Identity (Analysis)

License Level:BasicStandardAdvanced

Summary

Computes a geometric intersection of the input features and identity features. The input features or portions thereof that overlap identity features will get the attributes of those identity features.

Illustration

Identity illustration

Usage

Syntax

Identity_analysis (in_features, identity_features, out_feature_class, {join_attributes}, {cluster_tolerance}, {relationship})
ParameterExplanationData Type
in_features

The input feature class or layer.

Feature Layer
identity_features

The identity feature class or layer. Must be polygons or the same geometry type as the input features.

Feature Layer
out_feature_class

The feature class that will be created and to which the results will be written.

Feature Class
join_attributes
(Optional)

Determines what attributes will be transferred to the output feature class.

  • ALLAll the attributes (including FIDs) from the input features, as well as the identity features, will be transferred to the output features. If no intersection is found the identity feature values will not be transferred to the output (their values will be set to empty strings or 0) and the identity feature FID will be -1. This is the default.
  • NO_FIDAll the attributes except the FID from the input features and identity features will be transferred to the output features. If no intersection is found the identity feature values will not be transferred to the output (their values will be set to empty strings or 0).
  • ONLY_FIDAll the attributes from the input features but only the FID from the identity features will be transferred to the output features. The identity features FID attribute in the output will be -1 if no intersection is found.
String
cluster_tolerance
(Optional)

The minimum distance separating all feature coordinates (nodes and vertices) as well as the distance a coordinate can move in X or Y (or both).

Linear unit
relationship
(Optional)

Determines if additional spatial relationships between the in_features and the identity_features are to be written to the output. This only applies when the in_features are lines and the identity_features are polygons.

  • NO_RELATIONSHIPSNo additional spatial relationship will be determined.
  • KEEP_RELATIONSHIPSThe output line features will contain two additional fields, LEFT_poly and RIGHT_poly. These fields contain the feature ID of the identity_features on the left and right side of the line feature.
Boolean

Code Sample

Identity example 1 (Python window)

The following Python window script demonstrates how to use the Identity function in immediate mode.

import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "c:/data/data.gdb"
arcpy.Identity_analysis("wells", "counties", "wells_w_county_info")
Identity example 2 (stand-alone Python script)

The following stand-alone Python script is a simple example of how to apply the Identity function in scripting.

# IdentityWells.py
# Description: Simple example showing use of Identity tool
 
# Import system modules
import arcpy
from arcpy import env

# Set the workspace
env.workspace = "C:/data/data.gdb"

# Set local parameters
inFeatures = "wells"
idFeatures = "counties"
outFeatures = "wells_w_county_info"

# Process: Use the Identity function
arcpy.Identity_analysis (inFeatures, idFeatures, outFeatures)

Environments

Related Topics

Licensing Information

ArcGIS for Desktop Basic: No
ArcGIS for Desktop Standard: No
ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced: Yes
5/6/2013