Erase (Coverage)

License Level:BasicStandardAdvanced

Summary

Creates a new output coverage by overlaying the polygons of the erase coverage with the features of the input coverage. Only those portions of the input coverage features falling outside the erase polygon outer boundaries are copied to the output coverage.

Learn more about how Erase works

Illustration

Erase example
Erase example

Usage

Syntax

Erase_arc (in_cover, erase_cover, out_cover, {feature_type}, {fuzzy_tolerance})
ParameterExplanationData Type
in_cover

The coverage containing features to be erased.

Coverage
erase_cover

The coverage whose outer polygon defines the erasing region.

Coverage
out_cover

The coverage to be created.

Coverage
feature_type
(Optional)

The set of features to be erased:

  • POLYPolygons are erased, and the polygon attribute table (PAT) is updated. This is the default.
  • LINEArcs are erased, and the arc attribute table (AAT) is updated.
  • POINTPoints are erased, and the point attribute table (PAT) is updated.
  • NETPolygons and arcs are erased, and their PAT and AAT are updated.
  • LINKArcs and points are erased, and their AAT and PAT are updated.
  • RAWArcs, data points, and annotation in a coverage that do not have topology (no attribute files) are erased. Route systems are maintained, but regions PAT and AAT are not saved.
String
fuzzy_tolerance
(Optional)

The minimum distance between coordinates in the output coverage. By default, the minimum fuzzy tolerance value from the input coverage and erase coverage is used.

Learn more about how the default fuzzy tolerance is calculated

Double

Code Sample

Erase example (stand-alone script)

The following stand-alone script demonstrates how to erase an area from a coverage.

# Name: Erase_Example.py
# Description: Creates an empty area inside a polygon coverage.
# Requirements: ArcInfo Workstation

# Import system modules
import arcpy
from arcpy import env

# Set environment settings
env.workspace = "C:/data"

# Set local variables
inCover = "tongass1"
eraseCover = "tong_azone"
outCover = "C:/output/tong_nozone"
featureType = "POLY"

# Execute Erase
arcpy.Erase_arc(inCover, eraseCover, outCover, featureType, "")

Environments

Related Topics

Licensing Information

ArcGIS for Desktop Basic: No
ArcGIS for Desktop Standard: No
ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced: Requires ArcInfo Workstation installed
6/18/2012