Editing function chains in a mosaic dataset

This topic applies to ArcGIS for Desktop Standard and ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced only.

Accessing function chains

There are two locations where you can edit the function chains applied by the mosaic dataset: on each raster within the mosaic dataset or on the whole mosaic dataset. Function chains applied on the whole mosaic dataset will affect every raster within the mosaic dataset. For example, if your mosaic dataset contained multiple DEMs, you could apply a shaded relief function on the mosaic dataset and not on each raster. This way, the color ramp will be applied consistently over the entire mosaic dataset.

If you apply the shaded relief function on each raster within the mosaic dataset, the color ramp will be applied across each raster and not over the entire mosaicked image. Therefore, you'll see each tile within the mosaic dataset.

Accessing a mosaic dataset function chain

You can edit the functions applied to the whole mosaic dataset by accessing the Mosaic Dataset Properties dialog box from within the Catalog window or ArcCatalog.

Steps:

1. In the Catalog window, right-click the mosaic dataset and click Properties.
2. Click the Functions tab.

Accessing a raster function chain within the mosaic dataset

You can edit the functions applied to each raster within the mosaic dataset and each band contained within the dataset.

Steps:

1. In ArcMap, select a raster in one of the following ways:
   • Use the Selection tool .
   • Use an option on the Selection menu.
   • Open the attribute table from the Footprint layer and select one or more rows.
2. If the attribute table isn't open, right-click the Footprint layer, point to Selection, then click Open Table Showing Selected Features.
3. Click within the Raster column of the row of the raster you want to view.

   An arrow button appears.

4. Click the arrow.

   This opens the Function Raster Dataset Properties dialog box.

5. Click the Functions tab.

Editing functions

Each function in a function chain is represented by a function symbol .

You can edit the properties of each function by opening its properties dialog box.

Steps:

1. Open the function properties dialog box by doing either one of the following:
   • Double-click the function.
   • Right-click the function and click Properties.

   There is a General tab describing the function, which is common to all functions. It is the location where you can define the output pixel type.

   There is another tab with the specific parameters for that function where you can edit the function.

2. Once done, close the dialog boxes.

Adding or removing functions

Adding functions

Steps:

1. Right-click a function, click Insert, then click the function you want to add.
2. Modify its settings and click OK.

   Once you click OK, the function chain will be validated. If the function you are adding invalidates the function chain, it will not be added.

   When you add a function, it is inserted above the function you clicked.

You cannot drag and drop functions to change their position within the chain. You need to remove a function and add it to a new location if you want to move a function.

Removing functions

Caution:

Be careful when removing functions. You could remove a function that will invalidate the function chain. There is no way to undo the edit once you've removed a function.

Steps:

1. Right-click a function and click Remove.

Editing function chains for multiple rasters at one time

The Raster Functions Editor Wizard allows you to insert, edit, or remove functions for multiple selected rasters within a mosaic dataset.

Steps:

1. In ArcMap, select multiple rasters by doing one of the following:
   • Use the Selection tool .
   • Use an option on the Selection menu.
   • Open the attribute table from the Footprint layer and select multiple rows.
2. Optionally, right-click the Footprint layer in the table of contents and click Selection > Reselect Only Primary Rasters.

   This will ensure that no overviews are selected, which you may not want to edit since they often don't get created using the same functions as the source rasters.

3. Right-click the Footprint layer in the table of contents and click Selection > Batch Edit Raster Functions.
4. Choose either Insert Raster Function, Edit Raster Function, or Remove Raster Function and click Next.

   Continue through the wizard to edit your rasters in the mosaic dataset.

5. If you choose:
   • Insert Raster Function—You can choose where the function will be inserted.
     • To insert a function at the top function chain (which is the last function applied), check Insert above the top most function.
     • To insert a function anywhere within the function chain, choose the function that will appear below it in the function chain (which is applied before the function you are adding).
   • Edit Raster Function—You can choose the function that will be modified, then enter the parameters that will be used by the updated function. Enter all the parameters, not just the ones you want changed, because this option will overwrite the existing function, not just modify the parameter you edited.
   • Remove Raster Function—You can choose the function that will be removed.

   There is no undo option; therefore, be sure to review the changes before clicking Finish.

Editing function chains using geoprocessing

Using a raster function template file (*.rtf.xml) you can replace the function chain, remove functions, or insert functions within the existing function chain for either the mosaic dataset or the rasters within the mosaic dataset using the Edit Raster Function tool.

When using this tool on a mosaic dataset you can either edit the function chain for the mosaic dataset or for every raster within the mosaic dataset. To edit the function chain for only a few rasters within the mosaic dataset you need to either create a mosaic layer with the Make Mosaic Layer tool that has a query defined for all or some of the rasters within the mosaic dataset, or open the mosaic dataset in ArcMap and select the items in the Attribute table, then add that layer to the tool.

To insert or replace all or part of a function chain, you need to use a raster function template file. When removing, you can remove all or individual functions in a function chain. To remove a single function you can specify it in the Location parameter. If you do not specify a function to be removed, then all the functions will be removed from the function chain.

Learn about creating function chain templates