Create Features from Text File (Samples)—ArcMap

Summary
Usage
Syntax
Code sample
Environments
Licensing information

Summary

Creates features using coordinates in text files.

Usage

This tool will create a feature class based on coordinates given in a text file. Text files can be the output from the Write Features To Text File tool or from files you created.
Text files must be space delimited and will have different formats, depending on the geometry type.
It is not necessary to provide z- and m-values to point coordinates. Values of 1.#QNAN are given to unprovided z- and m-values.
If you use a thousands separator, the script will not work correctly. Instead of using 1,023.5, use 1023.5.
The script is able to handle various decimal separators. For example, data from the United States will often be in the format 1234.5, while data from Europe may be in the format 1234,5. Specify the decimal separator that corresponds to your data. If you have only integers, you may specify any separator you like.
The spatial reference parameter is optional. If you know the spatial reference of the input text coordinates, you can specify it; however, it is not required. If specified, the output feature class will have the spatial reference you selected.
Text files that represent points should be in the following format: The first line should contain the word Point to indicate the geometry type and the next lines should have the id and x,y,z,m coordinates of the points delimited by a space. The final line should contain the word END. Generically, it will look like this:
```
Point
id x y z m
id x y z m
...
END
```
An example would be:
```
Point
0 1.0 1.0 3.0 1.4
1 2.0 2.0 1.0 3.2
2 3.0 1.0 2.0 2.5
3 2.0 0.0 1.0 1.0
END
```
Text files that represent multipoints should be in the following format: The first line should contain the word Multipoint to indicate the geometry type and the structure continues with the id number of the first group of points (id x y z m), followed by a zero. The points themselves follow. The final line should contain the word END. Generically, it will look like this:
```
Multipoint
multipoint_id 0
pnt_id x y z m
pnt_id x y z m
...
multipoint_id 0
pnt_id x y z m
...
END
```
An example would be:
```
Multipoint
0 0
1 23.0 12.0 5.0 1.0
2 34.0 32.0 4.0 1.0
3 11.0 54.0 5.0 1.0
1 0
1 11.0 9.0 1.0 1.0
2 5.0 5.5 1.0 1.0
3 9.8 3.2 1.0 1.0
END
```
Text files that represent lines should be in the following format: The first line should contain the word Polyline to indicate the geometry type and the structure continues with the id number of the first line, followed by the part number (in case it is a multipart line). The point coordinates follow. The final line should contain the word END. Generically, it will look like this:
```
Polyline
line_id part_number
pnt_id x y z m
pnt_id x y z m
...
line_id part_number
pnt_id x y z m
pnt_id x y z m
...
END
```
The example below represents a line feature class with two features. Feature zero contains two parts.
```
Polyline
0 0
0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0
1 2.0 2.0 0.0 0.0
2 3.0 3.0 0.0 0.0
0 1
0 4.0 4.0 0.0 0.0
1 5.0 5.0 0.0 0.0
2 6.0 6.0 0.0 0.0
1 0
0 1.0 6.0 0.0 0.0
1 2.0 5.0 0.0 0.0
2 3.0 4.0 0.0 0.0
END
```

Text files that represent polygons should be in the following format: The first line should contain the word Polygon to indicate the geometry type and the structure continues with the id number of the first line, followed by the part number (in case it is a multipart polygon). Point coordinates for the respective part and feature follow. In the case of an interior ring, the word InteriorRing (no space) is written before the group of coordinates. Polygons should be closed, that is, the first and last points should be the same. The final line should contain the word END. Generically, it will look like this:

Polygon
polygon_id part_number
pnt_id x y z m
pnt_id x y z m
...
InteriorRing
pnt_id x y z m
pnt_id x y z m
...
polygon_id part_number
pnt_id x y z m
pnt_id x y z m
...
END

In the example below, there are two polygons. Polygon zero has two parts. The second part has an interior ring. Polygon one is a normal polygon.

Polygon
0
5.0 5.0 1.#QNAN 1.#QNAN
5.0 6.0 1.#QNAN 1.#QNAN
6.0 6.0 1.#QNAN 1.#QNAN
6.0 5.0 1.#QNAN 1.#QNAN
5.0 5.0 1.#QNAN 1.#QNAN
1
0.0 0.0 1.#QNAN 1.#QNAN
0.0 4.0 1.#QNAN 1.#QNAN
4.0 4.0 1.#QNAN 1.#QNAN
4.0 0.0 1.#QNAN 1.#QNAN
0.0 0.0 1.#QNAN 1.#QNAN
InteriorRing
1.0 1.0 1.#QNAN 1.#QNAN
1.0 3.0 1.#QNAN 1.#QNAN
3.0 3.0 1.#QNAN 1.#QNAN
3.0 1.0 1.#QNAN 1.#QNAN
1.0 1.0 1.#QNAN 1.#QNAN
0
5.0 3.0 1.#QNAN 1.#QNAN
5.0 4.0 1.#QNAN 1.#QNAN
6.0 4.0 1.#QNAN 1.#QNAN
6.0 3.0 1.#QNAN 1.#QNAN
5.0 3.0 1.#QNAN 1.#QNAN
END

All the examples above will work. Pass them into a text file, save the text file, and use it as input to the tool.

Syntax

arcpy.samples.CreateFeaturesFromTextFile(input_text_file, input_decimal_separator, output_feature_class, {output_feature_class_spatial_reference})

Parameter	Explanation	Data Type
input_text_file	A text file containing coordinates.	Text File
input_decimal_separator	The character that separates the whole number from the decimal. This may vary depending on the source of your data. If the coordinates take the form "1.5", your separator is a period.	String
output_feature_class	The output feature class.	Feature Class
output_feature_class_spatial_reference (Optional)	The spatial reference of the output coordinates.	Spatial Reference

Code sample

# Create geoprocessing dispatch object
import arcgisscripting
gp = arcgisscripting.create()
 
# Set up inputs to tool
inTxt = r"C:\temp\StreamPoints.txt"
inSep = "."
strms = r"C:\temp\Streams.shp"
 
# Run tool
gp.CreateFeaturesFromTextFile(inTxt, inSep, strms, "#")
 
# Use output from createfeatures tool as input to buffer
outFCbuf = r"C:\temp\StreamsBuf.shp"
gp.buffer(strms, "10 Unknown", "FULL", "ROUND", "NONE", "#")

Environments

Licensing information

Basic: Yes
Standard: Yes
Advanced: Yes