Creating an address locator


Summary When geocoding, before you can locate an address, create an address locator. There are several ways to create an address locator, in most cases, by using the geoprocessing tool. However, you can also create an address locator by using the underlying ArcObjects.

In this topic


Using the geoprocessing tool

You usually create an address locator by using the CreateAddressLocator geoprocessing tool located in the Geocoding toolbox. See the following code example:
[C#]
public void AddressLocatorViaGeoprocessing()
{

    Geoprocessor GP = new Geoprocessor();
    GP.OverwriteOutput = true;

    String workspacePath = @"C:\UnitedStates.gdb";

    CreateAddressLocator createAddressLocator = new CreateAddressLocator();

    createAddressLocator.in_address_locator_style = "US Address - Dual Ranges";

    // Put quotes around the path name if it has spaces.
    String referenceData = workspacePath + @"\US_Streets 'Primary Table'";
    createAddressLocator.in_reference_data = referenceData;

    createAddressLocator.in_field_map = "'Feature ID' ID;" + 
        "'*From Left' L_F_F_ADD;" + "'*To Left' L_T_F_ADD;" + 
        "'*From Right' R_F_F_ADD;" + "'*To Right' R_T_F_ADD;" + 
        "'Prefix Direction' PREDIR;" + "'Prefix Type' NAMEPREFIX;" + 
        "'*Street Name' NAME;" + "'Suffix Type' NAMESUFFIX;" + 
        "'Suffix Direction' SUFDIR;" + "'Left City or Place' pcLo_NAMEL;" + 
        "'Right City or Place' pcRo_NAMER;" + "'Left Zipcode' L_PC;" + 
        "'Right Zipcode' R_PC;" + "'Left State' L_ORDER01;" + 
        "'Right State' R_ORDER01";

    createAddressLocator.out_address_locator = workspacePath + @"\US_Locator";
    createAddressLocator.config_keyword = "#";
    try
    {
        IGeoProcessorResult result = GP.Execute(createAddressLocator, null)as
            IGeoProcessorResult;

        if (result != null)
        {
            if (result.Status != esriJobStatus.esriJobSucceeded)
                Console.WriteLine("Failed to create the address Locator: ");
            else
                Console.WriteLine("Created the address Locator. ");
        }
        else
        {
            if (GP.MessageCount != 0)
            {
                for (int i = 0; i < GP.MessageCount; i++)
                {
                    Console.WriteLine("GP Message " + i + " " + GP.GetMessage(i));
                }
            }
            else
                Console.WriteLine("Execution failed with no status. ");
        }
    }
    catch (Exception e)
    {
        Console.WriteLine(
            "An Exception occured while executing the CreateAddressLocator Tool:  " 
            + e);
    }

}
[VB.NET]
Public Sub AddressLocatorViaGeoprocessing()
    Dim GP As ESRI.ArcGIS.Geoprocessor.Geoprocessor = New ESRI.ArcGIS.Geoprocessor.Geoprocessor
    
    Dim workspacePath As String = "C:\UnitedStates.gdb"
    
    Dim createAddressLocator As CreateAddressLocator = New CreateAddressLocator()
    
    ' Put quotes around the path name if it has spaces.
    createAddressLocator.in_address_locator_style = "US Address - Dual Ranges"
    Dim referenceData As String = workspacePath & "\US_Streets 'Primary Table'"
    createAddressLocator.in_reference_data = referenceData
    
    createAddressLocator.in_field_map = "'Feature ID' ID;" + _
                                        "'*From Left' L_F_F_ADD;" + _
                                        "'*To Left' L_T_F_ADD;" + _
                                        "'*From Right' R_F_F_ADD;" + _
                                        "'*To Right' R_T_F_ADD;" + _
                                        "'Prefix Direction' PREDIR;" + _
                                        "'Prefix Type' NAMEPREFIX;" + _
                                        "'*Street Name' NAME;" + _
                                        "'Suffix Type' NAMESUFFIX;" + _
                                        "'Suffix Direction' SUFDIR;" + _
                                        "'Left City or Place' pcLo_NAMEL;" + _
                                        "'Right City or Place' pcRo_NAMER;" + _
                                        "'Left Zipcode' L_PC;" + _
                                        "'Right Zipcode' R_PC;" + _
                                        "'Left State' L_ORDER01;" + _
                                        "'Right State' R_ORDER01"
    createAddressLocator.out_address_locator = workspacePath & "\US_Streets_Locator"
    
