ArcMap

Symbolize by Numeric Field

Available with Business Analyst license.

Summary

Thematically maps a feature class based on a numeric field

Learn more about how Symbolize by Numeric Field works

Usage

  • Displaying points as different colors based on the values of a numeric attribute is an example of a graduated colormap. This kind of map is useful for showing data that is ranked (such as 1 to 10 or low to high) or has numerical progression (such as measurements, counts, rates, or percentages) since colors don't necessarily imply a magnitude.

Syntax

SymbolizeByNumericField_ba (InputFeatureLayer, Field, ClassificationSchemeParameterName, {NameField}, {UseSelectedFeatures}, {ColorSchemeParameterName})
ParameterExplanationData Type
InputFeatureLayer

The input feature layer.

Feature Layer
Field

The attribute field used to define the thematic map.

Field
ClassificationSchemeParameterName

The classification methods to thematically map your input feature class.

  • Natural Breaks —Uses natural breaks classification to produce a thematic map.
  • Std Deviation —Uses standard deviation classification method to produce a thematic map.
  • Equal Interval —Uses equal interval classification method to produce a thematic map.
  • Quantile —Uses quantile classification method to produce a thematic map.
String
NameField
(Optional)

The attribute field used in the normalization calculations.

Field
UseSelectedFeatures
(Optional)

Identifies the features that will be used to generate the thematic map.

  • TRUE —Uses only selected features to generate the thematic map.
  • FALSE —Uses all features to generate the thematic map. This is the default.
Boolean
ColorSchemeParameterName
(Optional)

The color scheme for the thematic map.

String

Code sample

SymbolizeByNumericField example (stand-alone script)

# Name: SymbolizeByNumericField.py
# Description: Symbolizes block groups by total population.
# Author: Esri

# Import system modules
import arcview
import arcpy

arcpy.ImportToolbox(r"C:\Program Files (x86)\ArcGIS\Desktop10.6\Business Analyst\ArcToolbox\Toolboxes\Business Analyst Tools.tbx")

try:
# Acquire extension license 
  arcpy.CheckOutExtension("Business") 
 
# Defines the parameters for the Symbolize by Numeric Field tool
  InputFeatureLayer = "C:/ArcGIS/Business Analyst/US_2017/Data/Demographic Data/esri_bg.bds"
  Field = "TOTPOP_CY"
  ClassificationSchemeParameterName = "Equal Interval"
 
# Thematically symbolizes a layer by a numeric field
  arcpy.SymbolizeByNumericField_ba(InputFeatureLayer, Field, ClassificationSchemeParameterName)
 
# Release extension license 
  arcpy.CheckInExtension("Business")
     
except:
  print arcpy.GetMessages(2)

Environments

This tool does not use any geoprocessing environments.

Licensing information

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

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