Grids

Summary

Generates an equidistant vector based grid network for a specified area.

Learn more about how Grids works

Illustration

Usage

• This tool creates vector based grid cells for a specified size and extent.

• Valid numeric distances must be used when defining grid cell size values. Negative distances cannot be used.

• The output grid will be created at the cell size specified by the grid cell size.

• It is recommended that you limit your grid size to 0.5 miles or larger to reflect data accuracy and appropriate retrieval of demographic data that is apportioned to the grids.

• Creating very small grid cells for a large extent will take a long to time to process when aggregating data from another layer. Each grid cell is the equivalent of a trade area.

Syntax

Grids_ba (ExtentWay, GridSize, {MeasureUnits}, OutputFeatureClass, {ExtentSourceLayer}, {Extent}, {BDSFeatureClass}, {GridSymbolizationField}, {SelectedSummarizations}, {UseOnlineData})

Parameter	Explanation	Data Type
ExtentWay	How the extent for which the grids will be defined. Enter the coordinates manually —Defines the bounding envelope coordinates manually. Get extent from the layer —Defines the bounding coordinates based on a selected layer.	String
GridSize	The unit used to determine the size of each grid.	Double
MeasureUnits (Optional)	The units used with the distance values. By default, the units defined in the Business Analyst preferences will be selected. Decimal Degrees Feet Kilometers Meters Miles Nautical Miles Yards	String
OutputFeatureClass	The feature class that will contain the grid features.	Feature Class
ExtentSourceLayer (Optional)	The input feature class used to define the extent of the grid network.	Feature Layer
Extent (Optional)	Custom bounding units for the grid extent. Enter the Y minimum and maximum and the X minimum and maximum.	Envelope
BDSFeatureClass (Optional)	Input feature class that will contain the available layers that can be appended to the output feature class (grid).	Feature Layer
GridSymbolizationField (Optional)	Defines the variable that will be thematically mapped in the output feature class.	String
SelectedSummarizations [SelectedSummarizations,...] (Optional)	Allows you to select from an available list of variables in the Layer to Aggregate input feature class to append to the output feature class.	String
UseOnlineData (Optional)	Selects how the Business Analyst data used in the analysis will be accessed. TRUE —Allows a user to acess online Business Analyst data. FALSE —A user will only have access to locally loaded Business Analyst data. This is the default.	Boolean

Code Sample

Grids Example (Stand-alone Script)

# Name: Grinds.py
# Description: Generates a 1-mile grid output layer based on current map extent.
# Author: Esri

# Import system modules
import arcview
import arcpy

arcpy.AddToolbox("C:\Program Files (x86)\ArcGIS\Desktop10.3\Business Analyst\ArcToolbox\Toolboxes\Business Analyst Tools.tbx")
 
try:
# Acquire extension license 
  arcpy.CheckOutExtension("Business") 
 
# Define input and output parameters for the Grids tool
  OutPath = "C:/temp/grids.shp"
  Extent = "C:/temp/Boundary.shp"
 
# Create grid based trade areas
  arcpy.Grids_ba("Get extent from the layer", 1, "Miles", OutPath, Extent)
 
# Release extension license 
  arcpy.CheckInExtension("Business")
 
except:
  print arcpy.GetMessages(2)

Environments

This tool does not use any geoprocessing environments

Licensing Information

• ArcGIS for Desktop Basic: Requires Business Analyst
• ArcGIS for Desktop Standard: Requires Business Analyst
• ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced: Requires Business Analyst

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