ArcMap

Convert AML Format

Summary

Converts AML (Additional Military Layers) 1.0 S-57 files to AML 2.1 standard files so they can be added to ArcGIS Maritime to edit and update. AML version 2.1 cells can also be converted to version 1.0 or 3.0, providing you with the capability to produce both versions from the same dataset or geodatabase.

AML is a unified range of digital geospatial data products designed to satisfy nonnavigational maritime defense requirements.

The objective of AML data is to provide information as overlays to standard charts or as defense-specific products in a single product range with no replication of information.

Usage

  • The default path for an AML conversion file is located at C:\Program Files (x86)\ArcGIS\MaritimeCharting\Desktop10.5\Common\AMLConverter.xml.

  • This tool will create a reissue when the AML version of the cell in the Input Base S-57 Cell parameter matches the value in the Target AML Version parameter.

  • This tool returns the LNAM of the objects it has modified.

  • There are cases where a mandatory attribute is added or dropped between AML formats. This tool cannot automatically populate these attributes with the appropriate values.

  • Depending on the version you are converting to, the following attributes will be missing from the output file and may lead to validation errors:

    • VALSOU attribute (179)—A new mandatory attribute for AML 2.1 that needs to be populated with a floating-point value.
    • DEPWAT attribute (20623)—An unsupported mandatory attribute for AML 2.1 that was populated with a floating-point value in 1.0.

  • If a feature is deleted, the converter will clean up the orphaned primitives.

  • The collection will be removed if only one feature is left in the collection.

  • The AML 3.0 naming format is AML***OU GeographicPosition FreeText.eee, where *** is the three character NATO country code. The GeographicPosition called GEOREF is a maximum of eight characters that represents the rectangular division of earth's surface from 15 x 15 degrees to 1 x 1 inches.

  • For 2.1 to 3.0 conversion, the GEOREF is calculated from the cell extent (union of M_COVR) of the cell. If the cell aligns with a 15 x 15 degrees grid, the GEOREF is two characters, for example, MN. If it aligns with a 1 x 1 degrees grid, the GEOREF is four characters, for example, MNAB.

  • If the cell does not align with any predefined grid in the GEOREF system, the 1 x 1 inches position of the lower-left corner of the cell is calculated, for example, MNAB1234, where 12 and 34 are the East and North minutes within the grid MNAB.

Syntax

arcpy.nautical.ConvertAMLFormat(in_base_cell, in_target_version, in_output_directory, {in_update_cells}, {in_output_filename})
ParameterExplanationData Type
in_base_cell

Base file in the S-57 AML 1.0, 2.1, or 3.0 format.

File
in_target_version
  • 1.0 —AML specification that adheres to the 1.0 standard. This is the default.
  • 2.1 —AML specification that adheres to the 2.1 standard.
  • 3.0 —AML specification that adheres to the 3.0 standard.

Converts AML 1.0 S-57 files to AML 2.1 files, or 3.0 files, or vice versa, for editing and updating. Provides you with the capability to produce both versions from the same dataset or geodatabase.

Indicates the AML version number to which the cells will be converted.

String
in_output_directory

Directory where the converted AML file will be written.

Folder
in_update_cells
(Optional)

Updates the base file in the S-57 AML data product from the version indicated in the Target AML Version parameter. This upgrade will apply formatting changes as described in the AML 1.0, 2.1, or 3.0 specification. For more information on the AML 1.0, 2.1, or 3.0 format and standard, consult the AML specifications.

File
in_output_filename
(Optional)

This is an alternative file name. S-57 header information is updated.

String

Code sample

ConvertAMLFormat example (stand-alone script)

The following code sample demonstrates how to convert an AML file.

# Import arcpy module
import arcpy

# Check for the Nautical extension 
print "Checking out Maritime extension" 
arcpy.AddMessage("Checking out Maritime extension") 
if arcpy.CheckExtension("Nautical") == "Available": 
    arcpy.CheckOutExtension("Nautical") 
else: 
    arcpy.AddError("Maritime: Charting license is unavailable.")


# Tool variables
in_base_cell = "C:\Data\USE5U0AO.000"
in_target_version = '1.0'
in_output_directory = "C:\Data\Output"
in_update_cells = "C:\Data\USE5U0AO.001"

# Execute the tool
arcpy.ConvertAMLFormat_nautical(in_base_cell, in_target_version, in_output_directory,(in_update_cells),'4EEU0AO')

Environments

Licensing information

  • Basic: No
  • Standard: No
  • Advanced: Requires ArcGIS Maritime

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