ArcMap

Basic Tiger Conversion

Summary

Converts a set of U.S. Bureau of Census TIGER/Line files into one or more coverages.

Learn more about how Basic Tiger Conversion works.

Usage

  • Creates up to three output coverages. Both the out_point_cover and out_landmark_cover coverages are created only when the dataset contains area point and landmark features:

    • out_cover—Basic line features
    • out_point_cover—Polygon location points
    • out_landmark_cover—Landmark point features

  • At least one output coverage must be specified.

  • Converts all versions released after April 1989. The minimum input required by this tool is Record Types 1 and 2.

  • This tool does not support Record Types F and G, released with the 1992 School District version. These are temporary record types, not found in earlier or subsequent versions.

  • Only those files in the workspace directory specified by the input TIGER file prefix will be used in the conversion. If the file prefix does not include a path, files in the current workspace directory will be used. Files that are not required for your particular application can be renamed or deleted. Files on CD-ROM will have to be copied to disk before they can be renamed or deleted.

  • The output coverages for this tool will always be in double precision. TIGER/Line files often contain tiny line segments that would be lost if converted to single precision.

Syntax

arcpy.arc.TigerArc(in_tiger_file_prefix, out_cover, {out_point_cover}, {out_landmark_cover}, {tiger_version})
ParameterExplanationData Type
in_tiger_file_prefix

The filename prefix, common to all files in the set of TIGER/Line files being converted. The prefix may include a directory path.

String
out_cover

The name of the output coverage to be created containing the basic line features and attribute data from the set of TIGER/Line files.

Coverage
out_point_cover
(Optional)

The name of the output coverage that contains point features that represent polygon label points for polygons in out_cover.

Coverage
out_landmark_cover
(Optional)

The name of the output point coverage containing landmark features.

Coverage
tiger_version
(Optional)

The input TIGER/Line files version.

  • 1995 —
  • 1997 —
  • 1998 —
  • 1999 —
  • 2000 —
  • 2002 —
  • 2003 —
  • 20041 —
  • 20042 —
  • 20051 —
  • 20052 —
String

Code sample

TigerArc example (stand-alone script)

The following stand-alone script demonstrates how to import a set of TIGER/Line files to coverage format. 

# Name: TigerArc_Example.py
# Description: Imports a set of TIGER/Line files into three coverages
# Requirements: ArcInfo Workstation

# Import system modules
import arcpy
from arcpy import env

# Set environment settings
env.workspace = "C:/data"

# Set local variables
inTigerFilePrefix = "TGR12043.RT"
outCover = "C:/output/tgr12043line"
outPointCover = "C:/output/tgr12043pnt"
outLandmarkCover = "C:/output/tgr12043land"

# Execute TigerArc
arcpy.TigerArc_arc(inTigerFilePrefix, outCover, outPointCover, 
                   outLandmarkCover)

Environments

Licensing information

  • Basic: No
  • Standard: No
  • Advanced: Requires ArcInfo Workstation installed

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