Basic Tiger Conversion (Coverage)
Summary
Converts a set of U.S. Bureau of Census TIGER/Line files into one or more ArcInfo coverages.
Usage
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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
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At least one output coverage must be specified.
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Converts all versions released after April 1989. The minimum input required by this tool is Record Types 1 and 2.
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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.
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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.
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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
| Parameter | Explanation | Data 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.
| String |
Code Sample
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
# Author: ESRI
# 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)