Repair Geometry (Data Management)

Summary

Inspects each feature in a feature class for geometry problems. If a problem is found, a fix will be applied, and a one-line description will identify the feature, as well as the geometry problem that was fixed.

This tool uses the same logic as the Check Geometry tool to repair geometry problems.

Learn more about checking and repairing geometries

Usage

Caution:

This tool modifies the input data. See Tools that modify or update the input data for more information and strategies to avoid undesired data changes.

• Valid input formats are shapefiles, and feature classes stored in a file geodatabase, enterprise database or geodatabase, GeoPackage, or SpatiaLite database. For feature classes stored in an enterprise database or enterprise geodatabase, the following spatial types are supported:

  • Microsoft SQL Server—Geometry and Geography
  • PostgreSQL—PostGIS, Geometry and Geography
  • Oracle—SDO_Geometry

  License:

  A Desktop Basic license allows you to apply this tool to only shapefiles and feature classes stored in a file geodatabase, GeoPackage, or SpatiaLite database. A Desktop Standard or Desktop Advanced license allows you to additionally apply this tool to feature classes stored in an enterprise database or geodatabase.

• The Enable Undo toggle button is not valid for inputs from an enterprise geodatabase.

• Below is the list of geometry problems and the corresponding fix that will be performed by the tool:

  • Null geometry—The record will be deleted from the feature class. To keep records with null geometry, uncheck Delete Features with Null Geometry (delete_null = "KEEP_NULL" in Python).
  • Short segment—The geometry's short segment will be deleted.
  • Incorrect ring ordering—The geometry will be updated with the correct ring ordering.
  • Incorrect segment orientation—The geometry will be updated with the correct segment orientation.
  • Self intersections—The areas of overlap in a polygon will be dissolved.
  • Unclosed rings—The unclosed rings will be closed by connecting the end points of the rings.
  • Empty parts—The parts that are null or empty will be deleted.
  • Duplicate vertex—One of the vertices will be deleted.
  • Mismatched attributes—The z- or m-coordinate will be updated to match.
  • Discontinuous parts—Multiple parts will be created from the existing discontinuous part.
  • Empty Z values—The z-value will be set to 0.
  • Bad envelope—The feature's envelope will be updated to be correct.

  Below is the list of geometry problems that may occur from data stored in an enterprise geodatabase and the corresponding fix that will be performed by the tool:

  • NEEDS_REORDERING—The shape will be reordered and duplicate points removed.
  • SE_INVALID_ENTITY_TYPE—The entity type cannot be repaired (the feature must be deleted).
  • SE_SHAPE_INTEGRITY_ERROR—The shape may not be repairable.
  • SE_INVALID_SHAPE_OBJECT—The shape object may not be repairable.
  • SE_COORD_OUT_OF_BOUNDS—The coordinate cannot be repaired.
  • SE_POLY_SHELLS_OVERLAP—Overlapping shells will be merged.
  • SE_TOO_FEW_POINTS—The points cannot be repaired.
  • SE_INVALID_PART_SEPARATOR—The part separator may not be repairable.
  • SE_INVALID_POLYGON_CLOSURE—Unclosed shells will be discarded (the resulting polygon may be left empty).
  • SE_INVALID_OUTER_SHELL—An attempt to repair the feature's outer shells will be made; shells may be discarded in the process.
  • SE_ZERO_AREA_POLYGON—The polygon will be converted to an empty shape.
  • SE_POLYGON_HAS_VERTICAL_LINE—The vertical line will be removed (the shape may be converted to 2D).
  • SE_OUTER_SHELLS_OVERLAP—Overlapping parts will be merged.
  • SE_SELF_INTERSECTING—Intersection points will be added as needed.

  Note:

  Some problems associated with data stored in an enterprise database may not be repairable with ArcGIS tools.

• After applying a fix, the tool will reevaluate the resulting geometry and if another problem is found, the relevant fix will be performed for that problem. For example, the result of fixing a geometry with the Incorrect ring ordering problem may be a geometry with the Null geometry problem.

• There is no fix in Repair Geometry for Bad dataset extent. To resolve this problem, run the Recalculate Feature Class Extent tool on the dataset.

• The Esri validation method ensures that geometry is topologically correct using the Esri Simplify method. The Esri validation is only available for data stored in an enterprise geodatabase.

• The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) validation method ensures that geometry complies with the OGC specification as defined in OpenGIS Implementation Standard for Geographic information – simple feature access – Part 1: common architecture.

