Defining parameter data types in a Python toolbox

In a Python toolbox, the parameter's datatype is set using the Parameter class within the getParameterInfo method.

def getParameterInfo(self):
    #Define parameter definitions

    # First parameter
    param0 = arcpy.Parameter(
        displayName="Input workspace",
        name="in_workspace",
        datatype="DEWorkspace",
        parameterType="Required",
        direction="Input")

Composite data types

Occasionally, the need will arise for a parameter to accept multiple data types, often referred to as a composite data type. In a Python toolbox, composite data types are defined by assigning a list of data types to the parameter's datatype property. In the example below, a parameter is defined that will accept either a Raster Dataset or a Raster Catalog.

def getParameterInfo(self):
    #Define parameter definitions

    # First parameter
    param0 = arcpy.Parameter(
        displayName="Input Raster Dataset",
        name="in_rasterdataset",
        datatype=["DERasterDataset", "DERasterCatalog"],
        parameterType="Required",
        direction="Input")

Data types

CautionCaution:

Use of keywords for parameter data types was introduced at 10.1 service pack 1. Parameter descriptions can still be used but are not localized and cannot be used for different locales.

Data type

datatype keyword

Description

Address Locator

DEAddressLocator

A dataset, used for geocoding, that stores the address attributes, associated indexes, and rules that define the process for translating nonspatial descriptions of places to spatial data.

Address Locator Style

GPAddressLocatorStyle

A template on which to base the new address locator.

Analysis Cell Size

analysis_cell_size

The cell size used by raster tools.

Any Value

GPType

A data type that accepts any value.

ArcMap Document

DEMapDocument

A file that contains one map, its layout, and its associated layers, tables, charts, and reports.

Areal Unit

GPArealUnit

An areal unit type and value such as square meter or acre.

Boolean

GPBoolean

A Boolean value.

CAD Drawing Dataset

DECadDrawingDataset

A vector data source with a mix of feature types with symbology. The dataset is not usable for feature class-based queries or analysis.

Calculator Expression

GPCalculatorExpression

A calculator expression.

Catalog Root

DECatalogRoot

The top-level node in the Catalog tree.

Cell Size

GPSACellSize

The cell size used by ArcGIS Spatial Analyst extension.

Cell Size XY

GPCellSizeXY

Defines the two sides of a raster cell.

Composite Layer

GPCompositeLayer

A reference to several children layers, including symbology and rendering properties.

Compression

GPSAGDBEnvCompression

Specifies the type of compression used for a raster.

Coordinate System

GPCoordinateSystem

A reference framework—such as the UTM system—consisting of a set of points, lines, and/or surfaces, and a set of rules, used to define the positions of points in two- and three-dimensional space.

Coordinate Systems Folder

DESpatialReferencesFolder

A folder on disk storing coordinate systems.

Coverage

DECoverage

A coverage dataset, a proprietary data model for storing geographic features as points, arcs, and polygons with associated feature attribute tables.

Coverage Feature Class

DECoverageFeatureClasses

A coverage feature class, such as point, arc, node, route, route system, section, polygon, and region.

Data Element

DEType

A dataset visible in ArcCatalog.

Data File

GPDataFile

A data file.

Database Connections

DERemoteDatabaseFolder

The database connection folder in ArcCatalog.

Dataset

DEDatasetType

A collection of related data, usually grouped or stored together.

Date

GPDate

A date value.

dBase Table

DEDbaseTable

Attribute data stored in dBASE format.

Decimate

GP3DADecimate

Specifies a subset of nodes of a TIN to create a generalized version of that TIN.

Disk Connection

DEDiskConnection

An access path to a data storage device.

Double

GPDouble

Any floating-point number will be stored as a double-precision, 64-bit value.

Encrypted String

GPEncryptedString

Encrypted string for passwords.

Envelope

GPEnvelope

The coordinate pairs that define the minimum bounding rectangle the data source falls within.

Evaluation Scale

GPEvaluationScale

The scale value range and increment value applied to inputs in a weighted overlay operation.

Extent

GPExtent

Specifies the coordinate pairs that define the minimum bounding rectangle (xmin, ymin and xmax, ymax) of a data source. All coordinates for the data source fall within this boundary.

Extract Values

GPSAExtractValues

An extract values parameter.

Feature Class

DEFeatureClass

A collection of spatial data with the same shape type: point, multipoint, polyline, and polygon.

Feature Dataset

DEFeatureDataset

A collection of feature classes that share a common geographic area and the same spatial reference system.

Feature Layer

GPFeatureLayer

A reference to a feature class, including symbology and rendering properties.

Feature Set

GPFeatureRecordSetLayer

Interactive features; draw the features when the tool is run.

Field

Field

A column in a table that stores the values for a single attribute.

Field Info

GPFieldInfo

The details about a field in a FieldMap.

