An overview of the Layers and Table Views toolset

The Layers and Table Views toolset contains tools for creating and manipulating layers, layer files, and table views.

Layers can reference many data types such as feature classes, CAD data, CAD drawings, shapefiles, TINs, raster datasets, and raster bands. Layers are used to add support for symbology and selections to the data on disk.

Tool	Description
Apply Symbology From Layer	Applies the symbology from a specified layer or layer file to the input. It can be applied to feature, raster, network analysis, TIN, and geostatistical layers.
Generate Definition Query From Selection	Creates a definition query (in SQL format) from the selected features or rows of the layer or table.
Make Aggregation Query Layer	Creates a query layer that summarizes, aggregates, and filters DBMS tables dynamically based on time, range, and attribute queries from a related table, and joins the result to a feature layer.
Make Building Layer	Creates a composite building layer from a dataset, either a BIM file workspace or a geodatabase dataset, such as the output of the BIM File To Geodatabase tool.
Make Feature Layer	Creates a feature layer from a feature class or layer file. The layer that is created is temporary and will not persist after the session ends unless the layer is saved to disk or the map document is saved.
Make Image Server Layer	Creates a temporary raster layer from an image service. The layer that is created will not persist after the session ends unless the document is saved.
Make LAS Dataset Layer	Creates a LAS dataset layer that can apply filters to LAS points and control the enforcement of surface constraint features.
Make Mosaic Layer	Creates a mosaic layer from a mosaic dataset or layer file. The layer that is created by the tool is temporary and will not persist after the session ends unless the layer is saved as a layer file or the map is saved.
Make Query Layer	Creates a query layer from a DBMS table based on an input SQL select statement.
Make Query Table	Applies an SQL query to a database, and the results are represented in either a layer or table view. The query can be used to join several tables or return a subset of fields or rows from the original data in the database.
Make Raster Layer	Creates a raster layer from an input raster dataset or layer file. The layer created by the tool is temporary and will not persist after the session ends unless the layer is saved to disk or the map document is saved.
Make Scene Layer	Creates a scene layer from a scene layer package (.slpk) or scene service.
Make Table View	Creates a table view from an input table or feature class. The table view that is created is temporary and will not persist after the session ends unless the document is saved.
Make TIN Layer	Creates a triangulated irregular network (TIN) layer from an input TIN dataset or layer file. The layer that is created by the tool is temporary and will not persist after the session ends unless the layer is saved to disk or the map document is saved.
Make WCS Layer	Creates a temporary raster layer from a WCS service.
Make XY Event Layer	Creates a point event layer from a table containing fields with x- and y-coordinate values, and optionally, z-coordinate (elevation) values.
Match Layer Symbology To A Style	Creates unique value symbology for the input layer based on the input field or expression by matching input field or expression strings to symbol names from the input style.
Save To Layer File	Creates an output layer file (.lyrx) from a map layer. The layer file stores many properties of the input layer such as symbology, labeling, and custom pop-ups.
Select Layer By Attribute	Adds, updates, or removes a selection based on an attribute query.
Select Layer By Location	Selects features based on a spatial relationship to features in another dataset or the same dataset.