• After a feature's geometry is repaired using the OGC option, any subsequent edit or modification may cause the geometry to no longer comply with the OGC specification. After feature modification, run the Check Geometry tool to check for new geometry issues. If necessary, rerun the Repair Geometry tool.

Parameters

Dialog

Label	Explanation	Data Type
Input Features	The feature class or layer to be processed. License: A Desktop Basic license only allows shapefiles and feature classes stored in a file geodatabase, GeoPackage, or SpatiaLite database as valid input feature formats. A Desktop Standard or Desktop Advanced license additionally allows feature classes stored in an enterprise database or geodatabase to be used as valid input feature formats.	Feature Layer
Delete Features with Null Geometry (Optional)	Specifies whether features with null geometries will be deleted. Checked—Features with null geometry will be deleted from the input. This is the default. Unchecked—Features with null geometry will not be deleted from the input. Note: Delete null is not available for data stored in an enterprise database or geodatabase, GeoPackage, or SpatiaLite database.	Boolean
Validation Method (Optional)	Specifies the geometry validation method that will be used to identify geometry problems. Esri—The Esri geometry validation method will be used. This is the default. OGC—The OGC geometry validation method will be used.	String

Derived Output

Label	Explanation	Data Type
Repaired Input Features	The updated input features.	Feature Layer

Python

arcpy.management.RepairGeometry(in_features, {delete_null}, {validation_method})

Name	Explanation	Data Type
in_features	The feature class or layer to be processed. License: A Desktop Basic license only allows shapefiles and feature classes stored in a file geodatabase, GeoPackage, or SpatiaLite database as valid input feature formats. A Desktop Standard or Desktop Advanced license additionally allows feature classes stored in an enterprise database or geodatabase to be used as valid input feature formats.	Feature Layer
delete_null (Optional)	Specifies whether features with null geometries will be deleted. DELETE_NULL— Features with null geometry will be deleted from the input. This is the default. KEEP_NULL— Features with null geometry will not be deleted from the input. Note: Only KEEP_NULL is valid for inputs from an enterprise database or geodatabase, GeoPackage, or SpatiaLite database.	Boolean
validation_method (Optional)	Specifies the geometry validation method that will be used to identify geometry problems. ESRI—The Esri geometry validation method will be used. This is the default. OGC—The OGC geometry validation method will be used.	String

Derived Output

Name	Explanation	Data Type
out_feature_class	The updated input features.	Feature Layer

Code sample

RepairGeometry example 1 (Python window)

The following Python window script demonstrates how to use the RepairGeometry function in immediate mode on a shapefile.

import arcpy
arcpy.RepairGeometry_management("c:/data/sketchy.shp")

RepairGeometry example 2 (stand-alone script)

The following stand-alone script is an example of how to apply the RepairGeometry function in scripting.

# Description: 
#   Goes through the table generated by the Check Geometry tool and does 
#   the following
#   1) backs-up all features which will be 'fixed' to a "_bad_geom" feature class
#   2) runs repairGeometry on all feature classes listed in the table 

import arcpy
import os
 
# Table that was produced by Check Geometry tool
table = r"c:\temp\data.gdb\cg_sample1"
 
# Create local variables
fcs = []
 
# Loop through the table and get the list of fcs
for row in arcpy.da.SearchCursor(table, ("CLASS")):
    # Get the class (feature class) from the cursor
    if not row[0] in fcs:
        fcs.append(row[0])
 
# Now loop through the fcs list, backup the bad geometries into fc + "_bad_geom"
# then repair the fc
print("> Processing {0} feature classes".format(len(fcs)))
for fc in fcs:
    print("Processing " + fc)
    lyr = 'temporary_layer'
    if arcpy.Exists(lyr):
        arcpy.Delete_management(lyr)
    
    tv = "cg_table_view"
    if arcpy.Exists(tv):
        arcpy.Delete_management(tv)

    arcpy.MakeTableView_management(table, tv, ("\"CLASS\" = '%s'" % fc))
    arcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management(fc, lyr)
    arcpy.AddJoin_management(lyr, arcpy.Describe(lyr).OIDFieldName, tv, "FEATURE_ID")
    arcpy.CopyFeatures_management(lyr, fc + "_bad_geom")
    arcpy.RemoveJoin_management(lyr, os.path.basename(table))
    arcpy.RepairGeometry_management(lyr)

Environments

Current Workspace, Extent

Licensing information

• Basic: Limited
• Standard: Yes
• Advanced: Yes