com.esri.arcgis.geoprocessing.tools.cartographytools
Class FeatureOutlineMasks

java.lang.Object
  com.esri.arcgis.geoprocessing.AbstractGPTool
      com.esri.arcgis.geoprocessing.tools.cartographytools.FeatureOutlineMasks

All Implemented Interfaces:

GPTool

public class FeatureOutlineMasks
extends AbstractGPTool

Creates mask polygons at a specified distance and shape around the symbolized features in the input layer. The Feature Outline Masks tool is contained in the Cartography Tools tool box.

Usage tips:

• This tool accepts point, line, and polygon feature layers as well as geodatabase annotation layers as input.
• When creating masks, it is important to know that adding masks to maps adds complexity that will slow map drawing and affect map printing and exporting. Generally, there are three things to consider when creating masks for a map: (1) the number of masks, (2) the complexity of the masks, and (3) whether the masks will be used to mask polygon features filled with marker or line symbols. An increase in the number of masks, having more complex masks, and/or masking against marker or polygon fill symbols will result in slower drawing on your screen. In addition, printing and exporting performance can be poor and even fail to produce valid output, first, because of the large amount of processing required to print and export maps with masks, and second, because of known limitations in how graphic file formats store map export results that have many complicated masks.
• When seeking to improve drawing performance as well as printing and exporting performance and reliability, the most important guideline to follow is to use the simplest masks necessary for the purposes of your map. In particular, when masking annotation text, you will find that CONVEX_HULL type masks are sufficient for many map purposes. If you need more detailed text masks, then use the EXACT_SIMPLIFIED type. Generally, when masking much text on a relatively large map, avoid using the EXACT type mask because it will create too many complicated masks to produce valid output efficiently.
• Margin values are specified in either page units or map units. Most of the time you will want to specify your margin distance value in page units.Margin value units are interpreted differently depending on which units you choose. If you choose points, inches, millimeters, or centimeters, then masks are created using the margin distance as calculated in page space (you can think of the margin as a distance measured on the paper). The reference scale parameter value is accounted for in this calculation.If you choose any other units for your margin, then masks are created using the margin distance as calculated in map space (you can think of the margin as a real-world distance measure on the earth). Also, in this case, the reference scale parameter value is not used as part of the calculation.
• Masks will be created if the margin distance is 0 or negative. A margin size of 0 will create a polygon that represents the exact shape of the symbolized feature. A negative margin will result in a polygon smaller than the symbolized feature. Generally, a margin value larger than 0 will be specified to produce the desired masking effect.
• If the input layer is an annotation layer, the reference scale will be automatically set to the reference scale of the layer's feature class to ensure accurate calculation of the mask.
• When masking annotation projected on the fly, masks should be created using the map's spatial reference by properly setting it in the spatial reference parameter. Readability is preserved when text is projected on the fly, which is why there may be differences in the spatial area that text occupies in different projections.
• Masks of annotation features are font specific. When using masks with text, it is important to ensure that the same font is used onscreen as in the output. To do this, choose to embed fonts in vector output or download SoftFonts to printers or plotters.

Field Summary

Fields inherited from class com.esri.arcgis.geoprocessing.AbstractGPTool

vals

Constructor Summary

FeatureOutlineMasks()
Creates the Feature Outline Masks tool with defaults.

FeatureOutlineMasks(Object inputLayer, Object outputFc, double referenceScale, Object spatialReference, Object margin, String method, String maskForNonPlacedAnno)
Creates the Feature Outline Masks tool with the required parameters.

Method Summary

String	getAttributes() Returns the Transfer Attributes parameter of this tool .
Object	getInputLayer() Returns the Input Layer parameter of this tool .
Object	getMargin() Returns the Margin parameter of this tool .
String	getMaskForNonPlacedAnno() Returns the Create masks for unplaced annotation.
String	getMethod() Returns the Mask Kind parameter of this tool .
Object	getOutputFc() Returns the Output Feature Class parameter of this tool .
double	getReferenceScale() Returns the Reference Scale parameter of this tool .
Object	getSpatialReference() Returns the Calculation coordinate system parameter of this tool .
String	getToolboxAlias() Returns the alias of the tool box containing this tool.
String	getToolboxName() Returns the name of the tool box containing this tool.
String	getToolName() Returns the name of this tool.
void	setAttributes(String attributes) Sets the Transfer Attributes parameter of this tool .
void	setInputLayer(Object inputLayer) Sets the Input Layer parameter of this tool .
void	setMargin(Object margin) Sets the Margin parameter of this tool .
void	setMaskForNonPlacedAnno(String maskForNonPlacedAnno) Sets the Create masks for unplaced annotation.
void	setMethod(String method) Sets the Mask Kind parameter of this tool .
void	setOutputFc(Object outputFc) Sets the Output Feature Class parameter of this tool .
void	setReferenceScale(double referenceScale) Sets the Reference Scale parameter of this tool .
void	setSpatialReference(Object spatialReference) Sets the Calculation coordinate system parameter of this tool .

