Quick & Dirty arcpy: Batch Splitting Polylines to a Specific Length

Matt - 1 May, 2011

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For some odd reason, I wanted to split all the arcs in a polyline feature class to a specific length–if a specific feature was longer than the target length, it would become two or more separate polyline records.

Here is the bare-bones script that copies an existing feature class into a new feature class then processes each record, splitting it into multiple records if the polyline is longer than the user-specified tolerance. Some cautionary notes:

This is Quick & Dirty code–minimal error catching or documentation.
I basically tested this against one feature class (the one I wanted to split) once I got it to work, I quit.
There is some rounding error–features may be a tad bit off (a few ten-thousandths of a unit).
I did not test against multi-part features.
The tolerance is the native units of the data–if your data is in meters but you want to split the polylines every mile, enter 1,609.344.

I have included both a toolbox file (.tbx) and python script (.py). After loading the toolbox, you’ll have to change the Source of the script by right-clicking on it, selecting the Source tab, and then navigating to the .py file.

Here is the code for the Googlebots, but you are better off just downloading it.

import arcpy
import sys, math

def printit(inMessage):
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; print inMessage
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; arcpy.AddMessage(inMessage)

if len(sys.argv) > 1:
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; inFC = sys.argv[1]
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; outFC = sys.argv[2]
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; alongDistin = sys.argv[3]
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; alongDist = float(alongDistin)
else:
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; inFC = "C:/temp/asdfasdf.mdb/jkl"
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; OutDir = "C:/temp/asdfasdf.mdb"
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; outFCName = "jkl2d"
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; outFC = OutDir+"/"+outFCName
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; alongDist = 1000

if (arcpy.Exists(inFC)):
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; print(inFC+" does exist")
else:
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; print("Cancelling, "+inFC+" does not exist")
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; sys.exit(0)

def distPoint(p1, p2):
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; calc1 = p1.X - p2.X
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; calc2 = p1.Y - p2.Y

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; return math.sqrt((calc1**2)+(calc2**2))

def midpoint(prevpoint,nextpoint,targetDist,totalDist):
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; newX = prevpoint.X + ((nextpoint.X - prevpoint.X) * (targetDist/totalDist))
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; newY = prevpoint.Y + ((nextpoint.Y - prevpoint.Y) * (targetDist/totalDist))
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; return arcpy.Point(newX, newY)

def splitShape(feat,splitDist):
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; # Count the number of points in the current multipart feature
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; #
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; partcount = feat.partCount
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; partnum = 0
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; # Enter while loop for each part in the feature (if a singlepart feature
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; # this will occur only once)
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; #
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; lineArray = arcpy.Array()

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; while partnum < partcount:
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; # Print the part number
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; #
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; #print "Part " + str(partnum) + ":"
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; part = feat.getPart(partnum)
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; #print part.count

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; totalDist = 0

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; pnt = part.next()
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; pntcount = 0

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; prevpoint = None
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; shapelist = []

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; # Enter while loop for each vertex
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; #
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; while pnt:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; if not (prevpoint is None):
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; thisDist = distPoint(prevpoint,pnt)
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; maxAdditionalDist = splitDist - totalDist

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; print thisDist, totalDist, maxAdditionalDist

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; if (totalDist+thisDist)> splitDist:
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; while(totalDist+thisDist) > splitDist:
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; maxAdditionalDist = splitDist - totalDist
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; #print thisDist, totalDist, maxAdditionalDist
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; newpoint = midpoint(prevpoint,pnt,maxAdditionalDist,thisDist)
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; lineArray.add(newpoint)
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; shapelist.append(lineArray)

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; lineArray = arcpy.Array()
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; lineArray.add(newpoint)
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; prevpoint = newpoint
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; thisDist = distPoint(prevpoint,pnt)
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; totalDist = 0

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; lineArray.add(pnt)
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; totalDist+=thisDist
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; else:
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; totalDist+=thisDist
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; lineArray.add(pnt)
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; #shapelist.append(lineArray)
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; else:
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; lineArray.add(pnt)
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; totalDist = 0

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; prevpoint = pnt&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; pntcount += 1

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; pnt = part.next()

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; # If pnt is null, either the part is finished or there is an
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; #&nbsp;&nbsp; interior ring
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; #
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; if not pnt:
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; pnt = part.next()
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; if pnt:
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; print "Interior Ring:"
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; partnum += 1

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; if (lineArray.count > 1):
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; shapelist.append(lineArray)

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; return shapelist

if arcpy.Exists(outFC):
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; arcpy.Delete_management(outFC)

arcpy.Copy_management(inFC,outFC)

#origDesc = arcpy.Describe(inFC)
#sR = origDesc.spatialReference

#revDesc = arcpy.Describe(outFC)
#revDesc.ShapeFieldName

deleterows = arcpy.UpdateCursor(outFC)
for iDRow in deleterows:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; deleterows.deleteRow(iDRow)

del iDRow
del deleterows

inputRows = arcpy.SearchCursor(inFC)
outputRows = arcpy.InsertCursor(outFC)
fields = arcpy.ListFields(inFC)

numRecords = int(arcpy.GetCount_management(inFC).getOutput(0))
OnePercentThreshold = numRecords // 100

printit(numRecords)

iCounter = 0
iCounter2 = 0

for iInRow in inputRows:
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; inGeom = iInRow.shape
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; iCounter+=1
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; iCounter2+=1&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; if (iCounter2 > (OnePercentThreshold+0)):
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; printit("Processing Record "+str(iCounter) + " of "+ str(numRecords))
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; iCounter2=0

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; if (inGeom.length > alongDist):
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; shapeList = splitShape(iInRow.shape,alongDist)

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; for itmp in shapeList:
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; newRow = outputRows.newRow()
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; for ifield in fields:
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; if (ifield.editable):
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; newRow.setValue(ifield.name,iInRow.getValue(ifield.name))
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; newRow.shape = itmp
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; outputRows.insertRow(newRow)
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; else:
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; outputRows.insertRow(iInRow)

del inputRows
del outputRows

printit("Done!")