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NumPyArrayToFeatureClass

Summary

Converts a NumPy structured array to a point feature class.

Discussion

If a field name from the input array is invalid for the output format, it will be validated. All invalid characters in the input field name are replaced with an underscore (_) in the output field name. Field name restrictions depend on the specific database used.

NumPyArrayToFeatureClass will not overwrite an existing feature class, even if the overwriteOutput environment is set to True.

NumPy is a fundamental package for scientific computing in Python, including support for a powerful N-dimensional array object. For more information, see Working with NumPy in ArcGIS.

Syntax

NumPyArrayToFeatureClass (in_array, out_table, shape_fields, {spatial_reference})
ParameterExplanationData Type
in_array

A NumPy structured array.

The array must include field names and NumPy dtypes.

NumPyArray
out_table

The output point feature class to which the records from the NumPy array will be written.

String
shape_fields
[shape_fields,...]

A list (or tuple) of field names used to create the feature class' geometry. Coordinates are specified in the order of x, y, z, and m. z-coordinate and m-value fields are optional.

Assuming field names of x, y, z, and m in a numpy array, feature classes could be constructed as below. 

import arcpy

# Create a feature class with x,y fields
arcpy.da.NumPyArrayToFeatureClass(array, fc, ("x", "y"))

# Create a feature class with x,y,z fields
arcpy.da.NumPyArrayToFeatureClass(array, fc, ("x", "y", "z"))

# Create a feature class with x,y,m fields
arcpy.da.NumPyArrayToFeatureClass(array, fc, ("x", "y", "", "m"))

# Create a feature class with x,y,z,m fields
arcpy.da.NumPyArrayToFeatureClass(array, fc, ("x", "y", "z", "m"))
String
spatial_reference

The spatial reference of the feature class. It can be specified with either a SpatialReference object or string equivalent.

(The default value is None)

SpatialReference

Code Sample

import arcpy
import numpy

outFC = "C:/data/texas.gdb/fd/pointlocations"

# Create a numpy array with an id field, and a field with a tuple 
#  of x,y coordinates
#
array = numpy.array([(1, (471316.3835861763, 5000448.782036674)),
                     (2, (470402.49348005146, 5000049.216449278))],
                    numpy.dtype([('idfield',numpy.int32),('XY', '<f8', 2)]))

# Define a spatial reference for the output feature class
#
SR = arcpy.Describe("C:/data/texas.gdb/fd").spatialReference

# Export the numpy array to a feature class using the XY field to
#  represent the output point feature
#
arcpy.da.NumPyArrayToFeatureClass(array, outFC, ['XY'], SR)

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