Methods inherited from class com.esri.arcgis.geoprocessing.AbstractGPTool

getParameterValues, toString

Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, wait, wait, wait

Constructor Detail

FeatureOutlineMasks

public FeatureOutlineMasks()

Creates the Feature Outline Masks tool with defaults.

Initializes the array of tool parameters with the default values specified when the tool was created.

FeatureOutlineMasks

public FeatureOutlineMasks(Object inputLayer,
                           Object outputFc,
                           double referenceScale,
                           Object spatialReference,
                           Object margin,
                           String method,
                           String maskForNonPlacedAnno)

Creates the Feature Outline Masks tool with the required parameters.

Initializes the array of tool parameters with the values as specified for the required parameters and with the default values for the other parameters.

Parameters:

inputLayer - the symbolized input layer from which the masks will be created.

outputFc - the feature class that will contain the mask features.

referenceScale - the reference scale used for calculating the masking geometry when masks are specified in page units. This is typically the reference scale of the map.

spatialReference - the spatial reference for which the masking polygons will be created. This is not the spatial reference that will be assigned to the output feature class. It is the spatial reference of the map in which the masking polygons will be used since the position of symbology may change when features are projected.

margin - the space in page units surrounding the symbolized input features used to create the mask polygon. Typically, masking polygons are created with a small margin around the symbol to improve visual appearance. Margin values are specified in either page units or map units. Most of the time you will want to specify your margin distance value in page units. margin value units are interpreted differently depending on which units you choose. If you choose points, inches, millimeters, or centimeters, then masks are created using the margin distance as calculated in page space (you can think of the margin as a distance measured on the paper). The reference scale parameter value is accounted for in this calculation. if you choose any other units for your margin, then masks are created using the margin distance as calculated in map space (you can think of the margin as a real-world distance measure on the earth). Also, in this case, the reference scale parameter value is not used as part of the calculation.

method - the type of masking geometry created. There are four types:

maskForNonPlacedAnno - specifies whether to create masks for unplaced annotation. This option is only used when masking geodatabase annotation layers.

Method Detail

getInputLayer

public Object getInputLayer()

Returns the Input Layer parameter of this tool . This parameter is the symbolized input layer from which the masks will be created. This is a required parameter.

Returns:

the Input Layer

setInputLayer

public void setInputLayer(Object inputLayer)

Sets the Input Layer parameter of this tool . This parameter is the symbolized input layer from which the masks will be created. This is a required parameter.

Parameters:

inputLayer - the symbolized input layer from which the masks will be created.

getOutputFc

public Object getOutputFc()

Returns the Output Feature Class parameter of this tool . This parameter is the feature class that will contain the mask features. This is a required parameter.

Returns:

the Output Feature Class

setOutputFc

public void setOutputFc(Object outputFc)

Sets the Output Feature Class parameter of this tool . This parameter is the feature class that will contain the mask features. This is a required parameter.

Parameters:

outputFc - the feature class that will contain the mask features.

getReferenceScale

public double getReferenceScale()

Returns the Reference Scale parameter of this tool . This parameter is the reference scale used for calculating the masking geometry when masks are specified in page units. This is typically the reference scale of the map. This is a required parameter.

Returns:

the Reference Scale

setReferenceScale

public void setReferenceScale(double referenceScale)

Sets the Reference Scale parameter of this tool . This parameter is the reference scale used for calculating the masking geometry when masks are specified in page units. This is typically the reference scale of the map. This is a required parameter.

Parameters:

referenceScale - the reference scale used for calculating the masking geometry when masks are specified in page units. This is typically the reference scale of the map.

getSpatialReference

public Object getSpatialReference()

Returns the Calculation coordinate system parameter of this tool . This parameter is the spatial reference for which the masking polygons will be created. This is not the spatial reference that will be assigned to the output feature class. It is the spatial reference of the map in which the masking polygons will be used since the position of symbology may change when features are projected. This is a required parameter.

Returns:

the Calculation coordinate system

setSpatialReference

public void setSpatialReference(Object spatialReference)

Sets the Calculation coordinate system parameter of this tool . This parameter is the spatial reference for which the masking polygons will be created. This is not the spatial reference that will be assigned to the output feature class. It is the spatial reference of the map in which the masking polygons will be used since the position of symbology may change when features are projected. This is a required parameter.

