Align Representation Markers (Nautical)
Summary
Adjusts the placement of overlapping point symbols so they draw correctly on nautical charts. This process involves two features: inputs and aligners. The input features are items such as buoys, beacons, or light structures, and the aligners are features such as topmarks. To ensure that the two features draw correctly on the map, the aligner representations are rotated and offset from the input representations.
Within the representations for both features, there is a stroke, or line, that serves as its base. The first vertex of this stroke is the starting point of the symbol, while the second vertex controls the angle reference and the offset for representations of associated features. That is, the second vertex is the base from which the displacement angle and the offset are calculated. The stroke has no color to symbolize it.
Usage
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The stroke that serves as the base of the symbol cannot have a color to symbolize it. If the stroke does have a color, the tool will not run.
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Any representations used with this tool must have an "invisible" stroke.
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Input features include buoys, beacons, and light structures. These features are also referred to as "masters".
Once the input feature is set, the input representation will accept a user-specified representation name from a drop-down list for use in the calculations. Representation names can be different from the input feature class name.
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The aligner features are topmarks, fog signals, and radar reflectors. These features are also referred to as "slaves".
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The displacement angle is applied based on the second vertex in the stroke that serves as the base for the representation. This is not usually required for input features but may be for aligner features.
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If no angle value is specified, the input and aligner representations are aligned using the base stroke in both representations.
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The offset between the two representations is based on the displacement angle. The aligner representation is rotated according to the displacement angle, then offset according to the offset specified.
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If no offset value is specified, the input and aligner representations are offset using the distance from the base stroke's point of origin in the representation marker's envelope (lower-left corner).
Syntax
| Parameter | Explanation | Data Type |
in_master_features |
The feature class or layer whose representations need to be aligned. | Feature Layer |
in_master_sql_expression (Optional) |
An SQL expression that defines which features from the input feature class are going to have their representations aligned. Feature class subtypes for beacons include 1 (beacon cardinal), 5 (beacon isolated danger), 10 (beacon lateral), 15 (beacon safe water), and 20 (beacon special purpose). Feature class subtypes for buoys include 25 (buoy cardinal), 30 (buoy installation), 35 (buoy isolated danger), 40 (buoy lateral), 45 (buoy safe water), and 50 (buoy special purpose).  Note:Since input and aligner features are in the same feature class, it is recommended that you define a query for the features to use as the input features. | SQL Expression |
in_master_feature_representation |
The feature class that contains the representations for the input feature class. The representation rule you choose should correspond with the features selected using the SQL expression for the input features. | String |
in_slave_features |
The feature class or layer that contains the features that are associated with the input features. These include topmarks and radar reflectors. | Feature Layer |
in_slave_sql_expression (Optional) |
An SQL expression that defines which features from the aligner feature class are going to have their representations aligned. Feature class subtypes for equipment include 55 (daymark) and 110 (topmark). Note:Since input and aligner features are in the same feature class, it is recommended that you define a query for the features to use as the aligner features. | SQL Expression |
in_slave_feature_representation |
The feature class that contains the representations for the aligner feature class. The representation rule you choose should correspond with the features selected using the SQL expression for the aligner features. | String |
in_displacement_angle (Optional) |
The value, in degrees, that the aligner representation should be rotated from the input representation. This angle is calculated clockwise from the north (0°). When this value is specified, it overrides the angle from the base stroke in the input representation. It is the second vertex within this stroke that usually determines the rotation angle. | Double |
in_displacement_distance (Optional) |
The distance between the aligner representation and the input representation. The displacement distance is applied after the aligner representation has been rotated. This distance can only be calculated in page units. | Linear unit |
Code Sample
In this example, topmarks are aligned with beacons.
# Load Toolbox
arcpy.ImportToolbox("C:/Program Files/ArcGIS/Desktop10.0/ArcToolbox/Toolboxes/Nautical Tools.tbx")
# Local variables
AidsToNavigationP = "AidsToNavigationP"
AidsToNavigationP__2_ = "AidsToNavigationP"
AidsToNavigationP__3_ = "AidsToNavigationP"
# Process: Align Representation Markers...
arcpy.AlignRepresentationMarkers_Nautical(AidsToNavigationP__2_, "FCSubtype=1", "US5FL67M.DBO.AidsToNavigationP_Rep", AidsToNavigationP__3_, "FCSubtype = 110", "US5FL67M.DBO.AidsToNavigationP_Rep", "", "")