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Point to Raster (Conversion) (ArcInfo only)
Release 9.2 Last modified April 2, 2008	Print all topics in : "Tools"

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NOTE: This tool is available with an ArcView or ArcEditor license, if the Spatial Analyst extension or the 3D Analyst extension is installed.

Converts point features to a raster dataset.

Learn more about how the Point To Raster tool works

Usage tips

Any shapefile, coverage, or geodatabase feature class containing point or multipoint features can be converted to a raster dataset.
Multipoints are treated as individual points.
If the input field contains floating-point values, the output raster will be floating point; if the input field contains integer values, the output raster will be integer; and if the input field contains string values, the output raster will contain an integer value field and a string field.
Point To Raster is a complement to the Raster To Point tool, which converts a raster to a feature dataset.
Point To Raster is a new implementation of the Feature To Raster (Point) tool. It provides greater user control over the assignment of cell values when more than one feature is present in the output cell.
The output cell size is the size of each pixel in the output raster dataset.
Priority field is only used with the MOST_FREQUENT option.
The following environments affect this tool: current workspace, scratch workspace, output coordinate system, output extent, output has Z values, Z resolution, output CONFIG keyword, output spatial grid 1,2,3, output XY domain, output Z domain, pyramid, raster statistics, compression, and tile size.

Command line syntax
An overview of the Command Line window
PointToRaster_conversion <in_features> <value_field> <out_raster_dataset> {MOST_FREQUENT | SUM | MEAN | STANDARD_DEVIATION | MAXIMUM | MINIMUM | RANGE | COUNT} {priority_field} {cellsize}

Parameter	Explanation	Data Type
<in_features>	The point or multipoint input feature dataset to be converted to a raster.	Feature Layer
<value_field>	The field used to assign values to the output raster. It can be any field of the input feature dataset's attribute table. If the input is a point or multipoint dataset and contains z, this can be the Shape field.	Field
<out_raster_dataset>	The output raster dataset to be created. When you're not saving to a geodatabase, specify .tif for a TIFF file format, .img for an ERDAS IMAGINE file format, or no extension for a GRID file format.	Raster Dataset
{MOST_FREQUENT \| SUM \| MEAN \| STANDARD_DEVIATION \| MAXIMUM \| MINIMUM \| RANGE \| COUNT}	The method to determine how the cell will be assigned a value when more than one feature falls within a cell. MOST_FREQUENT — If there is more than one feature within the cell, the one with the most common attribute, in <field>, is assigned to the cell. If they have the same number of common attributes, the one with the lowest FID is used. SUM — The sum of the attributes of all the points within the cell (not valid for string data). MEAN — The mean of the attributes of all the points within the cell (not valid for string data). STANDARD_DEVIATION — The standard deviation of attributes of all the points within the cell. If there are less than two points in the cell, the cellis assigned NoData (not valid for string data). MAXIMUM — The maximum value of the attributes of the points within the cell (not valid for string data). MINIMUM — The minimum value of the attributes of the points within the cell (not valid for string data). RANGE — The range of the attributes of the points within the cell (not valid for string data). COUNT — The number of points within the cell.	String
{priority_field}	This field is used when a feature should take preference over another feature with the same attribute. Priority field is only used with the MOST_FREQUENT cell assignment type option.	Field
{cellsize}	The cell size from which the output raster dataset will be created.	Analysis Cell Size

Data types for geoprocessing tool parameters

Command line example

PointToRaster c:\data\myPoints.shp myField myRaster MEAN NONE 5.2

Scripting syntax
About getting started with writing geoprocessing scripts
PointToRaster_conversion (in_features, value_field, out_raster_dataset, cell_assignment, priority_field, cellsize)

Parameter	Explanation	Data Type
in_features (Required)	The point or multipoint input feature dataset to be converted to a raster.	Feature Layer
value_field (Required)	The field used to assign values to the output raster. It can be any field of the input feature dataset's attribute table. If the input is a point or multipoint dataset and contains z, this can be the Shape field.	Field
out_raster_dataset (Required)	The output raster dataset to be created. When you're not saving to a geodatabase, specify .tif for a TIFF file format, .img for an ERDAS IMAGINE file format, or no extension for a GRID file format.	Raster Dataset
cell_assignment (Optional)	The method to determine how the cell will be assigned a value when more than one feature falls within a cell. MOST_FREQUENT — If there is more than one feature within the cell, the one with the most common attribute, in <field>, is assigned to the cell. If they have the same number of common attributes, the one with the lowest FID is used. SUM — The sum of the attributes of all the points within the cell (not valid for string data). MEAN — The mean of the attributes of all the points within the cell (not valid for string data). STANDARD_DEVIATION — The standard deviation of attributes of all the points within the cell. If there are less than two points in the cell, the cellis assigned NoData (not valid for string data). MAXIMUM — The maximum value of the attributes of the points within the cell (not valid for string data). MINIMUM — The minimum value of the attributes of the points within the cell (not valid for string data). RANGE — The range of the attributes of the points within the cell (not valid for string data). COUNT — The number of points within the cell.	String
priority_field (Optional)	This field is used when a feature should take preference over another feature with the same attribute. Priority field is only used with the MOST_FREQUENT cell assignment type option.	Field
cellsize (Optional)	The cell size from which the output raster dataset will be created.	Analysis Cell Size

Data types for geoprocessing tool parameters

Script example

# PointToRaster_conversion_sample.py
# Description: 
#   Converts point features to a raster.
# Requirements: None
# Author: ESRI
# Date: Oct 20, 2005
# Import system modules
import arcgisscripting

# Create the Geoprocessor object
gp = arcgisscripting.create()

try:
    # Set local variables
    InFeatures = "C:/data/myPoints.shp"
    OutRaster = "C:/data/out_raster"

    # Process: PointToRaster
    gp.PointToRaster_conversion(InFeatures, "myField", OutRaster, "MOST_FREQUENT", "NONE", "1")

except:
    # Print error message if an error occurs
    gp.GetMessages()

Point to Raster (Conversion) (ArcInfo only)

Command line example

Script example