Geographic Transformations (Environment setting)

Tools that honor the Geographic Transformations environment will use the transformation methods when projecting data.

Usage notes

• You can include out-of-the-box transformation methods, those supplied by the application, those in the list, and custom transformation methods created using the Create Custom Geographic Transformation tool.
• Regardless of the number of transformations in the list, the application will only use those appropriate to the projection. All others will be ignored.
• The environment does not support composite transformation methods. If projecting the features requires multiple transformation methods, the application will not select multiple options from the environments list, regardless of whether the necessary transformation methods exist in the list or not. The same is true if your custom geographic transformation contains multiple methods. These will not be applied.

  If the projection requires more than one transformation method, use the Project tool.

Dialog syntax

• Geographic Transformations—Create a list of transformation methods. This can include system-provided transformation methods as well as custom transformation methods created using the Create Custom Geographic Transformation tool.

Scripting syntax

arcpy.env.geographicTransformations = geographic_transformations

Parameter	Explanation
geographic_transformations	A semicolon-delimited string of transformation methods. This can include system-provided transformation methods as well as custom transformation methods created using the Create Custom Geographic Transformation tool.

geographicTransformations syntax

Script example

Project data into new coordinate system while buffering

import arcpy

# Set the workspace, outputCoordinateSystem and geographicTransformations environments
arcpy.env.workspace = "c:/data"
arcpy.env.outputCoordinateSystem = arcpy.SpatialReference("WGS 1984 UTM Zone 18N")
arcpy.env.geographicTransformations = "Arc_1950_To_WGS_1984_5; PSAD_1956_To_WGS_1984_6"

arcpy.Buffer_analysis("roads.shp", "roads_buffer.shp", "10 meters")