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

Compares two TINs and returns the comparison results. TIN Compare can report differences with geometry, TIN node and triangle tags, and spatial reference.

Usage tips

• The tool returns messages showing the comparison result. By default the tool will stop executing after encountering the first miscompare. To report all differences, set the continue compare option to true.

• The Output Compare File will contain all similarities and differences between the Input Base Features and the Input Test Features. This file is a comma delimited text file which can be viewed and used as a table in ArcGIS. For example, this table can be queried to obtain all the ObjectID values for all the rows that are different.

Command line syntax
An overview of the Command Line window
TINCompare_management <in_base_tin> <in_test_tin> {ALL | PROPERTIES_ONLY | SPATIAL_REFERENCE_ONLY} {NO_CONTINUE_COMPARE | CONTINUE_COMPARE} {out_compare_file}

Parameter	Explanation	Data Type
<in_base_tin>	The Input Base Tin is compared with the Input Test Tin. Input Base Tin refers to your data that you have declared valid. This base data has the correct geometry, tag values (if any), and spatial reference.	Tin Layer
<in_test_tin>	The Input Test Tin is compared against the Input Base Tin.	Tin Layer
{ALL | PROPERTIES_ONLY | SPATIAL_REFERENCE_ONLY}	The comparison type. ALL — This is the default. PROPERTIES_ONLY — Refers to both geometry and TIN tag values, if any, that are assigned to nodes and triangles. SPATIAL_REFERENCE_ONLY — Coordinate system information.	String
{NO_CONTINUE_COMPARE | CONTINUE_COMPARE}	Indicates whether to compare all properties after encountering the first mismatch. NO_CONTINUE_COMPARE — Stop after encountering the first mismatch. This is the default. CONTINUE_COMPARE — Compare other properties after encountering the first mismatch.	Boolean
{out_compare_file}	The name and path of the text file which will contain the comparison results.	File

Data types for geoprocessing tool parameters

Command line example

TINCompare_management c:\workspace\basetin c:\workspace\newtin ALL CONTINUE_COMPARE C:\workspace\tincompare.txt

Scripting syntax
About getting started with writing geoprocessing scripts
TINCompare_management (in_base_tin, in_test_tin, compare_type, continue_compare, out_compare_file)

Parameter	Explanation	Data Type
in_base_tin (Required)	The Input Base Tin is compared with the Input Test Tin. Input Base Tin refers to your data that you have declared valid. This base data has the correct geometry, tag values (if any), and spatial reference.	Tin Layer
in_test_tin (Required)	The Input Test Tin is compared against the Input Base Tin.	Tin Layer
compare_type (Optional)	The comparison type. ALL — This is the default. PROPERTIES_ONLY — Refers to both geometry and TIN tag values, if any, that are assigned to nodes and triangles. SPATIAL_REFERENCE_ONLY — Coordinate system information.	String
continue_compare (Optional)	Indicates whether to compare all properties after encountering the first mismatch. NO_CONTINUE_COMPARE — Stop after encountering the first mismatch. This is the default. CONTINUE_COMPARE — Compare other properties after encountering the first mismatch.	Boolean
out_compare_file (Optional)	The name and path of the text file which will contain the comparison results.	File

Data types for geoprocessing tool parameters

Script example

# TinCompare.py
# Description: Compare two TINs and return comparison result.
# Requirements: None
# Author: ESRI
# Date: 11/16/05

# Create the Geoprocessing Object
import arcgisscripting, sys, os
gp = arcgisscripting.create()

try:
    # Set local variables
    base_tin= "C:/Workspace/basetin"
    test_tin= "C:/Workspace/newtin"
    compare_type = "ALL"
    continue_compare = "CONTINUE_COMPARE"
    compare_file = "C:/Workspace/tincompare.txt"

    # Process: TinCompare
    compare_result = gp.TinCompare_management(base_tin, test_tin, compare_type, continue_compare, compare_file)
    print compare_result
    print gp.GetMessages()

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

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