Repair Geometry (Data Management)
Release 9.2 Last modified November 29, 2010	Print all topics in : "Tools"

Inspects each feature's geometry for problems and fixes the problems that are found. Valid input formats are shapefile and feature classes stored in a personal geodatabase or file geodatabase. SDE Geodatabases automatically check each geometry's validity when it is uploaded, therefore the Check and Repair Geometry tools are not for use with SDE.

Usage tips

• The Check Geometry tool can be used to identify feature classes and features within those feature classes that have geometry problems.

• This tool uses the same logic as the Check Geometry tool, but when a geometry problem is discovered, a fix (listed below) is applied immediately.

• Problems repaired with this tool:

  • Null geometry — The feature will be deleted from the feature class.
  • Short segment — The geometry's short segment will be deleted.
  • Incorrect ring ordering — The geometry will be updated to have correct ring ordering.
  • Incorrect segment orientation — The geometry will be updated to have correct segment orientation.
  • Self intersections — The geometry's segments that intersect will be split at their intersection.
  • Unclosed rings — The unclosed rings will be closed.
  • Empty parts — The parts that are null or empty will be deleted.

• After applying one of the repairs above, the tool will re-evaluate the feature's geometry to see if it still has a problems, if another problem is discovered, another repair will be performed immediately on that feature. This can lead to more than one fix being applied to a single feature.

• Line features that are M aware will not be modified (repaired) for any of the cases above unless they are short segments or null geometry.

• The following environment setting affects this tool: Extent and workspace.

Command line syntax
An overview of the Command Line window
RepairGeometry_management <in_features>

Parameter	Explanation	Data Type
<in_features>	The feature class or layer that will have feature geometry problems repaired. If a layer is specified and that layer has a selection, only the selected features will be repaired. Valid input formats are shapefile and feature classes stored in a personal geodatabase or file geodatabase..	Feature Layer

Data types for geoprocessing tool parameters

Command line example

RepairGeometry c:\myNewShapefiles\sketchy.shp"

Scripting syntax
About getting started with writing geoprocessing scripts
RepairGeometry_management (in_features)

Parameter	Explanation	Data Type
in_features (Required)	The feature class or layer that will have feature geometry problems repaired. If a layer is specified and that layer has a selection, only the selected features will be repaired. Valid input formats are shapefile and feature classes stored in a personal geodatabase or file geodatabase..	Feature Layer

Data types for geoprocessing tool parameters

Script example

# RepairGeometryProblemList.py
# Description: 
#   Goes through the table generated by the Check Geometry tool.  Runs the
#   Repair Geometry tool on the features which were identified as having 
#   some geometry problem.
# Requirements: Python and the Python win32all extension
# Author: ESRI
# Data 1/1/2004

# Create the Geoprocessor
import arcgisscripting, os
gp = arcgisscripting.create()

# Table that was produced by Check Geometry tool
table = "c:/data/badg.mdb/fc"

# Create some variables
dict = {}
query = ""
fieldName = ""

# Loop through the table using a cursor
rows = gp.searchCursor(table)
row = rows.next()

while row:
    # Get the class (feature class) for that row, as well as the Feature ID
    fc = row.GetValue("CLASS")
    fid = row.GetValue("FEATURE_ID")

    if not fieldName:
        # Determine which type feature class this is (Geodatabase or other) since how the field name
        # in the query is different for each
        fcType= gp.Describe(fc).DataType
        fieldName = gp.ListFields(fc, "*","FID").Next().Name
        if  fcType == "FeatureClass":
            fieldName = "[" + fieldName + "]"       # For Geodatabase, wrap the field name in [ ]
        elif fcType == "ShapeFile":
            fieldName = '"' + fieldName + '"'       # For ShapeFiles, wrap the field name in " "
        else:
            raise Exception, "Repair Geometry does not support this format " + fcType

    # Create the query
    if query:
        query = query + " OR " + fieldName + " = " + str(fid)
    else:
        query = fieldName + " = " + str(fid)
    prevFc = fc
    row = rows.next()

    # Since there could be more than 1 CLASS in the table, separate each CLASS and it's
    # associated query into entries in a python dictionary
    if row:
        if fc <> row.GetValue("CLASS"):
            dict[prevFc] = query
            query = ""
            fieldName = ""
    else:
        dict[prevFc] = query
        query = ""
        fieldName = ""

# Destroy the cursor object now that we're done with it
del rows

# Now loop through the dictionary and Make a layer with a definition query (so the Repair
#  Geometry is run only on those features with some problem) and run Repair Geometry on each.  
for fc in dict:
    try:
        gp.MakeFeatureLayer(fc, os.path.basename(fc),dict[fc])
        gp.RepairGeometry(fc, r"c:\junk\outy.shp")

    except:
        print "Problem encountered attempting to repair " + fc

print "FINISHED"

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