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Features To JSON

Summary

Converts features to JSON format. The fields, geometry, and spatial reference of features will be converted to their corresponding JSON representation and written to a file with a .json extension.

Usage

  • If you want the JSON representation in the output file to be more human readable, you can enable formatting. The JSON will be formatted with spaces, tabs, and carriage returns to improve its readability. A formatted JSON may be beneficial for application development and testing. However, it is not recommended for actual production applications since all of the whitespace is unnecessary and ignored by JSON parsers. Additionally, formatted JSON can be significantly larger than its JSON equivalent and the file size will be greater than its corresponding JSON representation. This can affect application performances.

  • The conversion does not support joins, relates, and attachments of the features.

  • To convert a subset of features in a feature class or layer, use the Select Layer By Attribute or Select Layer By Location tools and select the subset of features to be converted before using the Features To JSON conversion tool.

Syntax

FeaturesToJSON_conversion (in_features, out_json_file, {format_json}, {include_z_values}, {include_m_values})
ParameterExplanationData Type
in_features

The features to convert to JSON.

Feature Layer
out_json_file

The output JSON file.

File
format_json
(Optional)

The JSON can be formatted to improve human readability similar to ArcGIS REST API specification's PJSON (Pretty JSON) format.

  • NOT_FORMATTED — The features will not be formatted. This is the default.
  • FORMATTED —The features will be formatted to improve human readability.
Boolean
include_z_values
(Optional)

Include Z value of the features to the JSON.

  • NO_Z_VALUES — The Z values will not be included in geometries and the hasZ property of the JSON will not be included. This is the default.
  • Z_VALUES —The Z values will be included in geometries and the hasZ property of the JSON will be set to True.
Boolean
include_m_values
(Optional)

Include M value of the features to the JSON.

  • NO_M_VALUES — The M values will not be included in geometries and the hasM property of the JSON will not be included. This is the default.
  • M_VALUES —The M values will be included in geometries and the hasM property of the JSON will be set to True.
Boolean

Code sample

FeaturesToJSON example 1 (Python window)

The following Python window script demonstrates how to use the FeaturesToJSON function to create JSON and PJSON files.

import arcpy
import os
arcpy.env.workspace = "c:/data"
arcpy.FeaturesToJSON_conversion(os.path.join("outgdb.gdb","myfeatures"),"myjsonfeatures.json")
arcpy.FeaturesToJSON_conversion(os.path.join("outgdb.gdb","myfeatures"),"mypjsonfeatures.json","FORMATTED")
FeaturesToJSON example 2 (Python window)

The following Python window script demonstrates how to use the FeaturesToJSON function with Z and M values.

import arcpy
import os
arcpy.env.workspace = "c:/data"
arcpy.FeaturesToJSON_conversion(os.path.join("outgdb.gdb","myfeatures"), "myjsonfeatures.json", "NOT_FORMATTED",
																																 "Z_VALUES", "M_VALUES")
FeaturesToJSON example 3 (stand-alone script)

Convert a subset of features to JSON using Select layer by attribute and Select layer by location.

# Import system modules
import arcpy

# Set the workspace
arcpy.env.workspace = "c:/data/mexico.gdb"

# Make a layer from the feature class
arcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management("cities", "lyr") 
 
# Select all cities which overlap the chihuahua polygon
arcpy.SelectLayerByLocation_management("lyr", "intersect", "chihuahua", 0, "new_selection")

# Within selected features, further select only those cities which have a population > 10,000   
arcpy.SelectLayerByAttribute_management("lyr", "SUBSET_SELECTION", ' "population" > 10000 ')
 
# Convert the selected features to JSON
arcpy.FeaturesToJSON_conversion("lyr", r"c:\data\myjsonfeatures.json")

Environments

Licensing information

  • ArcGIS for Desktop Basic: Yes
  • ArcGIS for Desktop Standard: Yes
  • ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced: Yes

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