ArcMap

Update

Available with Advanced license.

Summary

Computes a geometric intersection of the Input Features and Update Features. The attributes and geometry of the input features are updated by the update features in the output feature class.

Illustration

Update illustration

Usage

  • The Input Features must be of type polygon.

  • The input feature class will not be modified by this tool. The results of the tool will be written to a new feature class.

  • The Update Features must be polygon.

  • The input feature class and update feature class field names must match.

  • If the update feature class is missing one (or many) of the fields that are present in the input feature class, the input feature class field value for the missing fields will be removed from the output feature class.

  • If the Borders parameter is unchecked in the dialog box (or set to NO_BORDERS in scripting), the polygon boundaries along the outer edge of the update features will be dropped. Even though the outer boundaries of some update polygons are dropped, the attributes of the update features that overlap input features will be assigned to the polygons in the output feature class.

  • Attribute values from the input feature classes will be copied to the output feature class. However, if the input is a layer or layers created by the Make Feature Layer tool and a field's Use Ratio Policy is checked, then a ratio of the input attribute value is calculated for the output attribute value. When Use Ratio Policy is enabled, whenever a feature in an overlay operation is split, the attributes of the resulting features are a ratio of the attribute value of the input feature. The output value is based on the ratio in which the input feature geometry was divided. For example, if the input geometry was divided equally, each new feature's attribute value is assigned one-half of the value of the input feature's attribute value. Use Ratio Policy only applies to numeric field types.

  • This tool will use a tiling process to handle very large datasets for better performance and scalability. For more details, see Geoprocessing with large datasets.

  • This tool may generate multipart features in the output even if all inputs were single part. If multipart features are not desired, use the Multipart to Singlepart tool on the output feature class.

Syntax

Update_analysis (in_features, update_features, out_feature_class, {keep_borders}, {cluster_tolerance})
ParameterExplanationData Type
in_features

The input feature class or layer. Geometry type must be polygon.

Feature Layer
update_features

The features that will be used to update the Input Features. Geometry type must be polygon.

Feature Layer
out_feature_class

The feature class to contain the results. Do not set this to be the same as the Input Features.

Feature Class
keep_borders
(Optional)

Specifies whether the boundary of the update polygon features will be kept.

  • BORDERS —The outside border of the Update Features will be kept in the Output Feature Class. This is the default option.
  • NO_BORDERS —The outside border of the Update Features are dropped after they are inserted into the Input Features. Item values of the Update Features take precedence over Input Features attributes.
Boolean
cluster_tolerance
(Optional)

The minimum distance separating all feature coordinates (nodes and vertices) as well as the distance a coordinate can move in X or Y (or both).

Linear unit

Code sample

Update example 1 (Python window)

The following Python window script demonstrates how to use the Update function in immediate mode.

import arcpy
arcpy.env.workspace = "c:/data"
arcpy.Update_analysis("city_lots.shp", "data.gdb/flood_levels", "data.gdb/low_lots", 
                      "NO_BORDERS", 0.0003)
Update example 2 (stand-alone script)

The following stand-alone script shows how to use the Update function in a scripting environment.

# Name: UpdateZones.py
# Purpose: Update the "lots" feature class with features from "cutzones"

# Import system modules
import arcpy
 
# Set the workspace
arcpy.env.workspace = "c:/data/city.gdb"

# Set local parameters
inFeatures = "lots"
updateFeatures = "cutzones"
outFeatures = "futurecut"

# Process: Update
arcpy.Update_analysis(inFeatures, updateFeatures, outFeatures, "NO_BORDERS", 0.25)

Environments

Licensing information

  • ArcGIS Desktop Basic: No
  • ArcGIS Desktop Standard: No
  • ArcGIS Desktop Advanced: Yes

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