Parameters:

spatialReference - the spatial reference for which the masking polygons will be created. This is not the spatial reference that will be assigned to the output feature class. It is the spatial reference of the map in which the masking polygons will be used since the position of symbology may change when features are projected.

getMargin

public Object getMargin()

Returns the Margin parameter of this tool . This parameter is the space in page units surrounding the symbolized input features used to create the mask polygon. Typically, masking polygons are created with a small margin around the symbol to improve visual appearance. Margin values are specified in either page units or map units. Most of the time you will want to specify your margin distance value in page units. margin value units are interpreted differently depending on which units you choose. If you choose points, inches, millimeters, or centimeters, then masks are created using the margin distance as calculated in page space (you can think of the margin as a distance measured on the paper). The reference scale parameter value is accounted for in this calculation. if you choose any other units for your margin, then masks are created using the margin distance as calculated in map space (you can think of the margin as a real-world distance measure on the earth). Also, in this case, the reference scale parameter value is not used as part of the calculation. This is a required parameter.

Returns:

the Margin

setMargin

public void setMargin(Object margin)

Sets the Margin parameter of this tool . This parameter is the space in page units surrounding the symbolized input features used to create the mask polygon. Typically, masking polygons are created with a small margin around the symbol to improve visual appearance. Margin values are specified in either page units or map units. Most of the time you will want to specify your margin distance value in page units. margin value units are interpreted differently depending on which units you choose. If you choose points, inches, millimeters, or centimeters, then masks are created using the margin distance as calculated in page space (you can think of the margin as a distance measured on the paper). The reference scale parameter value is accounted for in this calculation. if you choose any other units for your margin, then masks are created using the margin distance as calculated in map space (you can think of the margin as a real-world distance measure on the earth). Also, in this case, the reference scale parameter value is not used as part of the calculation. This is a required parameter.

Parameters:

margin - the space in page units surrounding the symbolized input features used to create the mask polygon. Typically, masking polygons are created with a small margin around the symbol to improve visual appearance. Margin values are specified in either page units or map units. Most of the time you will want to specify your margin distance value in page units. margin value units are interpreted differently depending on which units you choose. If you choose points, inches, millimeters, or centimeters, then masks are created using the margin distance as calculated in page space (you can think of the margin as a distance measured on the paper). The reference scale parameter value is accounted for in this calculation. if you choose any other units for your margin, then masks are created using the margin distance as calculated in map space (you can think of the margin as a real-world distance measure on the earth). Also, in this case, the reference scale parameter value is not used as part of the calculation.

getMethod

public String getMethod()

Returns the Mask Kind parameter of this tool . This parameter is the type of masking geometry created. There are four types: This is a required parameter.

Returns:

the Mask Kind

setMethod

public void setMethod(String method)

Sets the Mask Kind parameter of this tool . This parameter is the type of masking geometry created. There are four types: This is a required parameter.

Parameters:

method - the type of masking geometry created. There are four types:

getMaskForNonPlacedAnno

public String getMaskForNonPlacedAnno()

Returns the Create masks for unplaced annotation. parameter of this tool . This parameter is specifies whether to create masks for unplaced annotation. This option is only used when masking geodatabase annotation layers. This is a required parameter.

Returns:

the Create masks for unplaced annotation.

setMaskForNonPlacedAnno

public void setMaskForNonPlacedAnno(String maskForNonPlacedAnno)

Sets the Create masks for unplaced annotation. parameter of this tool . This parameter is specifies whether to create masks for unplaced annotation. This option is only used when masking geodatabase annotation layers. This is a required parameter.

Parameters:

maskForNonPlacedAnno - specifies whether to create masks for unplaced annotation. This option is only used when masking geodatabase annotation layers.

getAttributes

public String getAttributes()

Returns the Transfer Attributes parameter of this tool . This parameter is determines which attributes will be transferred from the input features to the output features. This is an optional parameter.

Returns:

the Transfer Attributes

setAttributes

public void setAttributes(String attributes)

Sets the Transfer Attributes parameter of this tool . This parameter is determines which attributes will be transferred from the input features to the output features. This is an optional parameter.

Parameters:

attributes - determines which attributes will be transferred from the input features to the output features.

getToolName

public String getToolName()

Returns the name of this tool.

Returns:

the tool name

getToolboxName

public String getToolboxName()

Returns the name of the tool box containing this tool.

Returns:

the tool box name

getToolboxAlias

public String getToolboxAlias()

Returns the alias of the tool box containing this tool.

Returns:

the tool box alias