Geoprocessing tool reference > Analysis toolbox > Proximity toolset > Tools
Point Distance (Analysis) (ArcInfo only) |
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Release 9.2
Last modified January 13, 2009 |
Print all topics in : "Tools" |
Determines the distances between point features in the Input Features to all points in the Near Features, within the Search Radius.
Illustration
Usage tips
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The results are recorded in an Output Table containing items for the feature's FID and DISTANCE. The field names are INPUT_FID, NEAR_FID, and DISTANCE.
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The distance value will be zero if no match is found within the specified Search Radius. If no matching points are found, the Output Table will contain no records.
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If no Search Radius is specified, a radius large enough to calculate a distance from each point in the Input Features to the closest point in the Near Features is used. The Output Table can be quite large. For example, comparing distances between 1,000 points in one feature class to 1,000 points in another feature class can produce an Output Table containing one million records if the default Search Radius is used. Use the Search Radius to limit the number of records output by Point Distance.
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The distances calculated by Point Distance are determined by the units of the Input Features. If the linear units of the Input Features are in Meters, the search radius will default to Meters. The units of the Search Radius can be changed. Specifying one kilometer is the same as entering one thousand meters.
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The following environment affects this tool: Extent.
Command line syntax
An overview of the Command Line window
PointDistance_analysis <in_features> <near_features> <out_table> {search_radius}
| Parameter | Explanation | Data Type |
| <in_features> |
The points for which distances to the Near Features will be determined. |
Feature Layer |
| <near_features> |
The points for which distances from the Input Features will be determined. Distances between points within the same feature class or layer can be determined by specifying the same feature class or layer for the Input Features and Near Features. |
Feature Layer |
| <out_table> |
The table contains the distance measurements between points in the Input Features and Near Features. If Search Radius is not used, the number of records will the number of points in the Input Features multiplied by the number of points in the Input Features. |
Table |
| {search_radius} |
Distances will only be calculated for those Near Features that are within the Search Radius of the Input Features. |
Linear unit |
Command line example
pointdistance_analysis D:\Workspace\wells.shp D:\Workspace\wells.shp D:\Workspace\wells_dist.dbf 12000
Scripting syntax
About getting started with writing geoprocessing scripts
PointDistance_analysis (in_features, near_features, out_table, search_radius)
| Parameter | Explanation | Data Type |
| in_features (Required) |
The points for which distances to the Near Features will be determined. |
Feature Layer |
| near_features (Required) |
The points for which distances from the Input Features will be determined. Distances between points within the same feature class or layer can be determined by specifying the same feature class or layer for the Input Features and Near Features. |
Feature Layer |
| out_table (Required) |
The table contains the distance measurements between points in the Input Features and Near Features. If Search Radius is not used, the number of records will the number of points in the Input Features multiplied by the number of points in the Input Features. |
Table |
| search_radius (Optional) |
Distances will only be calculated for those Near Features that are within the Search Radius of the Input Features. |
Linear unit |
Data types for geoprocessing tool parameters
Script example
import arcgisscripting gp = arcgisscripting.create() gp.workspace = "D:/Workspace" gp.pointdistance_analysis "wells.shp", "wells.shp", "wells_dist.dbf", "12000"