Path Utilities

Use Path Utilities to perform actions on paths that are on Line or Area layers. Actions include: adding detail, copying vertices to a point layer, finding self-intersection points, removing duplicate points, converting bezier lines to polylines,  and converting to geodesic paths. Actions made to paths can be previewed.

Requirements

To apply actions to only selected paths, select paths before opening the Path Utilities dialogue box. In the Path Utilities dialogue box, enable the Only apply to selected paths option. Path Utilities only works on Line and Area layers. Some actions require that a path be selected before it can function.

Using Path Utilities

In the Target Layers section, choose the appropriate MAP View to list its MAP layers. Click the checkboxes to enable which layers are affected by the Path Utilities action.

 

In the Action drop-down list, choose an appropriate path action:

Find self-intersection points

Find vertices along a path that intersects itself. The vertices can be output to an existing Point layer or a new one.

In this example, the loop on the right side of the path intersects itself once. As a result, a point is created on a Point layer.

Add detail

Add vertices to paths to create more detail. Specify a maximum distance value and measurement unit between added vertices.

In this example, vertices are added to the path based on a maximum distance between them.

Copy vertices to point layer

Copy a path's vertices to an existing Point layer or a new one.

In this example, the path's vertices are copied to a Point layer.

Convert compound path to path

When importing from a basic geodatabase, features in line and area layers are converted to a compound path. This utility converts a compound path to a path and also keeps the attributes from the compound path after the conversion.

In this example, a compound path is converted into a path.

Add interval points

Add interval points along a specified line, including options to create custom shapes and labels indicating the distance of each interval point.

 

 

 

Output layer	Choose to output intervals and labels to a new layer, an existing layer, or the same layer as the line.
Number of decimals	Specify the number of decimal places used for distance intervals.
Distance interval	Specify the distance between interval points map units.
Initial interval value	Specify a value to the start of the line. Optionally, check the Label first interval checkbox to label the first point.
Start intervals from	Start intervals from either the first vertex or the last vertex. This will reverse the direction of how the intervals are labelled depending on where the first vertex of the line is located.
Shape	Choose a shape for the interval as a circle or a square. Although no shape can be chosen as an option, labels will still be created. Customize the labels and shapes using the available options. Optionally, set all labels to the same minimum font size.

Remove duplicate points

Remove vertices that are considered a duplicate.

In this example, the arrows simulate duplicate points on a path. The resultant path has a reduction in duplicate points.

Convert beziers to polylines

Transform bezier lines to polylines. Some GIS applications may not support beziers, but can properly read polylines.

Convert compounds to groups

Transform compound paths to groups. Attributes are retained and copied to each path.

In this example, a compound path is converted into a group.

Convert  to Geodesic Paths

Convert paths (including compound paths) to Geodesic paths. Specify a maximum distance value and measurement unit between added vertices. Specify the use of All Points or First and Last Points in the path. This tool does not apply to closed paths or beziers.

 

In this example, a cartesian line is converted to a geodesic path.