    Try
    Dim result As IGeoProcessorResult = GP.Execute(createAddressLocator, Nothing)
    
    If (Not result Is Nothing) Then
        If (Not result.Status = esriJobStatus.esriJobSucceeded) Then
            Console.WriteLine("Failed to create the address Locator: ")
        Else
            Console.WriteLine("Created the address Locator. ")
        End If
    Else
        If (Not GP.MessageCount = 0) Then
            For i As Integer = 0 To GP.MessageCount - 1
                Console.WriteLine("GP Message " & i & " " + GP.GetMessage(i))
            Next
        Else
            Console.WriteLine("Execution failed with no status. ")
        End If
    End If
    Catch ex As Exception
    Console.WriteLine("An Exception occured while executing the CreateAddressLocator Tool:  " & ex.ToString())
    End Try
End Sub

Using the underlying ArcObjects

Do the following steps to use the underlying ArcObjects:
  1. Open the default local locator workspace to get the locator style.
  2. Get the locator style to base the new locator.
  3. Open the feature class to use as reference data.
  4. Set the feature class as the primary reference data table for the locator.
  5. Store the new locator in the same workspace as the reference data.
The following code example shows how to use the locator workspace, address locator style, and address locator reference data objects to create ESRIGen2AddressLocator:
[C#]
public void AddressLocatorPersonalGDBViaArcObjects()
{
    // Open the default local locator workspace to get the locator style.
    System.Object obj = Activator.CreateInstance(Type.GetTypeFromProgID(
        "esriLocation.LocatorManager"));
    ILocatorManager2 locatorManager2 = obj as ILocatorManager2;
    ILocatorWorkspace locatorWorkspace = locatorManager2.GetLocatorWorkspaceFromPath
        ("");

    // Get the locator style to base the new locator.
    ILocatorStyle locatorStyle = locatorWorkspace.GetLocatorStyle(
        "US Address - Dual Ranges");

    // Open the feature class to use as reference data.
    IWorkspaceFactory2 workspaceFactory2 = new AccessWorkspaceFactoryClass();
    IWorkspace workspace = workspaceFactory2.OpenFromFile(@
        "D:\workspace\arcobjects\location\redlands.mdb", 0);
    IFeatureWorkspace featureWorkspace = (IFeatureWorkspace)workspace;
    IFeatureClass featureClass = featureWorkspace.OpenFeatureClass("Streets");

    // Set the feature class as the primary reference data table for the locator.
    IDataset dataset = (IDataset)featureClass;

    IReferenceDataTables referenceDataTables = (IReferenceDataTables)locatorStyle;
    IEnumReferenceDataTable enumReferenceDataTable = referenceDataTables.Tables;
    enumReferenceDataTable.Reset();

    IReferenceDataTable referenceDataTable = enumReferenceDataTable.Next();
    IReferenceDataTableEdit referenceDataTableEdit = (IReferenceDataTableEdit)
        referenceDataTable;
    IName name = dataset.FullName;
    referenceDataTableEdit.Name_2 = (ITableName)name;

    // Store the new locator in the same workspace as the reference data.
    if (referenceDataTables.HasEnoughInfo)
    {
        locatorWorkspace = locatorManager2.GetLocatorWorkspaceFromPath(@
            "D:\workspace\arcobjects\location\redlands.mdb");
        ILocator locator = locatorWorkspace.AddLocator("New Redlands Locator", 
            (ILocator)locatorStyle, "", null);
    }

}
[VB.NET]
Public Sub AddressLocatorPersonalGDBViaArcObjects()
    ' Open the default local locator workspace to get the locator style.
    Dim obj As System.Object = Activator.CreateInstance(Type.GetTypeFromProgID("esriLocation.LocatorManager"))
    Dim locatorManager2 As ILocatorManager2 = CType(obj, ILocatorManager2)
    Dim locatorWorkspace As ILocatorWorkspace = locatorManager2.GetLocatorWorkspaceFromPath("")
    
    ' Get the locator style to base the new locator.
    Dim locatorStyle As ILocatorStyle = locatorWorkspace.GetLocatorStyle("US Address - Dual Ranges")
    
