Consistent path and filename parameters in GP tools
Edit: ArcGIS Pro 2.6.8
If I understand correctly:
Some geoprocessing tools have separate parameters for the path and filename. Other GP tools have a single parameter for the path and filename combined.
That seems inconsistent. When I'm in a hurry, I often assume a tool uses one convention, but it actually uses the other. So the value I entered is incorrect, causing frustration.
For example, Spatial Join has the path and filename combined into a single parameter: "Output Feature Class".
Whereas the Export Features tool splits the path and filename into separate parameters: "Output Location" and "Output Name".
I wonder if more consistency in this area would make it easier for new GIS users to pick up ArcGIS Pro, rather than fiddling with the output parameters.
Feel free to let me know if I've missed something.
AGP works with the notion of a workspace and base name, often displaying just the base name to make things "fit" the display and easier to adjust.
Under Options --> Application
Display data paths as shortened names
This option controls whether geoprocessing tool parameters that contain a dataset path are displayed as a shortened name.
- Checked—Dataset paths are displayed as a shortened name, and you can click the shortened name to see the full dataset path. This is the default.
- Unchecked—Full dataset paths are always displayed.
As for your lower screen shot, I am not sure if this is a version thing as my 3.1.0 shows this :
@BarryNorthey Thanks for the info. That helps.
Yeah, my screenshots came from ArcGIS Pro 2.6.8. So I guess the Export Features parameters have changed since then.
I checked 3.1 too, and the parameter is like you described: Output Feature Class.
For what it's worth, here's a list of GP tools that have output_location or output_name parameters in ArcGIS Pro 3.1. Most of them are geoanalytics tools. But some are from other toolboxes too.
for tool in arcpy.ListTools("*"):
params = arcpy.GetParameterInfo(tool)
for param in params:
if param.name == "output_location" or param.name == "output_name":
print(tool, param.name)
AggregatePoints_geoanalytics output_name
CalculateDensity_geoanalytics output_name
CalculateField_geoanalytics output_name
CalculateMotionStatistics_geoanalytics output_name
ClipLayer_geoanalytics output_name
CopyToDataStore_geoanalytics output_name
CopyTraversedSourceFeatures_na output_location
CreateBuffers_geoanalytics output_name
CreateReplicaFromServer_management output_name
CreateSpaceTimeCube_geoanalytics output_name
DescribeDataset_geoanalytics output_name
DetectIncidents_geoanalytics output_name
DissolveBoundaries_geoanalytics output_name
ExportS101Cell_maritime output_location
FeatureClassZToASCII_3d output_location
FindDwellLocations_geoanalytics output_name
FindHotSpots_geoanalytics output_name
FindPointClusters_geoanalytics output_name
FindSimilarLocations_geoanalytics output_name
GenerateProductLayout_topographic output_location
GeocodeFile_geocoding output_location
GeocodeFile_geocoding output_name
GeocodeLocationsFromTable_geocoding output_name
GroupByProximity_geoanalytics output_name
IterateLayers_mb output_name
JoinFeatures_geoanalytics output_name
MergeLayers_geoanalytics output_name
MosaicToNewRaster_management output_location
OverlayLayers_geoanalytics output_name
ReconstructTracks_geoanalytics output_name
RecoverFileGDB_management output_location
SnapTracks_geoanalytics output_name
SummarizeAttributes_geoanalytics output_name
SummarizeCenterAndDispersion_geoanalytics output_name
SummarizeWithin_geoanalytics output_name
TraceProximityEvents_geoanalytics output_nameSource: List of all parameter names of all geoprocessing tools in ArcGIS Pro
