shortest route without using NA. If you have a network (built with NA as I understand) you should use it. Theoretically you can construct a model with Model Builder that can find the shortest route but it will be pretty complicated 🙂
Thanks Roman, I know it doesn't make much sense. Just to clarify, I got that question in a job interview. My answer was on the lines of using model builder, but I just wondered if it really was another way.
If the goal is to find a shortest path without any restrictions, turns, etc, you could build a geometric network and then use the utility network toolbar to find a path. Do note that the main purpose of this solver for trace tasks in the utility industry but it will get you a shortest path without using network analyst. More info here: http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcgisdesktop/10.0/help/index.html#/Finding_the_shortest_path/002r00000037...
