[GIS] ArcMap: Output to XML Including Shape Data

arcgis-desktoparcmapgeometryxml

I need to create a solution for non-technical people to export data from an ArcMAP document (.mxd) to XML files. I will need each feature's data to be exported in such a way that the output xml file (or could be an Excel file) contains both spatial and non-spatial attributes.

The only I put I see which has the required data is a Google Earth .kmz file. Now, I have been able to convert the .kmz to .kml using some .NET code but the final .kml file is too unstructured to be parsed by my .NET code.

I have tried xToolsPro and they do directly output to .kml file but that doesn't good either–and costs $250 for the license (the export function will expire after the trial).

So what are my options? Could I program some Python script and create some extension to Arctoolbox?

I am stuck! Can't believe this kind of functionally is not built-in (export to xml including Shape data).

Best Answer

ESRI has an standard xml format to export both the data and the schema of data.

In ArcCatalg (Catalog window of Arcmap):

1- As arcgis cannot export shapefile directly to XML workspace first import your shapefile into a geodatabase featureclass.

2- right-click the featureCLass > Export> XML Workspace Document

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in the opened window there are two combo boxes. select like this snapshot:

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I hope it helps.

Update: kmz is the compression format for kml file (like zip format). You need to just extract the kmz to kml using winrar or winzip. Furthermore ArcGIS has a tool to convert a layer including shapefile layer to KMZ (no extra cost!). The Geoprocessing tool name is "Layer to KML".