Geoprocessing Data Types of Parameters and Environments

Data types are classifications that identify possible values for data and operations that can be done on the data, as well as the way the data is stored

Data Type Description String Syntax1 Scripting Object3 ArcObjects

A dataset, used for geocoding, that stores the address

attributes, associated indexes, and rules that define the
Address locator catalogPath ._. DEAddressLocator
process for translating nonspatial descriptions of places to
spatial data. [.loc]

Address locator style A template on which to base the new address locator. [.lot] catalogPath ._. GPAddressLocatorStyle

Analysis cell size The cell size used by raster tools. cellSize | catalogPath ._. GPAnalysisCellSize

Any value A data type that accepts any value. any value ._. GPType [abstract datatyp e]

A file that contains one map, its layout, and its associated
ArcMap Document catalogPath ._. DEMapDocument
layers, tables, charts, and reports. [.mxd]

arealUnit unitOfMeasure

An areal unit type and value such as square meter or unitOfMeasure keywords: ACRES | ARES | HECTARES | SQUARECENTIMETERS |
Area units ._. GPArealUnit
acre. SQUAREDECIMETERS | SQUAREINCHES | SQUAREFEET | SQUAREKILOMETERS |
SQUAREMETERS | SQUAREMILES | SQUAREMILLIMETERS | SQUAREYARDS | SQUAREMAPUNITS
|UNKNOWN

Boolean A boolean value. TRUE | FALSE ._. GPBoolean

A vector data source with a mix of feature types with
CAD Drawing Dataset symbology. The dataset is not usable for feature class- catalogPath ._. DECadDrawingDataset
based queries or analysis.

Catalog Root The top-level node in the catalog tree. catalogPath ._. DECatalogRoot

Cell Size The cell size used by Spatial Analyst. MAXOF | MINOF | value ._. GPSACellSize

GPCompositeDataType [abstract
Composite Datatype A collection of datatypes. dependent on datatypes in collection ._.
datatype]

A reference to a several children layers, including GPCompositeLayer

Composite Layer layerName | catalogPath ._.
symbology and rendering properties. DECompositeLayer

LZ77 |
JPEG |
Compression Specifies the type of compression used for a raster. ._. GPRasterGDBEnvCompression
JPEG2000 |
NONE

A reference frameworksuch as the UTM

systemconsisting of a set of points, lines, and/or
Coordinate System catalogPath ._. GPCooridnateSystem
surfaces, and a set of rules, used to define the positions of
points in two and three dimensional space.

Coordinate Systems Folder A folder on disk storing coordinate systems. catalogPath ._. DESpatialReferencesFolder
A courage dataset, a proprietary data model for storing
Coverage geographic features as points, arcs, polygons with catalogPath ._. DECoverage
associated feature attribute tables.

DECoverageFeatureClass
A coverage feature classes such as point, arc, node,
Coverage Feature Class catalogPath ._. ICoverageFeatureClass
route, route system, section, polygon, and region.
ICoverageFeatureClass2

Data Element A dataset visible in ArcCatalog. catalogPath ._. DEType [abstract datatype ]

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 Data Type Description String Syntax1 Scripting Object3 ArcObjects

Database Connections The database connection folder in ArcCatalog. catalogPath ._. DEDiskConnection

A collection of related data, usually grouped or stored

Dataset
together.
catalogPath ._. DEDatasetType [abstract datatype ]

Date A date value. format depends on the regional settings of the computer; ._. GPDate
DEDbaseTable
dBASE Table Attribute data stored in dBASE format. catalogPath ._. ITable
Specifies a subset of nodes of a TIN to create a ZTOLERANCE Z_Tolerance maxNumberOfNodes | DecimateNodes
Decimate ._.
generalized version of that TIN. COUNT maxNumberOfNodes DecimateNodesByCount

Disk Connection An access path to a data storage device. catalogPath ._. DEDiskConnection

Any floating point number will be stored as a double-

Double example: 5.6 ._. GPDouble
precision 64-bit value.

The coordinate pairs that define the minimum bounding

Envelope X_Minimum Y_Minimum X_Maximum Y_Maximum ._. GPEnvelope
rectangle the data source fall within.

