Directions (Network Analyst)

Summary

Generates turn-by-turn directions from a network analysis layer with routes. The directions can be written to a file in text, XML, or HTML format. If you provide an appropriate style sheet, the directions can be written to any other file format.

Usage

• The tool solves the network analysis layer if it does not already have a valid result.

Parameters

Dialog

Label	Explanation	Data Type
Input Network Analysis Layer	The network analysis layer for which directions will be generated. Directions can be generated only for route, closest facility, and vehicle routing problem network analysis layers. Caution: This tool does not support last mile delivery or waste collection analysis layers even though these layer types support directions.	Network Analyst Layer
Output File Type	Specifies the format that will be used for the output directions file. This parameter is ignored if the style sheet parameter has a value. XML—The output directions file will be generated as an .xml file. Apart from direction strings and the length and time information for the routes, the file will also contain information about the maneuver type and the turn angle for each direction. Text—The output directions file will be generated as a simple .txt file containing the direction strings, the length and, optionally, the time information for the routes. HTML—The output directions file will be generated as an .html file containing the direction strings, the length and, optionally, the time information for the routes.	String
Output Directions File	The full path to the directions file that will be written. If you provide a style sheet for the Stylesheet parameter, ensure that the file suffix for the Output Directions File value matches the file type the style sheet produces.	File
Report Length in These Units	Specifies the linear units that will be used in the directions file. For example, even if the impedance attribute has units of meters, you can show directions in miles. Feet—The linear units will be feet. Yards—The linear units will be yards. Miles—The linear units will be miles. Meters—The linear units will be meters. Kilometers—The linear units will be kilometers. Nautical miles—The linear units will be nautical miles	String
Report Travel Time (Optional)	Specifies whether travel time will be reported in the directions file. Checked—Travel time will be reported in the directions file. This is the default. Unchecked—Travel time will not be reported in the directions file.	Boolean
Time Attribute (Optional)	The time-based cost attribute that will be used to provide travel times in the directions. The cost attribute must exist on the network dataset used by the input network analysis layer. For vehicle routing problem layers and route layers that use time windows, only the travel mode's cost attribute can be used for this parameter.	String
Language (Optional)	The language that will be used for driving directions. Use a two- or five-character language code representing one of the available languages for directions generation for this parameter value. In Python, you can retrieve a list of available language codes using the ListDirectionsLanguages function.	String
Style Name (Optional)	Specifies the formatting style that will be used for directions. Printable driving directions—Printable turn-by-turn directions will be used. Driving directions for a navigation device—Turn-by-turn directions designed for an in-vehicle navigation device will be used. Walking directions—Turn-by-turn walking directions designed for pedestrian routes will be used.	String
Stylesheet (Optional)	The style sheet that will be used for generating a formatted output file type (such as PDF, Word, or HTML). The suffix of the file in the output directions file parameter must match the file type that the style sheet generates. The tool overrides the output file type parameter if this parameter contains a value. Tip: To create custom HTML and text style sheets, copy and edit the style sheets from Network Analyst. The style sheets are available in the <ArcGIS installation directory>\Pro\Resources\NetworkAnalyst\Directions\Styles directory. The HTML style sheet is Dir2PHTML.xsl, and the text style sheet is Dir2PlainText.xsl.	File

Derived Output

Label	Explanation	Data Type
Network Analysis Layer	The updated network analysis layer with routes.	Network Analyst Layer

Python

arcpy.na.Directions(in_network_analysis_layer, file_type, out_directions_file, report_units, {report_time}, {time_attribute}, {language}, {style_name}, {stylesheet})

Name	Explanation	Data Type
in_network_analysis_layer	The network analysis layer for which directions will be generated. Directions can be generated only for route, closest facility, and vehicle routing problem network analysis layers. Caution: This tool does not support last mile delivery or waste collection analysis layers even though these layer types support directions.	Network Analyst Layer
file_type	Specifies the format that will be used for the output directions file. This parameter is ignored if the style sheet parameter has a value. XML—The output directions file will be generated as an .xml file. Apart from direction strings and the length and time information for the routes, the file will also contain information about the maneuver type and the turn angle for each direction. TEXT—The output directions file will be generated as a simple .txt file containing the direction strings, the length and, optionally, the time information for the routes. HTML—The output directions file will be generated as an .html file containing the direction strings, the length and, optionally, the time information for the routes.	String
out_directions_file	If you provide a style sheet for the stylesheet parameter, ensure that the file suffix for the out_directions_file value matches the file type the style sheet produces.	File
report_units	Specifies the linear units that will be used in the directions file. For example, even if the impedance attribute has units of meters, you can show directions in miles. Feet—The linear units will be feet. Yards—The linear units will be yards. Miles—The linear units will be miles. Meters—The linear units will be meters. Kilometers—The linear units will be kilometers. NauticalMiles—The linear units will be nautical miles	String
report_time (Optional)	Specifies whether travel time will be reported in the directions file. NO_REPORT_TIME—Travel time will not be reported in the directions file. REPORT_TIME—Travel time will be reported in the directions file. This is the default.	Boolean
time_attribute (Optional)	The time-based cost attribute that will be used to provide travel times in the directions. The cost attribute must exist on the network dataset used by the input network analysis layer. For vehicle routing problem layers and route layers that use time windows, only the travel mode's cost attribute can be used for this parameter.	String
language (Optional)	The language that will be used for driving directions. Use a two- or five-character language code representing one of the available languages for directions generation for this parameter value. In Python, you can retrieve a list of available language codes using the ListDirectionsLanguages function.	String
style_name (Optional)	Specifies the formatting style that will be used for directions. NA Desktop—Printable turn-by-turn directions will be used. NA Navigation—Turn-by-turn directions designed for an in-vehicle navigation device will be used. NA Campus—Turn-by-turn walking directions designed for pedestrian routes will be used.	String
stylesheet (Optional)	The style sheet that will be used for generating a formatted output file type (such as PDF, Word, or HTML). The suffix of the file in the output directions file parameter must match the file type that the style sheet generates. The tool overrides the output file type parameter if this parameter contains a value. Tip: To create custom HTML and text style sheets, copy and edit the style sheets from Network Analyst. The style sheets are available in the <ArcGIS installation directory>\Pro\Resources\NetworkAnalyst\Directions\Styles directory. The HTML style sheet is Dir2PHTML.xsl, and the text style sheet is Dir2PlainText.xsl.	File

