ArcMap

WFS To Geodatabase

Available with Production Mapping license.

Summary

Loads data from a Web Feature Service (WFS) to a file geodatabase that can then be used to create map products.

Usage

  • If you've stored a connection to the WFS as a GIS server in your Catalog window, you can specify this connection file as the WFS server. Using the connection file rather than the URL allows you to define an additional setting for how to connect to the service. For more information about the WFS connection string format, see Accessing your data from the WFS connection.

  • If you want a single database for each area of interest, the tool must be run separately for each selected area of interest.

  • The AOI Layer can be used to limit the features extracted from the WFS to a spatial extent. Features that lie within the bounding box of the selected area of interest will be imported into the database. The extent of the area of interest is used instead of the exact geometry.

  • If the AOI Layer is left empty, the entire service will be imported.

  • Domains and subtypes can be used if an existing schema XML file containing them is entered in the XML Workspace.

  • Service information, user name, and password will be contained within the geodatabase.

  • You must have the Production Mapping extension and license to use this database after this tool is run.

  • The tool expects the default axis order of the services to be defined as Latitude/Longitude (y,x). If the WFS service is defined with a different axis order, the data will likely be imported in the wrong geographic location. To import data from a service using a different axis order, you will need to create a WFS connection and enable the Flip axis order advanced setting. For more information, see Adding a WFS connection.

Syntax

arcpy.production.WFSToGeodatabase(wfs_server, in_target_gdb, {xml_workspace}, {in_aoi_features}, {username}, {password})
ParameterExplanationData Type
wfs_server

The URL of the service containing the WFS data or the WFS connection file.

String; Workspace
in_target_gdb

The output geodatabase that contains the WFS features.

Workspace
xml_workspace
(Optional)

The database schema to be used, replacing the schema located in the service.

File
in_aoi_features
(Optional)

Features will be loaded from the specified area of interest.

Feature Layer
username
(Optional)

User name credential if applicable to the service.

String
password
(Optional)

Password credential if applicable to the service.

String Hidden

Code sample

WFSToGeodatabase example (stand-alone script)

The following stand-alone sample script demonstrates how to use WFSToGeodatabase.

# Name: WFSToGeodatabaseExample.py
# Description: Import WFS data into a new file geodatabase in a specificed area of interest.
# Author: Esri
# Date: June 2015

# Import arcpy module
import arcpy

# Check out Production Mapping license
arcpy.CheckOutExtension("Foundation")

# Define variables
wfs_service = "http://sampleserver6.arcgisonline.com/arcgis/services/SampleWorldCities/MapServer/WFSServer"
output_geodatabase = "C:/data/SampleWorldCities.gdb"
xml_workspace = "C:/schema/SampleWorldCities.xml"
aoi_layer = "C:/data/AOI.gdb/AOIfeatureclass"

#Select AOI polygon
arcpy.SelectLayerByAttribute_management(aoi_layer, 'NEW_SELECTION', 'ObjectID = 1')

# Execute WFSToGeodatabase
arcpy.WFSToGeodatabase_production(wfs_service, output_geodatabase, xml_workspace, aoi_layer)

Environments

Licensing information

  • Basic: No
  • Standard: Requires Production Mapping
  • Advanced: Requires Production Mapping

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