EvaluationScale Minimum Maximum Increment

The scale value range and increment value applied to
Evaluation Scale ._. GPEvaluationScale
inputs in a weighted overlay operation. EvaluationScale: '1 to 9 by 1' | '1 to 5 by 1' | '1 to 3 by 1' | '-1 to 1 by 1' |
'-5 to 5 by 1' | '-10 to 10 by 2'
Specifies the coordinate pairs that define the minimum
bounding rectangle (xmin, ymin and xmax, ymax) of a
Extent catalogPath | X_Minimum Y_Minimum X_Maximum Y_Maximum ._. GPExtent
data source. All coordinates for the data source fall within
this boundary.

DEFeatureClass
A collection of spatial data with the same shape type:
Feature Class catalogPath ._. IFeatureClass
point, multipoint, polyline, polygon.
ICoverageFeatureClass

A collection of feature classes that share a common DEFeatureDataset

Feature Dataset catalogPath ._.
geographic area and the same spatial reference system. IFeatureDataset

A reference to a feature class, including symbology and GPFeatureLayer

Feature Layer featurelLayerName | catalogPath ._.
rendering properties. [.lyr] IFeatureLayer
A column in a table that stores the values for a single Field
Field fieldName Field
attribute IField
"fldName newFldName visible;fldName 1 newFldName 1 visible 1;;fldName N
Field Info The details about a field in a FieldMap. FieldInfo GPFieldInfo
newFldName N visible N"
use String Object; use of String Syntax not recommended; FieldMap;
Field Mappings A collection of fields in one or more input tables. GPFieldMapping
catalogPath | SR_ID FieldMappings
DEFile
File A file on disk. catalogPath ._.
IFile
Folder Specifies a location on a disk where data is stored. catalogPath ._. DEFolder
A raster surface whose cell values are represented by a
Formulated Raster catalogPath ._. GPRasterFormulated
formula or constant.

GeoDataServer A coarse grain object that references a geodatabase. catalogPath ._. DEGeoDataServer

A collection of data with a common theme in a

Geodataset "catalogPath;catalogPath 1;;catalogPath N" ._. [abstract datatype ]
geodatabase.

A linear network represented by topologically connected

DEGeometricNetworkType
Geometric Network edge and junction features. Feature connectivity is based catalogPath ._.
on their geometric coincidence.
DEGeometricNetwork

A reference to a geostatistical data source, including

Geostatistical Layer geostatisticalLayerName | catalogPath ._. GPGALayer
symbology and rendering properties.

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 Data Type Description String Syntax1 Scripting Object3 ArcObjects

A collection of data sources and fields that define a

Geostatistical Value Table "catalogPath field;catalogPath 1 field1;;catalogPath N fieldN" ._. GPGAValueTable
geostatistical layer.

A collection of layers that appear and act as a single layer.

Group layers make it easier to organize a map, assign "groupLayerName;groupLayerName 1;;groupLayerName N" |
Group Layer ._. GPGroupLayer
advanced drawing order options, and share layers for use "catalogPath;catalogPath 1;;catalogPath N"
in other maps.

rasterName BINARY ZeroFactor CutAngle |

The relationship between the horizontal cost factor and
Horizontal Factor
the horizontal relative moving angle.
catalogPath BINARY ZeroFactor CutAngle |
rasterName FORWARD ZeroFactor CutAngle SideValue |
catalogPath FORWARD ZeroFactor CutAngle SideValue |
rasterName LINEAR ZeroFactor CutAngle Slope |
catalogPath LINEAR ZeroFactor CutAngle Slope |
._. GPSAHorizontalFactor
rasterName INVERSE LINEAR ZeroFactor CutAngle Slope |
catalogPath INVERSE LINEAR ZeroFactor CutAngle Slope |
rasterName TABLE tableName |
catalogPath TABLE tableName |
rasterName TABLE catalogPath|
catalogPath TABLE catalogPath

A data structure used to speed the search for records in a

Index number ._. Index
geographic datasets and database.

