[GIS] Snapping points to lines in ArcGIS Desktop and automate using VBA

arcgis-desktopsnappingvba

I use ArcGIS Desktop and I want create a network with a point feature and a line feature. I need my point features to be on the line features so I should do Snap point to line.

However, I do not know how do it in ArcGIS, and then automate it with code for this in VBA.

Best Answer

Snapping points to a line using ArcGIS geoprocessing tools

Assumptions:

You have a point layer and a line layer. You want a points to be snapped to the line layer.

Instructions

1. Use the `Near` tool to find snap locations

In ArcGIS's Toolbox pane, Select Analysis Tools -> Proximity -> Near
Choose your point layer as Input features, your line layer as Near features. Make sure you tick the Location checkbox.
Four new attributes will be added to your point layer, NEAR_FID, NEAR_DIST, NEAR_X and NEAR_Y.

2. Export the layer as a table

Open the attribute table of the point layer
Click on the Table Options button in the attribute table window, and choose Export.... Save it is a dbase (.dbf) file.
When prompted if you want to add the table to your current map, choose Yes.

3. Recreate the points layer from the table

Find the table you just added in your Table of Contents pane. You might need to switch tabs if you are using ArcGIS 9.3 to the Source tab.
Right-click on the table, and choose Add XY Data.
Make sure the X field is set to NEAR_X, and the Y field to NEAR_Y. Adjust the coordinate system if appropriate.
Your new point Event layer should appear in the table of contents. Right click on it, and select Data->Export data... to save the layer permanently as a shapefile.

Related Solutions

[GIS] Install VBA on ArcGIS 10

the Q was about single use, but I might as well round out things out by providing the answer for concurrent licensing use as well so everything is in one place (I don't think it warrants a separate question).

Prepwork:

Contact your customer support representative, by email, and requestVBA extension authorization (it's free, and no I don't know why you have to ask). Wait.
Logon to https://customers.esri.com/, head to "Authorizations". VBA will show in the list, after your service rep adds it.
Click on VBA link, you should see a new page with an authorization number. It will look like ELF1234567890. Click on that, so that you can get to a page where the text can be selected and copied (2x-click, [ctrl-c]). Also note number of licenses.

On the license server:

run ArcGIS License Server Administrator > Authorization > [Authorize Now]
select "...and need to authorize additional licenses" and "ArcGIS Desktop", [next]
select ...using the internet, [next]
fill out all the customer profiling info they already have on you, again, [next]
at the Extensions screen ignore the list presented (3D analyst, etc) and slap [Other Extensions]. Fill out info copied from #3, then [Ok], [next], [finish].

Feature : VBA <-- case sensitive!
Auth# : ELF123456890
No. Licenses: 99
1. Back at license server admin main screen verify VBA is listed under Availability.

On each client machine:

install the VBA SDK from the install media (ArcGIS Desktop 10\SDK_VBA\setup.exe)
In Arcgis Administrator ensure Concurrent Use license is selected
Run Arcmap and look under Customize menu for VBA Macros.

Sources:

using VBA with Arcgis 10
you need to use the [Other] button at Extensions page - http://forums.arcgis.com/threads/1628-Beta-10-VBA-license-required?p=37541&viewfull=1#post37541
typos in Feature still finish successfully, but it's a false message - http://forums.arcgis.com/threads/1131-Beta-10-Anybody-know-how-to-register-VBA-in-Beta-2?p=3844&viewfull=1#post3844

[GIS] Snapping lines to points

I have made an ArcPy code to virtually snap the lines, so the script calculates the bearing of the lines, snaps the origin of the vector, then build new lines from new snapped points using the bearing.

But I have noticed a weird error using the function BearingDistanceToLine_management in ArcPy. It adds an angle to the bearings. Without understanding the cause of the error, I have eliminated the difference by 180 - 57.935

import arcpy

#arcpy.AddField_management("directions" , "bearing" , "FLOAT" )

arcpy.CalculateField_management("directions" , "bearing" , "180 - 57.935 + math.atan2(( !Shape.firstpoint.X! - !Shape.lastpoint.X! ),( !Shape.firstpoint.Y! - !Shape.lastpoint.Y! ) ) * (180 / math.pi)" , "PYTHON_9.3")

arcpy.Snap_edit("borne" ,  [["D_GPS", "VERTEX", "5"]] )

arcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management("borne" , "borne_join")
#arcpy.AddField_management("borne_join" , "X" , "DOUBLE" )
#arcpy.AddField_management("borne_join" , "Y" , "DOUBLE" )

arcpy.CalculateField_management("borne_join" , "X" , "!Shape.lastpoint.X!" , "PYTHON_9.3")
arcpy.CalculateField_management("borne_join" , "Y" , "!Shape.lastpoint.Y!" , "PYTHON_9.3")

#arcpy.AddField_management("borne_join" , "distance" , "SHORT" )
arcpy.CalculateField_management("borne_join" , "distance" , "5" , "PYTHON_9.3")

arcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management("directions" , "dir_join")

arcpy.AddJoin_management("dir_join" , "borne_id" , "borne_join" , "id" )

arcpy.BearingDistanceToLine_management("dir_join" , "new_dir" , "sde.sde.borne.X" , "sde.sde.borne.Y" , "sde.sde.borne.distance" , "METERS" , "sde.sde.directions.bearing" , "DEGREES"  , "GEODESIC" )

arcpy.Delete_management("borne_join")
arcpy.Delete_management("dir_join")