Number Features (Defense)

Summary

Adds a sequential number to a new or existing field of a set of input features.

Usage

• Using an existing field to number will overwrite the values in that field.

• Features outside of the Input Area to Number will automatically have the Field to Number (Existing or New) set to Null.

• When specifying a new field name to number in Field to Number (Existing or New), the first letter must be alpha, and the remaining letters must be alphanumeric or underscores.

• When numbering features other than points, all features that are contained within or intersect the Input Area to Number will be numbered.

Syntax

arcpy.defense.NumberFeatures(in_features, field_to_number, {in_area}, {spatial_sort_method}, {new_field_type})

Parameter	Explanation	Data Type
in_features	The input features to number.	Feature Set
field_to_number	The input field to number. The field can be an existing short, long, or text field, or a new field.	Field
in_area (Optional)	The area that will limit the features to number; only features within this area will be numbered.	Feature Set
spatial_sort_method (Optional)	Specifies how features will be spatially sorted for the purpose of numbering. Features are not reordered in the table. UR —Sorting starts at the upper right corner. This is the default. UL —Sorting starts at the upper left corner. LR —Sorting starts at the lower right corner. LL —Sorting starts at the lower left corner. PEANO —Sorting uses a space filling curve algorithm, also known as a Peano curve. NONE —A spatial sort will not be used. The same order as the feature class will be used.	String
new_field_type (Optional)	Specifies the field type of the new field. This parameter is only used when the field name does not exist in the input table. SHORT —The field will be of short type. This is the default. LONG —The field will be of long type. TEXT —The field will be of text type.	String

Derived Output

Name	Explanation	Data Type
out_feature_class	The updated feature class.	Feature Class

Code sample

NumberFeatures example 1 (Python window)

The following Python window script demonstrates how to use the NumberFeatures function.

import arcpy
arcpy.env.workspace = r"C:/Data.gdb"
arcpy.NumberFeatures_defense("Structures", "structure_number", "AO", "LL", 
                             "Short")

NumberFeatures example 2 (stand-alone script)

The following example uses the NumberFeatures function in an example workflow script.

# Convert building footprints to points and number the points.

# Import modules
import arcpy

# Set workspace
arcpy.env.workspace = r"C:/Data.gdb"

# Get building center points
result_points = "Building_Points"
arcpy.FeatureToPoint_management("Buildings_1", result_points)

# Number the points that represent buildings
arcpy.NumberFeatures_defense(result_points, "building_number", "AO", "LL", 
                             "Short")

Environments

Output Coordinate System, Current Workspace, Scratch Workspace

Licensing information

• Basic: No
• Standard: No
• Advanced: Yes