SUBSET itemName operator value |

SUBSET itemName operator value CONNECTOR itemName 1 operator 1 value1 CONNECTOR
CONNECTOR itemName N operator N valueN |
ADD itemName operator value |
A syntax for defining and manipulating data in an INFO
INFO Expression ADD itemName operator value CONNECTOR itemName 1 operator 1 value1 CONNECTOR ._. GPINFOExpression
table.
CONNECTOR itemName N operator N valueN |
SWITCH itemName operator value |
SWITCH itemName operator value CONNECTOR itemName 1 operator 1 value1 CONNECTOR
CONNECTOR itemName N operator N valueN

INFO Item An item in an INFO table. itemName ._. GPArcInfoItem

DEArcInfoTable
INFO Table A table in an INFO Database. catalogPath ._. IArcInfoTable
A reference to a data source, such as a shapefile,
Layer coverage, geodatabase feature class, or raster, including layerName | catalogPath ._. [abstract datatype]
symbology and rendering properties. [.lyr]

A file with a .lyr extension that stores the layer defintion, DELayer
Layer File catalogPath ._.
including symbology and rendering properties. ILayer

A shape, straight or curved, defined by a connected series

Line coordinateList ._. GPLine
of unique x,y coordinate pairs.

linearUnit unitOfMeasure

Linear unit A linear unit type and value such as meter or feet. unitOfMeasure keywords: CENTIMETERS | DECIMALDEGREES | DECIMETERS | FEET | INCHES ._. GPLinearUnit
| KILOMETERS | METERS | MILES | MILLIMETERS | NAUTICALMILES | POINTS |
UNKNOWN | YARDS
Long An integer number value. number ._. GPLong

A range of lowest and highest possible value for m

M Domain M_Minimum M_Maximum ._. GPMDomain
coordinates.

A query syntax used by Spatial Analyst to evaluate raster

Map Algebra Expression catalogPath | MA_expression --> link to online doc ._. GPSAMapAlgebraExp
data.

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 Data Type Description String Syntax1 Scripting Object3 ArcObjects

A collection of values stored in one column in a value

MultiValue "string;string 1;;string N" ._. GPMultiValue
table.

ANNULUS InnerRadius OuterRadius Units |

CIRCLE Radius Units |
RECTANGLE Height Width Units |
The shape of the area around each cell used to calculate WEDGE StartAngle EndAngle Radius Units |
Neighborhood ._. GPSANeighborhood
statistics. IRREGULAR KernelFileName | catalogPath |
WEIGHT KernelFileName or catalogPath

Units keywords: CELL | MAP

Network Analyst Class A mapping between location properties in a network

analyst layer (such as stops, facilities, and incidents) and property field defaultValue ._. NAClassFieldMap
FieldMap a point feature class.

A hierarchy attribute that divides hierarchy values of a

network dataset into three groups using two integers. The NONE |
Network Analyst Hierarchy
first integer, high_rank_ends, sets the ending value of the HIERARCHY defaultRanges | ._. GPNAHierarchySettings
Settings first group; the second number, low_rank_begin, sets the HIERARCHY customRanges upTo andHigher
beginning value of the third group.

A special group layer used to express and solve network

routing problems. Each sublayer, held in-memory, in a GPNALayer
Network Analyst Layer layerName | catalogPath ._.
Network Analyst layer represent some aspect of the INALayer
routing problem and the routing solution.

A collection of topologically connected network elements

(edges, junctions, and turns), derived from network DENetworkDataset
Network Dataset catalogPath ._.
sources and associated with a collection of network INetworkDataset
attributes.

A reference to a network dataset, including symbology

Network Dataset Layer layerName | catalogPath ._. GPNetworkDatasetLaye
and rendering properties.

Point A pair of x,y coordinates. coordinatePair Point GPPoint

A connected sequence of x,y coordinate pairs, where the

Polygon coordinateList ._. GPPolygon
first and last coordinate pair are the same.

