| 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 |
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
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
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")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)