Field Mappings

GPFieldMapping

A collection of fields in one or more input tables.

File

DEFile

A file on disk.

Folder

DEFolder

Specifies a location on a disk where data is stored.

Formulated Raster

GPRasterFormulated

A raster surface whose cell values are represented by a formula or constant.

Fuzzy function

GPSAFuzzyFunction

Fuzzy function.

Geodataset

DEGeodatasetType

A collection of data with a common theme in a geodatabase.

GeoDataServer

DEGeoDataServer

A coarse-grained object that references a geodatabase.

Geometric Network

DEGeometricNetwork

A linear network represented by topologically connected edge and junction features. Feature connectivity is based on their geometric coincidence.

Geostatistical Layer

GPGALayer

A reference to a geostatistical data source, including symbology and rendering properties.

Geostatistical Search Neighborhood

GPGASearchNeighborhood

Defines the searching neighborhood parameters for a geostatistical layer.

Geostatistical Value Table

GPGALayer

A collection of data sources and fields that define a geostatistical layer.

GlobeServer

DEGlobeServer

A Globe server.

GPServer

DEGPServer

A geoprocessing server.

Graph

GPGraph

A graph.

Graph Data Table

GPGraphDataTable

A graph data table.

Group Layer

GPGroupLayer

A collection of layers that appear and act as a single layer. Group layers make it easier to organize a map, assign advanced drawing order options, and share layers for use in other maps.

Horizontal Factor

GPSAHorizontalFactor

The relationship between the horizontal cost factor and the horizontal relative moving angle.

Image Service

DEImageServer

An image service.

Index

Index

A data structure used to speed the search for records in geographic datasets and databases.

INFO Expression

GPINFOExpression

A syntax for defining and manipulating data in an INFO table.

INFO Item

GPArcInfoItem

An item in an INFO table.

INFO Table

DEArcInfoTable

A table in an INFO database.

LAS Dataset

DELasDataset

A LAS dataset stores reference to one or more LAS files on disk, as well as to additional surface features. A LAS file is a binary file that is designed to store airborne lidar data.

LAS Dataset Layer

GPLasDatasetLayer

A layer that references a LAS dataset on disk. This layer can apply filters on lidar files and surface constraints referenced by a LAS dataset.

Layer

GPLayer

A reference to a data source, such as a shapefile, coverage, geodatabase feature class, or raster, including symbology and rendering properties.

Layer File

DELayer

A file with a .lyr extension that stores the layer definition, including symbology and rendering properties.

Line

GPLine

A shape, straight or curved, defined by a connected series of unique x,y coordinate pairs.

Linear Unit

GPLinearUnit

A linear unit type and value such as meter or feet.

Long

GPLong

An integer number value.

M Domain

GPMDomain

A range of lowest and highest possible value for m coordinates.

MapServer

DEMapServer

A map server.

Mosaic Dataset

DEMosaicDataset

A collection of raster and image data that allows you to store, view, and query the data. It is a data model within the geodatabase used to manage a collection of raster datasets (images) stored as a catalog and viewed as a mosaicked image.

Mosaic Layer

GPMosaicLayer

A layer that references a mosaic dataset.

Neighborhood

GPSANeighborhood

The shape of the area around each cell used to calculate statistics.

Network Analyst Class FieldMap

NAClassFieldMap

Mapping between location properties in a Network Analyst layer (such as stops, facilities and incidents) and a point feature class.

Network Analyst Hierarchy Settings

GPNAHierarchySettings

A hierarchy attribute that divides hierarchy values of a network dataset into three groups using two integers. The first integer, high_rank_ends, sets the ending value of the first group; the second number, low_rank_begin, sets the beginning value of the third group.

Network Analyst Layer

GPNALayer

A special group layer used to express and solve network routing problems. Each sublayer held in memory in a Network Analyst layer represents some aspect of the routing problem and the routing solution.

Network Dataset

DENetworkDataset

A collection of topologically connected network elements (edges, junctions, and turns), derived from network sources and associated with a collection of network attributes.

Network Dataset Layer

GPNetworkDatasetLayer

A reference to a network dataset, including symbology and rendering properties.

Parcel Fabric

DECadastralFabric

A parcel fabric is a dataset for the storage, maintenance, and editing of a continuous surface of connected parcels or parcel network.

Parcel Fabric Layer

GPCadastralFabricLayer

A layer referencing a parcel fabric on disk. This layer works as a group layer organizing a set of related layers under a single layer.

Point

GPPoint

A pair of x,y coordinates.

Polygon

GPPolygon

A connected sequence of x,y coordinate pairs, where the first and last coordinate pair are the same.

Projection File

DEPrjFile

A file storing coordinate system information for spatial data.

Pyramid

GPSAGDBEnvPyramid

Specifies if pyramids will be built.