A file storing coordinate system information for spatial DEPrjFile

Projection File catalogPath ._.
data. [.prj] IFile
NONE |
PYRAMIDS pyramidLevel sampleMethod
Pyramid Specifies if pyramids will be built. ._. GPRasterGDBEnvPyramid
sampleMethod keywords: NEAREST | BILINEAR | CUBIC
Specifies which surrounding points will be used for
Radius FIXED Distance Min#OfPts | VARIABLE NumOfPts MaxDistance ._. GPSARadius
interpolation.

seed randomGenType
Specifies the seed and the generator to be used when
Random Number Generator ._. GPRandomNumberGenerator
creating random values.
randomGenType keywords: STANDARD_C | ACM599 | MERSENNE_TWISTER
DERasterBand
Raster Band A layer in a raster dataset. catalogPath ._. IRasterBand
A collection of raster datasets defined in a table; each DERasterCatalog
Raster Catalog table records defines an individual raster datasets in the catalogPath ._.
catalog.
IRasterCatalog

A reference to a raster catalog, including symbology and GPRasterCatalogLayer

Raster Catalog Layer rasterCatalogLayer | catalogPath ._.
rendering properties. IRasterCatalogLayer
DERasterDataset
Raster Dataset A single dataset built from one or more rasters. catalogPath ._.
IRasterDataset

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 Data Type Description String Syntax1 Scripting Object3 ArcObjects

A reference to a raster, including symbology and GPRasterLayer

Raster Layer catalogPath ._.
rendering properties. IRasterLayer
NONE |
Raster Statistics Specifies if raster statistics will be built. ._. GPRasterGDBEnvStatistics
STATISTICS X-SkipFactor Y-SkipFactor statsIgnoreValue
The details about the relationship between objects in the DERelationshipClass
Relationship Class catalogPath ._.
geodatabase. IRelationshipClass
OldValues NewValue ClassifyMethod

A table that defines how raster cell values will be OldValues: number | range | string | NoData GPSANumberRemap
Remap ._.
reclassified. NewValue: number | range | string | NoData GPSAStringRemap
ClassifyMethod keywords: MANUAL | EQUALINTERVAL | DEFINEDINTERVAL | QUANTILE |
NATURALBREAKS | STANDARDDEVIATION

Route Measure Event Specifies the fields on a table that describe events that inEventProperties POINT mField |
._. GPRouteMeasureEventProperties
Properties are measured by a linear reference route system. inEventProperties LINE fromMField toMField

ORDINARY SPHERICAL Lag size Major range Partial sill Nugget |

ORDINARY CIRCULAR Lag size Major range Partial sill Nugget |
ORDINARY EXPONENTIAL Lag size Major range Partial sill Nugget |
Specifies the distance and direction representing two
SemiVariogram ORDINARY GAUSSIAN Lag size Major range Partial sill Nugget | ._. GPSASemiVariogram
locations that is used to quantify autocorrelation.
ORDINARY LINEAR Lag size Major range Partial sill Nugget |
UNIVERSAL LINEARDRIFT Lag size Major range Partial sill Nugget |
UNIVERSAL QUADRATICDRIFT Lag size Major range Partial sill Nugget

DEShapefile
Shapefile Spatial data in shapefile format. [.shp] catalogPath ._. IFeatureclass

The coordinate system used to store a spatial dataset, use String Object; use of String Syntax not recommended; GPSpatialReference
Spatial Reference Spatialreference
including the spatial domain. catalogPath | SR_ID ISpatialReference
A syntax for defining and manipulating data from a
SQL Expression fieldName operator value ._. GPSQLExpression
relational database.

String A text value. any combination of characters including spaces ._. GPString

Table Tabular data. catalogPath ._. DETable

GPTableView
A representation of tabular data for viewing and editing IFeatureclass
Table View tableViewName | catalogPath ._.
purposes, stored in memory or on disk. ITable
ILayer

Terrain A multiresolution TIN. catalogPath ._. DETerrain

A reference to a terrain, including symbology and

Terrain Layer terrainLayerName | catalogPath ._. GPTerrainLayer
rendering properties. Its used to draw a terrain.

Text File Data stored in ASCII format. catalogPath ._. DETextFile

Specifies the width and the height of a data stored in

Tile Size width height ._. GPRasterGDBEnvTileSize
block.

