Generating a diagram based on the Network Dataset builder

Prerequisite:

• The ArcGIS Network Analyst extension must be installed and licensed, and the extension must be enabled before you can perform any network analysis and generate schematic diagrams based on network analysis results.
• Before generating diagrams from a network dataset, you must create a schematic diagram template in your schematic dataset and configure it to work with the Network Dataset builder.
• Learn more about configuring diagram templates with the Network Dataset builder

For generating schematic diagrams based on the Network Dataset builder, the easiest way is to start ArcMap and create or load a .mxd file that references the network dataset data from which you want the Network Dataset builder to operate.

Schematic diagrams can be generated from any network analysis layer containing a performed network analysis. You must use the tools and commands on the Network Analyst toolbar to set up and perform any route, closest facility, service area, or vehicle routing problem network analysis before being able to generate your schematic diagram on this network analysis result.

At any time, the generated diagrams can then be updated so their content is always in accord with any new network analysis result that is performed on the network.

The following section details the steps to generate a Network Dataset builder schematic diagram in ArcMap.

Note:

The Schematics geoprocessing tool called Create Diagram can also be used to generate diagrams based on the Network Dataset builder. In addition, you can use the Schematic API and develop custom code to generate diagrams based on the Network Dataset builder.

Caution:

Diagram generation cannot correctly operate if an edit session is opened on the features contained in the map and this edited data is stored along with the schematic dataset in a personal or nonversioned ArcSDE geodatabase. In this case, you must save the edits on the GIS features before launching any diagram generation in the geodatabase. Without saving the edits on GIS features, the diagram generation will be lost. Generating diagrams in a schematic dataset that is stored along with GIS data that is being edited works without any constraint in file or versioned ArcSDE geodatabases.

Learn more about generating diagrams while an edit session is open

Steps:

1. Start ArcMap and load the .mxd file that contains the network dataset from which you want to generate schematic diagrams.
2. Use the tools on the Network Analyst toolbar to set up and perform any route, closest facility, service area, or vehicle routing problem network analysis on this network dataset.
3. Click the Generate New Schematic Diagram button on the Schematic toolbar.

   The New Schematic Diagram dialog box opens.

4. Click the Schematic Dataset or Folder drop-down arrow and choose the schematic dataset or the schematic folder in the desired schematic dataset where the generated schematic diagram will be stored.

   Learn more about the schematic datasets/folders suggested by default in this drop-down list

   Tip:

   If you want your new schematic diagram to be stored in another schematic dataset that is not in the list, click the browse button to the right of the Schematic Dataset or Folder drop-down list and browse to the desired schematic dataset you want to work with. By selecting a specific schematic folder in a schematic dataset, the generated schematic diagram will be automatically stored in this schematic folder instead of the schematic dataset root.

5. Click the Schematic Diagram Template drop-down arrow and choose the schematic diagram template based on the Network Dataset builder that will be used to generate the schematic diagram.

   All the predefined schematic diagram templates available from the currently selected schematic dataset specified in the Schematic Dataset or Folder drop-down list are itemized in this list.

6. Keep the [Create New Data Frame] default value in the Output Data Frame drop-down list so the generated schematic diagram is automatically displayed in a new data frame, or select the data frame in which you want the generated schematic diagram to be added from that drop-down list.
7. Click the Generate Diagram From drop-down arrow and choose the solved network analysis layer on which the schematic diagram will be based.

   This drop-down list contains all the solved network analysis layers available in the table of contents on which the schematic diagram can be based.

8. Type a name for the diagram that will be generated.
9. Check the Merge nodes check box if you want network element junctions, which appear several times in the resultant network analysis, to be represented by a single schematic node in the generated schematic diagram. By default, this option is unchecked; that is, several schematic nodes are created in the generated schematic diagram to represent the same network element junction.

   Edges that follow several times along the resultant network analysis are never merged even if this option is checked, but these schematic links are overlapping in the schematic diagram generated with the Merge nodes option.

10. Click OK.

The schematic diagram is generated and displayed in the specified data frame. It is now referenced in the schematic database.

Note:

• If none of the network analysis layers available in the table of contents are solved, the Generate Diagram From drop-down list is empty and no diagram can be generated.
• The diagram template selected in the Schematic Diagram Template drop-down list must be configured to support the in-memory network features with which the builder is going to work; that is, it must be configured to work with schematic feature classes related to the in-memory feature layers that compose the solved network analysis layer. If none of the diagram template's schematic feature classes are associated with these in-memory features, the generated diagram will be empty. To learn more about configuring schematic feature classes and the diagram template, see Specifying the content of schematic diagrams implemented by a diagram template.