Make XY Event Layer (Data Management)—ArcGIS Pro

Summary

Creates a point feature layer based on x- and y-coordinates defined in a table. If the source table contains z-coordinates (elevation values), that field can also be specified in the creation of the event layer. The layer created by this tool is temporary.

Usage

The output point feature layer created by this tool is temporary and will not persist after the session ends. You can export this event layer to a feature class on disk using the Copy Features, Feature To Point, or Export Features tool.
You cannot interactively move the output layer's points through editing controls, since event layers are not editable. Alternatives to directly moving these points are to change the x- and y-coordinate attributes in the input table, and re-create the event layer, or save the event layer to a feature class on disk, and perform edits on the feature class.
The standard delimiter for tabular text files with a .csv or .txt extension is a comma, and for files with a .tab extension, a tab. To use an input table with a nonstandard delimiter, you must first specify the correct delimiter used in the table using a schema.ini file.
If the input table does not have an Object ID field, you cannot make selections or add joins to the resulting layer.

Parameters

Label	Explanation	Data Type
XY Table	The table containing the x- and y-coordinates that define the locations of the point features that will be created.	Table View
X Field	The field in the input table that contains the x-coordinates (or longitude).	Field
Y Field	The field in the input table that contains the y-coordinates (or latitude).	Field
Layer Name	The name of the output point event layer.	Feature Layer
Spatial Reference (Optional)	The spatial reference of the coordinates specified in the X Field and Y Field parameters. This will be the output event layer's spatial reference.	Spatial Reference
Z Field (Optional)	The field in the input table that contains the z-coordinates.	Field

arcpy.management.MakeXYEventLayer(table, in_x_field, in_y_field, out_layer, {spatial_reference}, {in_z_field})

Name	Explanation	Data Type
table	The table containing the x- and y-coordinates that define the locations of the point features that will be created.	Table View
in_x_field	The field in the input table that contains the x-coordinates (or longitude).	Field
in_y_field	The field in the input table that contains the y-coordinates (or latitude).	Field
out_layer	The name of the output point event layer.	Feature Layer
spatial_reference (Optional)	The spatial reference of the coordinates specified in the in_x_field and in_y_field parameters. This will be the output event layer's spatial reference.	Spatial Reference
in_z_field (Optional)	The field in the input table that contains the z-coordinates.	Field

Code sample

MakeXYEventLayer example (Python window)

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

import arcpy
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/data"
arcpy.management.MakeXYEventLayer("firestations.dbf", "POINT_X", "POINT_Y", 
                                  "firestations_points", "", "POINT_Z")

MakeXYEventLayer example (stand-alone script)

The following stand-alone Python script demonstrates how to use the MakeXYEventLayer function.


# Description: Creates an XY layer and exports it to a layer file

# import system modules 
import arcpy

# Set environment settings
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/data"
 
# Set the local variables
in_Table = "firestations.dbf"
x_coords = "POINT_X"
y_coords = "POINT_Y"
z_coords = "POINT_Z"
out_Layer = "firestations_layer"
saved_Layer = r"c:\output\firestations.lyr"

# Set the spatial reference
spRef = r"NAD_1983_UTM_Zone_11N"

# Make the XY event layer...
arcpy.management.MakeXYEventLayer(in_Table, x_coords, y_coords, out_Layer, 
                                  spRef, z_coords)

# Save to a layer file
arcpy.management.SaveToLayerFile(out_Layer, saved_Layer)

Environments

Current Workspace

Licensing information

Basic: Yes
Standard: Yes
Advanced: Yes