ArcMap

XY Resolution (Environment setting)

Tools that honor this environment will apply the x,y resolution to output geodatasets.

The x,y resolution, expressed as a very small distance, refers to the number of significant digits used to store x,y coordinate values. For a description of how a geodataset's default x,y resolution is calculated, see Spatial reference and geoprocessing.

Usage notes

  • This environment setting will be ignored if the output is within a geodatabase feature dataset.
  • If the XY Resolution environment is not set, tools such as Create Feature Class, Create Feature Dataset, and Create Raster Catalog will set the default x,y resolution at 0.0001 units.
  • If the XY Resolution value produces an x,y domain that is not large enough to span all features being processed, then an x,y resolution and domain large enough to accommodate the features will be calculated instead. This will be conveyed with a warning: 000633: The output resolution is larger than the input feature class resolution. This frequently will occur when the output is a geodataset created inside a low-precision (pre-9.2) personal or ArcSDE geodatabase.
  • If the environment has different measurement units than the output coordinate system, the distance will be converted to an equivalent distance in the center of the output coordinate system. This is not recommended when the environment is set to a linear unit (such as feet or meters) and the output coordinate system is unprojected (geographic) or in the inverse situation (decimal degree environment with a projected output coordinate system).
  • If the x,y resolution is set to Unknown, the units are assumed to be the same as the output coordinate system's units.

Dialog syntax

XY Resolution—The x,y resolution to be set on the output geodatasets. Set this environment if the default x,y resolution is inadequate.

Scripting syntax

arcpy.env.XYResolution = linear_unit

ParameterExplanation

linear_unit

Sets the x,y resolution to be used on output geodatasets. The x,y resolution, expressed as a very small distance, refers to the number of significant digits used to store x,y coordinate values.

XYResolution syntax

Script example

import arcpy

# Set the XYResolution environment to a linear unit
arcpy.env.XYResolution = "0.002 Meters"

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