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.

Parameters

LabelExplanationData Type
Input Features

The input features to number.

Feature Set
Field to Number (Existing or New)

The input field to number. The field can be an existing short, long, or text field, or a new field.

Field
Input Area to Number
(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.

  • Upper right — Sorting starts at the upper right corner. This is the default.
  • Upper left — Sorting starts at the upper left corner.
  • Lower right — Sorting starts at the lower right corner.
  • Lower left — Sorting starts at the lower left corner.
  • Peano curve — 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
Field Type For New Field
(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

LabelExplanationData Type
Output Feature Class

The updated feature class.

Feature Class

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

  • URSorting starts at the upper right corner. This is the default.
  • ULSorting starts at the upper left corner.
  • LRSorting starts at the lower right corner.
  • LLSorting starts at the lower left corner.
  • PEANOSorting uses a space filling curve algorithm, also known as a Peano curve.
  • NONEA 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.

  • SHORTThe field will be of short type. This is the default.
  • LONGThe field will be of long type.
  • TEXTThe field will be of text type.
String

Derived Output

NameExplanationData 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")

Licensing information

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

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