    ' Open the feature class to use as reference data.
    obj = Activator.CreateInstance(Type.GetTypeFromProgID("esriDataSourcesGDB.FileGDBWorkspaceFactory"))
    Dim workspaceFactory2 As IWorkspaceFactory2 = CType(obj, IWorkspaceFactory2)
    Dim workspace As IWorkspace = workspaceFactory2.OpenFromFile("D:\workspace\arcobjects\location\redlands.gdb", 0)
    Dim featureWorkspace As IFeatureWorkspace = CType(workspace, IFeatureWorkspace)
    Dim featureClass As IFeatureClass = featureWorkspace.OpenFeatureClass("Streets")
    
    ' Set the feature class as the primary reference data table for the locator.
    Dim dataset As IDataset = CType(featureClass, IDataset)
    
    Dim referenceDataTables As IReferenceDataTables = CType(locatorStyle, IReferenceDataTables)
    Dim enumReferenceDataTable As IEnumReferenceDataTable = referenceDataTables.Tables
    enumReferenceDataTable.Reset()
    
    Dim referenceDataTable As IReferenceDataTable = enumReferenceDataTable.Next
    Dim referenceDataTableEdit As IReferenceDataTableEdit = CType(referenceDataTable, IReferenceDataTableEdit)
    Dim Name As IName = dataset.FullName
    referenceDataTableEdit.Name_2 = CType(Name, ITableName)
    
    ' Store the new locator in the same workspace as the reference data.
    If referenceDataTables.HasEnoughInfo Then
        
        locatorWorkspace = locatorManager2.GetLocatorWorkspaceFromPath("D:\workspace\arcobjects\location\redlands.mdb")
        Dim locator As ILocator = locatorWorkspace.AddLocator("New Redlands Locator", CType(locatorStyle, ILocator), "", Nothing)
        
    End If
    
End Sub

Creating an ArcSDE locator

Do the following steps to create an ArcSDE locator:
  1. Open an ArcSDE workspace.
  2. Open the database locator workspace for the ArcSDE workspace.
  3. Get the US Address - Dual Ranges locator style.
  4. Open the feature workspace containing the reference data.
  5. Set the reference data on the new locator.
  6. Store the locator if the reference data is properly specified.
The following code example shows how to use the locator workspace and address locator style objects to create an ArcSDE locator:
[C#]
public void AddressLocatorArcSDEViaArcObjects()
{

    // Open an ArcSDE workspace.
    IPropertySet propertySet = new PropertySetClass();
    propertySet.SetProperty("server", "mendota");
    propertySet.SetProperty("instance", "esri_sde");
    propertySet.SetProperty("database", "arcobjects");
    propertySet.SetProperty("user", "sde");
    propertySet.SetProperty("password", "sde");
    propertySet.SetProperty("version", "SDE.Default");


    System.Object obj = Activator.CreateInstance(Type.GetTypeFromProgID(
        "esriDataSourcesGDB.SdeWorkspaceFactory"));
    IWorkspaceFactory2 workspaceFactory2 = obj as IWorkspaceFactory2;
    IWorkspace workspace = workspaceFactory2.Open(propertySet, 0);

    // Open the database locator workspace for the ArcSDE workspace.
    obj = Activator.CreateInstance(Type.GetTypeFromProgID(
        "esriLocation.LocatorManager"));
    ILocatorManager2 locatorManager2 = obj as ILocatorManager2;
    ILocatorWorkspace locatorWorkspace = locatorManager2.GetLocatorWorkspace
        (workspace);

    // Get the Locator Style from the client workspace
    ILocatorWorkspace clientLocatorWorkspace =
        locatorManager.GetLocatorWorkspaceFromPath("");
    ILocatorStyle locatorStyle = clientLocatorWorkspace.GetLocatorStyle(
        "US Address - Dual Ranges");

    // Open the feature workspace containing the reference data.
    // Set the reference data on the new locator.
    IFeatureWorkspace featureWorkspace = (IFeatureWorkspace)workspace;
    IFeatureClass featureClass = featureWorkspace.OpenFeatureClass(
        "sde.SDE.altanta_st");
    IDataset dataset = (IDataset)featureClass;
    IReferenceDataTables referenceDataTables = (IReferenceDataTables)locatorStyle;
    IEnumReferenceDataTable enumReferenceDataTable = referenceDataTables.Tables;
    enumReferenceDataTable.Reset();