Radius

GPSARadius

Specifies which surrounding points will be used for interpolation.

Random Number Generator

GPRandomNumberGenerator

Specifies the seed and the generator to be used when creating random values.

Raster Band

DERasterBand

A layer in a raster dataset.

Raster Calculator Expression

GPRasterCalculatorExpression

A raster calculator expression.

Raster Catalog

DERasterCatalog

A collection of raster datasets defined in a table; each table record defines an individual raster dataset in the catalog.

Raster Catalog Layer

GPRasterCatalogLayer

A reference to a raster catalog, including symbology and rendering properties.

Raster Data Layer

GPRasterDataLayer

A raster data layer.

Raster Dataset

DERasterDataset

A single dataset built from one or more rasters.

Raster Layer

GPRasterLayer

A reference to a raster, including symbology and rendering properties.

Raster Statistics

GPSAGDBEnvStatistics

Specifies if raster statistics will be built.

Raster Type

GPRasterBuilder

Raster data is added to a mosaic dataset by specifying a raster type. The raster type identifies metadata, such as georeferencing, acquisition date, and sensor type, along with a raster format.

Record Set

GPRecordSet

Interactive table; type in the table values when the tool is run.

Relationship Class

DERelationshipClass

The details about the relationship between objects in the geodatabase.

Remap

GPSARemap

A table that defines how raster cell values will be reclassified.

Route Measure Event Properties

GPRouteMeasureEventProperties

Specifies the fields on a table that describe events that are measured by a linear reference route system.

Schematic Dataset

DESchematicDataset

A schematic dataset contains a collection of schematic diagram templates and schematic feature classes that share the same application domain, for example, water or electrical. It can reside in a personal, file, or ArcSDE geodatabase.

Schematic Diagram

DESchematicDiagram

A schematic diagram.

Schematic Folder

DESchematicFolder

A schematic folder.

Schematic Layer

GPSchematicLayer

A schematic layer is a composite layer composed of feature layers based on the schematic feature classes associated with the template on which the schematic diagram is based.

Semivariogram

GPSASemiVariogram

Specifies the distance and direction representing two locations that are used to quantify autocorrelation.

ServerConnection

DEServerConnection

A server connection.

Shapefile

DEShapefile

Spatial data in shapefile format.

Spatial Reference

GPSpatialReference

The coordinate system used to store a spatial dataset, including the spatial domain.

SQL Expression

GPSQLExpression

A syntax for defining and manipulating data from a relational database.

String

GPString

A text value.

Table

DETable

Tabular data.

Table View

GPTableView

A representation of tabular data for viewing and editing purposes, stored in memory or on disk.

Terrain Layer

GPTerrainLayer

A reference to a terrain, including symbology and rendering properties. It’s used to draw a terrain.

Text File

DETextfile

Data stored in ASCII format.

Tile Size

GPSAGDBEnvTileSize

Specifies the width and the height of a data stored in block.

Time configuration

GPSATimeConfiguration

Specifies the time periods used for calculating solar radiation at specific locations.

TIN

DETin

A vector data structure that partitions geographic space into contiguous, nonoverlapping triangles. The vertices of each triangle are sample data points with x-, y-, and z-values.

Tin Layer

GPTinLayer

A reference to a TIN, including topological relationships, symbology, and rendering properties.

Tool

DETool

A geoprocessing tool.

Toolbox

DEToolbox

A geoprocessing toolbox.

Topo Features

GPSATopoFeatures

Features that are input to the interpolation.

Topology

DETopology

A topology that defines and enforces data integrity rules for spatial data.

Topology Layer

GPTopologyLayer

A reference to a topology, including symbology and rendering properties.

Value Table

GPValueTable

A collection of columns of values.

Variant

GPVariant

A data value that can contain any basic type: Boolean, date, double, long, and string.

Vertical Factor

GPSAVerticalFactor

Specifies the relationship between the vertical cost factor and the vertical, relative moving angle.

VPF Coverage

DEVPFCoverage

Spatial data stored in Vector Product Format.

VPF Table

DEVPFTable

Attribute data stored in Vector Product Format.

WCS Coverage

DEWCSCoverage

Web Coverage Service (WCS) is an open specification for sharing raster datasets on the web.

Weighted Overlay Table

GPSAWeightedOverlayTable

A table with data to combine multiple rasters by applying a common measurement scale of values to each raster, weighing each according to its importance.

Weighted Sum

GPSAWeightedSum

Specifies data for overlaying several rasters multiplied each by their given weight and then summed.

WMS Map

DEWMSMap

A WMS Map.

Workspace

DEWorkspace

A container such as a geodatabase or folder.

XY Domain

GPXYDomain

A range of lowest and highest possible values for x,y coordinates.

Z Domain

GPZDomain

A range of lowest and highest possible values for z coordinates.

Related Topics

3/25/2013