ArcMap

Symbolize by Point Size

Available with Business Analyst license.

Summary

Thematically maps a feature class based on a numeric field and displays it as a symbolized point.

Usage

  • You can display points using a symbol that varies in size to represent different values.

  • Graduated symbols work best for counts and amounts, since most people associate the size of the symbol with magnitude.

  • An example for using a graduated symbol is to display store points as different sizes according to their sales volume or to show customers according to total purchases or visits.

Syntax

SymbolizeByPointSize_ba (InputFeatureLayer, Field, ClassificationSchemeParameterName, ColorParameterName, {NameField}, {UseSelectedFeatures})
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 a 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
ColorParameterName

The color assigned to the points to be symbolized.

Long
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

Code sample

SymbolizeByPointSize example (stand-alone script)

# Name: SymbolizeByPointSize.py
# Description:  Symbolizes sales of a customer file and displays it by point size.
# 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 Point Size tool
# Red point is -65536
  InputFeatureLayer = "C:/temp/sf_cust.shp"
  Field = "SALES"
  ClassificationSchemeParameterName = "Equal Interval"
  ColorParameterName = -65536
 
# Thematically symbolizes a layer by point size
# Red point is -65536
  arcpy.SymbolizeByPointSize_ba(InputFeatureLayer, Field, ClassificationSchemeParameterName, ColorParameterName)
 
# 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

Related topics