ArcMap

Layer 3D To Feature Class

Summary

Exports feature layers with 3D display properties to 3D lines or multipatch features.

Usage

  • Feature layers whose symbology has the following properties will be exported to a multipatch:

    • Extrusion or base height settings.
    • Character marker symbols with depth.
    • 3D model marker symbols.
    • All line symbology.
    • All polygon symbology. If a polygon layer is provided without any 3D display properties, it will be exported as a multipatch that resembles the polygon.

  • Draped layers in ArcGlobe are not supported. Due to the dynamic nature of draped surfaces, height values will not be maintained.

  • Textured fill symbols are not supported. If a feature in the layer uses 3D marker symbols with restricted properties, like textures, the feature will not be added to the output.

  • This tool does not support features symbolized with any of the following properties:

    • Marker symbols that are billboarded. The position of these 2D symbols are dynamically oriented to face the camera position in a 3D scene, so they have no fixed orientation that can be used for exporting.
    • Picture marker symbols.
    • Rasterized layers that are being draped on the scene's surface.
    • Shape marker symbols that come from a file on disk.
    • Shape marker symbols that are sourced from a font but do not have a depth property.

  • Environment settings for XYZ tolerance and resolution are only supported when the output is a line feature.

Syntax

Layer3DToFeatureClass_3d (in_feature_layer, out_feature_class, {group_field})
ParameterExplanationData Type
in_feature_layer

The input feature layer with 3D display properties defined.

Feature Layer
out_feature_class

Extruded points are exported as 3D lines. Points with 3D symbols, extruded lines, and polygons are exported as multipatch features.

Feature Class
group_field
(Optional)

The input feature's text field that will be used to merge multiple input features into the same output feature. The resulting output's remaining attributes will be inherited from one of the input records.

Field

Code sample

Layer3DToFeatureClass example 1 (Python window)

The following sample demonstrates the use of this tool in the Python window.

import arcpy
from arcpy import env

arcpy.CheckOutExtension("3D")
env.workspace = "C:/data"
arcpy.Layer3DToFeatureClass_3d("Points_3D.lyr", "Test.gdb/trees")
Layer3DToFeatureClass example 2 (stand-alone script)

The following sample demonstrates the use of this tool in a stand-alone Python script.

'''****************************************************************************
Name: Layer3DToFeatureClass Example
Description: This script demonstrates how to use the 
             Layer3DToFeatureClass tool to create multipatches from all
             layers in a target workspace. The layer files are assumed to have
             been saved wtih 3D rendering from ArcScene.
****************************************************************************'''
# Import system modules
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
import exceptions, sys, traceback

try:
    # Obtain a license for the ArcGIS 3D Analyst extension
    arcpy.CheckOutExtension("3D")
    
    # Set environment settings
    env.workspace = "C:/data"
    
    # Use the ListFiles method to identify all layer files in workspace
    if arcpy.ListFiles("*.lyr"):
        for lyrFile in arcpy.ListFiles("*.lyr"):
            # Set Local Variables
            outFC = "Test.gdb/{0}".format(lyrFile[:-4]) #Strips '.lyr' from name
            #Execute Layer3DToFeatureClass
            arcpy.Layer3DToFeatureClass_3d(file, outFC)
    else:
        "There are no layer files in {0}.".format(env.workspace)

except arcpy.ExecuteError:
    print arcpy.GetMessages()
except:
    # Get the traceback object
    tb = sys.exc_info()[2]
    tbinfo = traceback.format_tb(tb)[0]
    # Concatenate error information into message string
    pymsg = 'PYTHON ERRORS:\nTraceback info:\n{0}\nError Info:\n{1}'\
          .format(tbinfo, str(sys.exc_info()[1]))
    msgs = 'ArcPy ERRORS:\n {0}\n'.format(arcpy.GetMessages(2))
    # Return python error messages for script tool or Python Window
    arcpy.AddError(pymsg)
    arcpy.AddError(msgs)

Environments

Licensing information

  • ArcGIS Desktop Basic: Requires 3D Analyst
  • ArcGIS Desktop Standard: Requires 3D Analyst
  • ArcGIS Desktop Advanced: Requires 3D Analyst

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