The Chart Automation script tool can perform the following processes: add layers to the TOC, generate cartographic limits, create grids and graticules, calculate symbology, convert labels to annotation, and mask annotation. The processes are described in the following sections.
Add layers to TOC
This process adds to the map document a group layer of ordered and rendered nautical layers with labels turned on, and updates the data sources in each layer to the workspace path of the production database. The group layer is called Nautical.lyr and is installed with ArcGIS Maritimein the following location.
- For 64-bit Windows operating systems—<Install location>\Program Files(x86)\ArcGIS\MaritimeCharting\Desktop<version>\Charting\Cartography\Symbology
- For 32-bit Windows operating systems—<Install location>\Program Files\ArcGIS\MaritimeCharting \Desktop<version>\Charting\Cartography\Symbology
Grids and Graticules
This process runs the Make Grids And Graticules Layer geoprocessing tool in the Cartography Tools toolbox. The appropriate preconfigured grid XML for the INT2 standard is selected based on the MAPSCALE attribute defined in the Product Class AOI feature class for the product. If the value for the MAPSCALE attribute is NULL, the scale defined in the COMPILATIONSCALE attribute is used instead. The output grids are stored in the GRD_Grids feature dataset in the production database and the grid layers are added to the map document under a group layer called Grids. The Grids group layer is listed at the top of the Table Of Contents window. The data frame’s coordinate system, rotation, scale, size, and shape update based on the grids' properties. Finally, the data frame clips using the polygon geometry of the CLP_GRD_Grids feature class created by the Make Grids And Graticules Layer geoprocessing tool and the map document switches to the page layout view.
Generate Cartographic Limits
The Generate Cartographic Limits tool in the Nautical Tools toolbox runs on a predefined list of feature classes and subtypes. The table below shows the input feature classes, subtypes, and output A_L feature classes that run through the Generate Cartographic Limits tool. A selection set is created on the input feature class for the listed subtype or subtypes. The selected features are converted to polylines and erased where their boundary is coincident with a CoastlineL feature. The resulting output polyline features append to the corresponding A_L feature class and added as a layer to the map document if it does not already exist as a layer in the chart panel’s data frame.
Additionally, the Generate Cartographic Limits process also creates a mask polygon for CoastlineL features where they intersect Bridge areas (FCSubtype 5 in CulturalFeaturesA). The mask polygon is added to the Table Of Contents window and is set to mask the CoastlineL layer in the Advanced Drawing Options dialog box.
| Input feature class | Subtype | Output feature class |
|---|---|---|
| DangersA | All | DangersA_L |
| DepthsA | 5, 10, 15 | DepthsA_L |
| IceFeaturesA | All | IceA_L |
| MilitaryFeaturesA | All | MilitaryA_L |
| NaturalFeaturesA | 1, 20, 35 | NaturalA_L |
| OffshoreInstallationsA | All | OffshoreA_L |
| PortsAndServicesA | 5, 10, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 80 | PortsA_L |
| RegulatedAreasAndLimitsA | 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 65, 70, 75, 85, 95, 105, 110, 115 | RegulatedA_L |
| SeabedA | 15 | SeabedA_L |
| TracksAndRoutesA | 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 40, 45, 70 | TracksA_L |
Generate light sectors
Creates light sector features based on a specified point feature class. Light sectors typically appear on nautical charts and depict the distance a light can be seen from its source. Light sectors are based on light features in the AidsToNavigationP feature class in the ArcGIS Maritime.
Calculate Symbology
This process runs the Calculate Symbology geoprocessing tool located in the Cartography Tools toolbox. It runs on the features in the Nautical Features dataset and the Cartographic Features dataset. This tool analyzes the attribution of each feature it processes, and based on that information, it applies the appropriate INT1 representation rule and writes a text string for labeling.
Convert labels to annotation
This process runs the Tiled Labels To Annotation geoprocessing tool located in the Cartography Tools toolbox. The process runs on all layers in the data frame associated with the chart panel. If the labels are turned on in the layer’s properties, feature-linked annotation generates for that layer at the reference scale of the data frame, and the labels for that layer are then turned off. The output annotation feature classes are stored in the production database and the annotation layers are added to the map document under a group layer called Anno. If the Grids and Graticules process is also selected, the Anno group layer shows immediately below the Grids group layer. Otherwise, the Anno group layer lists at the top of the Table Of Contents window. The table below shows all of the annotation layers that run through the model, the output mask layers created from the model, and the intersecting layers/masking layers.
| Anno layer | Mask layer | Intersecting and Masking layer |
|---|---|---|
| SoundingsPAnno | SoundingsPAnno_MASK | DepthsL, TracksAndRoutesL, RegulatedA_L, OffshoreA_L, DepthsA_L, GLN_GRD_Grids |
| DangersPAnno | DangersPAnno_MASK | DepthsL, TracksAndRoutesL, RegulatedA_L, OffshoreA_L, DepthsA_L, GLN_GRD_Grids |
| SeabedPAnno | SeabedPAnno_MASK | DepthsL, TracksAndRoutesL, RegulatedA_L, OffshoreA_L, DepthsA_L, GLN_GRD_Grids |
| AidsToNavigationPAnno | AidsToNavigationPAnno_MASK | DepthsL, CoastlineL, NaturalFeaturesL, CulturalFeaturesL, TracksAndRoutesL, GLN_GRD_Grids |
| LightSectorsLAnno | LightSectorsLAnno_MASK | DepthsL, CoastlineL, NaturalFeaturesL, CulturalFeaturesL, TracksAndRoutesL, GLN_GRD_Grids |
| PortsAndServicesPAnno (where AnnotationClassID <> BERTHS_TXT) | PortsAndServicesPAnno_MASK | DepthsL, CoastlineL, NaturalFeaturesL, CulturalFeaturesL, TracksAndRoutesL, GLN_GRD_Grids |
| CulturalFeaturesPAnno | CulturalFeaturesPAnno_MASK | NaturalFeaturesL, CulturalFeaturesL, GLN_GRD_Grids |
| CulturalFeaturesAAnno | CulturalFeaturesAAnno_MASK | NaturalFeaturesL, CulturalFeaturesL, GLN_GRD_Grids |
| DangersAAnno | DangersAAnno_MASK | DangersA_L, GLN_GRD_Grids |
| RegulatedAreasAndLimitsAAnno | RegulatedAreasAndLimitsAAnno_MASK | RegulatedA_L |
| NaturalFeaturesLAnno | NaturalFeaturesLAnno_MASK | NaturalFeaturesL |
Mask annotation
This process creates mask polygons for all annotation layers, enables layer masking in the Advanced Drawing Options dialog box, and applies layer masking settings. The Feature Outline Masks geoprocessing tool located in the Cartography Tools toolbox is used to create one–point masks on all features in the DepthsLAnno layer. The table below shows the mask layer created by the Feature Outline Masks geoprocessing tool as well as the layers masked by the DepthsLAnno mask polygon.
| Anno layer | Mask layer | Intersecting and Masking layer |
|---|---|---|
| DepthsLAnno | DepthsLAnno_MASK | DepthsL, TracksAndRoutesL, RegulatedA_L, OffshoreA_L, LightSectorsL, GLN_GRD_Grids |
Additionally, one–point masks are created for other predefined annotation layers in the tool. The Generate Annotation Masks tool found in the Nautical Tools toolbox is used to create mask polygons on annotation layers only where they intersect certain nautical layers predefined in the tool. The annotation mask is set as the layer used to mask the intersecting layers.