Package Locator (Data Management)

Summary

Package a locator or composite locator to create a single compressed .gcpk file.

Learn more about sharing your locator as a locator package

Illustration

The folder structures of an unpacked locator package that contains a locator, and an unpacked composite locator package that contains the composite locator and its participating locators.

Usage

• This tool is located in the Geocoding toolbox. For convenience, a copy of this tool also resides in the Data Management toolbox Package toolset.

• The input locator must have a description in order for the tool to execute. To add summary and tags, click the Description tab of a locator in ArcCatalog, and click the Edit button to enter the information on the Item Description window.

• A warning is issued when this tool encounters an invalid locator. The invalid locator will not be packaged.

• If the locator to be consolidated or packaged is a composite locator and the Composite locator only: copy participating locators in ArcSDE database instead of referencing them option is checked

  • The composite locator and all its participating locators, including locators in an ArcSDE database, will be copied to the consolidated folder.
  • Each locator will be copied to a unique folder created in the consolidated folder.

• If the locator to be consolidated or packaged is a composite locator and the Composite locator only: copy participating locators in ArcSDE database instead of referencing them option is unchecked

  • The composite locator and its non-ArcSDE participating locators will be copied to the consolidated folder.
  • The participating locators in an ArcSDE database will not be copied to the consolidated folder, but the composite locator will preserve the connection information of the participating locators that are stored in ArcSDE.

• The locator package file (.gcpk) can be shared with other users or can be loaded to your ArcGIS online account.

  Learn more about sharing a package

• To unpack a locator package, drag the .gcpk file into ArcMap or right-click on the .gcpk file and click Unpack.

  Unpack will extract a package into your user profile under:

  • XP—C:\Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\ArcGIS\Packages
  • Vista and Windows 7—C:\Users\username\My Documents\ArcGIS\Packages

  Alternatively, you can use the Extract Package tool and specify an output folder.

  Learn more about unpacking a locator package

Syntax

PackageLocator_management (In_locator, output_file, {copy_arcsde_locator}, {additional_files}, {summary}, {tags})

Parameter	Explanation	Data Type
In_locator	The locator or composite locator that will be packaged.	Input address locator
output_file	The name and location of the output locator package (.gcpk).	File
copy_arcsde_locator (Optional)	Specifies whether participating locators will be copied or their connection information will be preserved in the composite locator. This option only applies to composite locators. COPY_ARCSDE —All participating locators, including locators in ArcSDE, will be copied to the consolidated folder or package. This is the default. PRESERVE_ARCSDE — Connection information of the participating locators that are stored in ArcSDE will be preserved in the composite locator.	Boolean
additional_files (Optional)	Adds additional files to a package. Additional files, such as .doc, .txt, .pdf, and so on, are used to provide more information about the contents and purpose of the package.	File
summary (Optional)	Adds Summary information to the properties of the package.	String
tags (Optional)	Adds Tag information to the properties of the package. Multiple tags can be added or separated by a comma or semicolon.	String

Code Sample

PackageLocator example 1 (Python window)

The following Python script demonstrates how to use the PackageLocator tool from within the Python window.

import arcpy
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/MyData/Locators" 
arcpy.PackageLocator_geocoding('Atlanta_composite', 'Altanta_composite.gcpk', "COPY_ARCSDE", "#","Summary of package","tag1; tag2; tag3")

PackageLocator example 2 (stand-alone Python script)

Finds and creates individual locator packages for all of the locators that reside in a specified folder.

# Name: PackageLocatorEx.py
# Description:  Find all the locators that reside in a specified folder and create a locator package for each locator.


# import system modules
import os
import arcpy

from arcpy import env

# Set environment settings
env.overwriteOutput = True
env.workspace = "C:/MyData/Locators" 

# Loop through the workspace, find all the locators and create a locator package using the same name as the locator.
for loc in arcpy.ListFiles("*.loc"):
    print "Packaging " + loc
    arcpy.PackageLocator_geocoding(loc, os.path.splitext(loc)[0] + '.gcpk', "COPY_ARCSDE", "#","Summary of package","tag1; tag2; tag3")

Environments

Current Workspace

Licensing Information

ArcGIS for Desktop Basic: Yes

ArcGIS for Desktop Standard: Yes

ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced: Yes