    IReferenceDataTable referenceDataTable = enumReferenceDataTable.Next();
    IReferenceDataTableEdit referenceDataTableEdit = (IReferenceDataTableEdit)
        referenceDataTable;
    referenceDataTableEdit.Name_2 = (ITableName)dataset.FullName;

    // Store the locator if the reference data is properly specified.
    if (referenceDataTables.HasEnoughInfo)
    {
        ILocator locator = locatorWorkspace.AddLocator("My New SDE Locator", 
            (ILocator)locatorStyle, "", null);
    }

}
[VB.NET]
Public Sub AddressLocatorArcSDEViaArcObjects()
    
    ' Open an ArcSDE workspace.
    Dim propertySet As IPropertySet = New PropertySetClass
    With propertySet
        .SetProperty("server", "mendota")
        .SetProperty("instance", "esri_sde")
        .SetProperty("database", "arcobjects")
        .SetProperty("user", "sde")
        .SetProperty("password", "sde")
        .SetProperty("version", "SDE.Default")
    End With
    
    Dim obj As System.Object = Activator.CreateInstance(Type.GetTypeFromProgID("esriDataSourcesGDB.SdeWorkspaceFactory"))
    Dim workspaceFactory2 As IWorkspaceFactory2 = CType(obj, IWorkspaceFactory2)
    Dim workspace As IWorkspace = workspaceFactory2.Open(propertySet, 0)
    
    ' Open the database locator workspace for the ArcSDE workspace.
    Dim obj As System.Object = Activator.CreateInstance(Type.GetTypeFromProgID("esriLocation.LocatorManager"))
    Dim locatorManager2 As ILocatorManager2 = CType(obj, ILocatorManager2)
    Dim locatorWorkspace As ILocatorWorkspace = locatorManager2.GetLocatorWorkspace(workspace)
    
    
    ' get the Locator Style from the client workspace
    Dim clientLocatorWorkspace As ILocatorWorkspace = locatorManager.GetLocatorWorkspaceFromPath("")
    Dim locatorStyle As ILocatorStyle = clientLocatorWorkspace.GetLocatorStyle("US Address - Dual Ranges")
    
    ' Open the feature workspace containing the reference data.
    ' Set the reference data on the new locator.
    Dim featureWorkspace As IFeatureWorkspace = CType(workspace, IFeatureWorkspace)
    Dim featureClass As IFeatureClass = featureWorkspace.OpenFeatureClass("sde.SDE.altanta_st")
    Dim dataset As IDataset = CType(featureClass, IDataset)
    Dim referenceDataTables As IReferenceDataTables = CType(locatorStyle, IReferenceDataTables)
    Dim enumReferenceDataTable As IEnumReferenceDataTable = referenceDataTables.Tables
    enumReferenceDataTable.Reset()
    
    Dim referenceDataTable As IReferenceDataTable = enumReferenceDataTable.Next
    Dim referenceDataTableEdit As IReferenceDataTableEdit = CType(referenceDataTable, IReferenceDataTableEdit)
    referenceDataTableEdit.Name_2 = CType(dataset.FullName, ITableName)
    
    ' Store the locator if the reference data is properly specified.
    If referenceDataTables.HasEnoughInfo Then
        Dim locator As ILocator = locatorWorkspace.AddLocator("My New SDE Locator", CType(locatorStyle, ILocator), "", Nothing)
    End If
    
End Sub

Adding a place name alias table to a locator

Do the following steps to add a place name alias table to a locator:
  1. Open a workspace.
  2. Get the locator from the locator workspace.
  3. Get the table from the feature workspace.
  4. Find the address fields in the place name alias table.
  5. Setup the place name alias table.
  6. Add the new locator to the locator workspace.
See the following code example:
[C#]
public void PlaceNameAlias()
{
    // Get the Workspace
    System.Object obj = Activator.CreateInstance(Type.GetTypeFromProgID(
        "esriDataSourcesGDB.FileGDBWorkspaceFactory"));
    IWorkspaceFactory2 workspaceFactory = obj as IWorkspaceFactory2;
    IWorkspace workspace = workspaceFactory.OpenFromFile(@"C:\UnitedStates.gdb", 0);

    // Get the Locator
    obj = Activator.CreateInstance(Type.GetTypeFromProgID(
        "esriLocation.LocatorManager"));
    ILocatorManager locatorManager = obj as ILocatorManager2;
    ILocatorWorkspace locatorWorkspace = locatorManager.GetLocatorWorkspace
        (workspace);
    ILocator locator = locatorWorkspace.GetLocator("USLocator");