Derived Output

Name	Explanation	Data Type
output_layer	The updated network analysis layer with routes.	Network Analyst Layer

Code sample

Directions example 1 (Python window)

The following code example demonstrates using the Directions function with all the parameters:

arcpy.na.Directions("Route", "TEXT", "C:/Data/Route_Directions.txt", "Miles",
                    "REPORT_TIME", "Minutes")

Directions example 2 (workflow)

The following stand-alone Python script demonstrates using the Directions function to generate driving directions in an .html file for a route.

# Name: Directions_Workflow.py
# Description: Generate driving directions in an html file for a route that
#              visits the store locations in the best sequence in order to
#              minimize the total travel time
# Requirements: Network Analyst Extension

# Import system modules
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
import os

try:
    # Check out Network Analyst license if available. Fail if the Network Analyst license is not available.
    if arcpy.CheckExtension("network") == "Available":
        arcpy.CheckOutExtension("network")
    else:
        raise arcpy.ExecuteError("Network Analyst Extension license is not available.")

    # Set environment settings
    output_dir = "C:/Data"
    # The NA layer's data will be saved to the workspace specified here
    env.workspace = os.path.join(output_dir, "Output.gdb")
    env.overwriteOutput = True

    # Set inputs and outputs
    input_gdb = "C:/Data/SanFrancisco.gdb"
    network = os.path.join(input_gdb, "Transportation", "Streets_ND")
    layer_name = "StoreRoute"
    travel_mode = "Driving Time"
    start_location = os.path.join(input_gdb, "Analysis", "DistributionCenter")
    store_locations = os.path.join(input_gdb, "Analysis", "Stores")
    output_directions = os.path.join(
        output_dir, layer_name + "_Directions.html")
    output_layer_file = os.path.join(output_dir, layer_name + ".lyrx")

    # Create a new route layer. The route starts at the distribution center and
    # visits the stores in the best order to yield the shortest travel time.
    result_object = arcpy.na.MakeRouteAnalysisLayer(
        network, layer_name, travel_mode, "PRESERVE_FIRST", time_of_day="8:00 AM"
    )

    # Get the layer object from the result object. The route layer can
    # now be referenced using the layer object.
    layer_object = result_object.getOutput(0)

    # Get the names of all the sublayers within the route layer.
    sublayer_names = arcpy.na.GetNAClassNames(layer_object)
    #Stores the layer names that we will use later
    stops_layer_name = sublayer_names["Stops"]

    # Load the distribution center as the start location using default field
    # mappings and search tolerance
    arcpy.na.AddLocations(
        layer_object, stops_layer_name, start_location, "", ""
    )

    # Load the store locations as stops. Make sure the store locations are
    # appended to the Stops sublayer so the distribution center you just loaded
    # isn't overwritten. Map the ServiceTime field from the input data to the
    # Attr_[impedance] property in the Stops sublayer so that the time it takes to
    # service each store is included in the total travel time for the route.
    # Figure out what the impedance attrbute is
    solver_props = arcpy.na.GetSolverProperties(layer_object)
    impedance = solver_props.impedance
    # Handle field mappings
    field_mappings = arcpy.na.NAClassFieldMappings(
        layer_object, stops_layer_name
    )
    field_mappings["Name"].mappedFieldName = "Name"
    field_mappings["Attr_" + impedance].mappedFieldName = "ServiceTime"
    arcpy.na.AddLocations(
        layer_object, stops_layer_name, store_locations,
        field_mappings, "", append="APPEND"
    )

    # Generate driving directions in an HTML file
    arcpy.na.Directions(
        layer_object, "HTML", output_directions, "Miles",
        "REPORT_TIME", impedance
    )

    # Save the solved na layer as a layer file on disk
    layer_object.saveACopy(output_layer_file)

    print("Script completed successfully")

except Exception as e:
    # If an error occurred, print line number and error message
    import traceback, sys
    tb = sys.exc_info()[2]
    print("An error occurred on line %i" % tb.tb_lineno)
    print(str(e))

Environments

Current Workspace

Licensing information

• Basic: Requires Network Analyst
• Standard: Requires Network Analyst
• Advanced: Requires Network Analyst