SPECIAL DAYS |
Specifies the time periods used for calculating solar WITHIN A DAY numOfDays startTime endTime |
Time configuration ._.
radiation at specific locations. MULTIPLE DAYS IN A YEAR year startDay endDay | GPSATimeConfiguration
WHOLE YEAR WITH MONTHLY INTERVAL year
A vector data structure that partitions geographic space
TIN [Triangulated Irregular into contiguous, non-overlapping triangles. The vertices of DETin
catalogPath ._.
Network] each triangle are sample data points with x-, y-, and z- ITin
values.

A reference to a TIN, including topological relationships, GPTINLayer

TIN Layer TINLayerName | catalogPath ._.
symbology, and rendering properties. ITINLayer

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 Data Type Description String Syntax1 Scripting Object3 ArcObjects
catalogPath featureLayer field Type
Topo Features Features that are input to the interpolation. ._. GPSATopoFeatures
Type keywords: POINTELEVATION | CONTOUR | STREAM | SINK | BOUNDARY | LAKE
A topology that defines and enforces data integrity rules DETopology
Topology catalogPath ._.
for spatial data. ITopology
A reference to a topology, including symbology and GPTopologyLayer
Topology Layer topologyLayerName | catalogPath ._.
rendering properties. ITopologyLayer
A data value that can contain any basic type: boolean,
Variant any combination of characters including spaces ._. GPVariant
date, double, long, and string.

ValueTable A collection of columns of values. catalogPath ._. GPValueTable

BINARY ZeroFactor LowCutAngle HighCutAngle |

Specifies the relationship between the vertical cost factor
Vertical Factor
and the vertical relative moving angle.
LINEAR ZeroFactor LowCutAngle HighCutAngle Slope |
INVERSE LINEAR ZeroFactor LowCutAngle HighCutAngle Slope |
SYMMETRIC LINEAR ZeroFactor LowCutAngle HighCutAngle Slope |
SYMMETRIC INVERSE LINEAR ZeroFactor LowCutAngle HighCutAngle Slope |
COS LowCutAngle HighCutAngle Power | ._. GPSAVerticalFactor
SEC LowCutAngle HighCutAngle Power |
COS_SEC LowCutAngle HighCutAngle COS_Power SEC_Power |
SEC_COS LowCutAngle HighCutAngle COS_Power SEC_Power |
TABLE tableName |
TABLE catalogPath

VPF Coverage Spatial data stored in Vector Product Format. catalogPath ._. DEVPFCoverage

VPF Table Attribute data stored in Vector Product Format. catalogPath ._. DEVPFTable

A table with data to combine multiple rasters by applying a "rasterName %Influence Field Remap 2";"" |
Weighted Overlay Table common measurement scale of values to each raster, ._. GPSAWeightedOverlayTable
weighting each according to its importance. "catalogPath %Influence Field Remap 2";"";

Specifies data for overlaying several rasters multiplied "rasterName Field Weight";"rasterName 1 Field1 Weight1";" "; |
Weighted Sum ._. GPWeightedSum
each by their given weight and then summed. "catalogPath Field Weight";"catalogPath 1 Field1 Weight1";" ";

Workspace A container such as a geodatabase or folder. catalogPath ._. DEWorkspace

A range of lowest and highest possible values for x,y

XY Domain X_Minimum Y_Minimum X_Maximum Y_Maximum ._. GPXYDomain
coordinates.

A range of lowest and highest possible value for z

Z Domain Z_Minimum Z_Maximum ._. GPZDomain
coordinates.

1
catalogPath: C:\workspace\datatypes\... ;
layerName/~LayerName: Layer on disk ,as in C:\workspace\landuse.lyr; layer in ArcMap TOC; internal layer created by geoprocessing tools;
collection: "string;string1;;stringN";
catalogPath, layerName, itemName: if spaces are present, must single or double quote each one in a collection; example: " 'string';'string1';'';'stringN' ";
coordinateList: x1 y1;x2 y2; ;xN yN; polygon: x1 y1;x2 y2; ;xN yN;x1 y1;
keywords are in CAPS: as in ACRES and METERS;

2
For the string syntax refer to the Remap data type.

3
string objects are marked with a patterned background;

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