    // Get the Alias Table
    IFeatureWorkspace featureWorkspace = workspace as IFeatureWorkspace;
    ITable aliasTable = featureWorkspace.OpenTable("aliasTable");
    IDataset dataset = aliasTable as IDataset;
    ITableName aliasTableName = dataset.FullName as ITableName;

    // Find the address fields in the place name alias table
    IAddressInputs addressInputs = locator as IAddressInputs;
    IFields addressFields = addressInputs.AddressFields;
    IField addressField = null;
    String addressFieldNames = "";
    String[] defaultInputFieldNames;
    int fieldCount = addressFields.FieldCount;
    for (int i = 0; i < fieldCount; i++)
    {
        addressField = addressFields.get_Field(i);
        defaultInputFieldNames = addressInputs.get_DefaultInputFieldNames
            (addressField.Name)as String[];
        for (int j = 0; j < defaultInputFieldNames.Length; j++)
        {
            if (aliasTable.FindField(defaultInputFieldNames[j]) !=  - 1)
            {
                if (addressFieldNames != "")
                    addressFieldNames += ",";

                addressFieldNames += defaultInputFieldNames[j];
            }
        }
    }

    // Setup IPlaceNameAlias
    IPlaceNameAlias placeNameAlias = locator as IPlaceNameAlias;
    placeNameAlias.Table = aliasTableName;
    placeNameAlias.AddressFields = addressFieldNames;
    placeNameAlias.AliasField = "AliasName";

    // Update the locator
    locatorWorkspace.UpdateLocator(locator);
}
[VB.NET]
Sub PlaceNameAlias()
    ' Get the Workspace
    Dim obj As System.Object = Activator.CreateInstance(Type.GetTypeFromProgID("esriDataSourcesGDB.FileGDBWorkspaceFactory"))
    Dim workspaceFactory As IWorkspaceFactory2 = obj
    Dim workspace As IWorkspace = workspaceFactory.OpenFromFile("C:\UnitedStates.gdb", 0)
    
    ' Get the locator
    obj = Activator.CreateInstance(Type.GetTypeFromProgID("esriLocation.LocatorManager"))
    Dim locatorManager As ILocatorManager2 = obj
    Dim locatorWorkspace As ILocatorWorkspace = locatorManager.GetLocatorWorkspace(workspace)
    Dim locator As ILocator2 = locatorWorkspace.GetLocator("USLocator")
    Dim featureWorkspace As IFeatureWorkspace = workspace
    Dim aliasTable As ITable = featureWorkspace.OpenTable("aliasTable")
    Dim dataset As IDataset = aliasTable
    Dim aliasTableName As ITableName = dataset.FullName
    
    ' Find the address fields in the place name alias table
    Dim addressInputs As IAddressInputs = locator
    Dim addressFields As IFields = addressInputs.AddressFields
    Dim addressField As IField
    Dim addressFieldNames As String = ""
    Dim defaultInputFieldNames() As String
    Dim fieldCount As Integer = addressFields.FieldCount
    For i As Integer = 0 To fieldCount - 1
        addressField = addressFields.Field(i)
        defaultInputFieldNames = addressInputs.DefaultInputFieldNames(addressField.Name)
        For j As Integer = 0 To defaultInputFieldNames.Length - 1
            If aliasTable.FindField(defaultInputFieldNames(j)) <> -1 Then
                If addressFieldNames <> "" Then
                    addressFieldNames + = ","
                End If
                
                addressFieldNames + = defaultInputFieldNames(j)
            End If
        Next
    Next
    
    ' Setup IPlaceNameAlias
    Dim placeNameAlias As IPlaceNameAlias = locator
    placeNameAlias.Table = aliasTableName
    placeNameAlias.AddressFields = addressFieldNames
    placeNameAlias.AliasField = "CONAME"
    
    ' Update the locator
    locatorWorkspace.UpdateLocator(locator)
End Sub






To use the code in this topic, reference the following assemblies in your Visual Studio project. In the code files, you will need using (C#) or Imports (VB .NET) directives for the corresponding namespaces (given in parenthesis below if different from the assembly name):
Development licensing Deployment licensing
Engine Developer Kit Engine Runtime
ArcView ArcView
ArcEditor ArcEditor
ArcInfo ArcInfo