Grids (Business Analyst)
Summary
Generates an equidistant vector based grid network for a specified area.
Illustration
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Usage
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This tool creates vector based grid cells for a specified size and extent.
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Valid numeric distances must be used when defining grid cell size values. Negative distances cannot be used.
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The output grid will be created at the cell size specified by the grid cell size.
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It is recommended that you limit your grid size to 0.5 miles or larger to reflect data accuracy and appropriate retrieval of demographic data that is apportioned to the grids.
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Creating very small grid cells for a large extent will take a long to time to process when aggregating data from another layer. Each grid cell is the equivalent of a trade area.
Syntax
| Parameter | Explanation | Data Type |
ExtentWay | How the extent for which the grids will be defined.
| String |
GridSize |
The unit used to determine the size of each grid. | Double |
MeasureUnits (Optional) |
The units used with the distance values. By default, the units defined in the Business Analyst preferences will be selected.
| String |
OutputFeatureClass |
The feature class that will contain the grid features. | Feature Class |
ExtentSourceLayer (Optional) |
The input feature class used to define the extent of the grid network. | Feature Layer |
Extent (Optional) |
Custom bounding units for the grid extent. Enter the Y minimum and maximum and the X minimum and maximum. | Envelope |
BDSFeatureClass (Optional) |
Input feature class that will contain the available layers that can be appended to the output feature class (grid). | Feature Layer |
GridSymbolizationField (Optional) |
Defines the variable that will be thematically mapped in the output feature class. | String |
SelectedSummarizations [SelectedSummarizations,...] (Optional) |
Allows you to select from an available list of variables in the Layer to Aggregate input feature class to append to the output feature class. | String |
UseOnlineData (Optional) | Selects how the Business Analyst data used in the analysis will be accessed.
| Boolean |
Code Sample
# Name: Grinds.py
# Description: Generates a 1-mile grid output layer based on current map extent.
# Author: ESRI
# Import system modules
import arcview
import arcpy
arcpy.AddToolbox("C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\Desktop10.0\ArcToolbox\Toolboxes\Business Analyst Tools.tbx")
try:
# Acquire extension license
arcpy.CheckOutExtension("Business")
# Define input and output parameters for the Grids tool
OutPath = "C:/temp/grids.shp"
Extent = "C:/temp/Boundary.shp"
# Create grid based trade areas
arcpy.Grids_ba("Get extent from the layer", 1, "Miles", OutPath, Extent)
# Release extension license
arcpy.CheckInExtension("Business")
except:
print arcpy.GetMessages(2)