Summary
Imports a feature type from a web feature service (WFS) to a feature class in a geodatabase.
Usage
Download features from a simple or complex WFS service.
After setting the URL for the WFS server, all feature types published from the server are listed. Examples can include WFS feature types for schools, roads, and parcels. One of these is then selected and an output location and name are specified.
By default, all features from the WFS source are added to the feature class. The extent environment setting can be used to limit the features to only those that intersect a user-defined extent. You can also specify an output configuration keyword using the geodatabase settings section of the environment settings.
Syntax
WFSToFeatureClass(input_WFS_server, WFS_feature_type, out_path, out_name, {is_complex}, {max_features}, {expose_metadata}, {swap_xy})| Parameter | Explanation | Data Type |
input_WFS_server | The URL of the source WFS service (for example, http://sampleserver6.arcgisonline.com/arcgis/services/SampleWorldCities/MapServer/WFSServer?). If the input is a complex WFS service (is_complex=COMPLEX), this can also be the path to the XML file. | String |
WFS_feature_type | The name of the WFS layer to extract from the input WFS service. | String |
out_path | The location of the output feature class or geodatabase. If the input is a simple WFS service, the output location can be a geodatabase or a feature dataset in a geodatabase. If the output location is a feature dataset, the coordinates are converted from the source coordinate system to the coordinate system of the feature dataset. If the input is a complex WFS service, the output location must be a folder. | Workspace; Feature Dataset; Folder |
out_name | The name of the output feature class or geodatabase. If the input is a simple WFS service, the name is used to create a feature class in the output location. If the feature class name already exists in the geodatabase, the name will be automatically incremented. By default, the feature type name is used. If the input is a complex WFS service, the name is used to create a geodatabase in the output location. | String |
is_complex (Optional) | Specifies whether the input_WFS_server service is a complex WFS service.
| Boolean |
max_features (Optional) | The maximum number of features that can be returned. The default is 1000. | Long |
expose_metadata (Optional) | Specifies whether tables with metadata will be created from the service. This is only applicable for complex WFS services.
| Boolean |
swap_xy (Optional) | Specifies whether the x,y axis order of the output feature class will be swapped. Some WFS services may have the order of the x,y coordinates swapped on the server side, causing the feature class to display incorrectly.
| Boolean |
Derived Output
| Name | Explanation | Data Type |
| out_feature_class | The output feature class when converting a simple WFS service. | Feature Class |
| out_gdb | The output file geodatabase when converting a complex WFS service. | Workspace |
Code sample
The following script demonstrates how to execute the WFSToFeatureClass function in a stand-alone script.
# Name: WFSToFeatureClass_example1.py
# Description: Create a feature class from a WFS service
# Import arcpy module
import arcpy
# Set local variables
WFS_Service = "http://sampleserver6.arcgisonline.com/arcgis/services/SampleWorldCities/MapServer/WFSServer?request=GetCapabilities&service=WFS"
WFS_FeatureType = "cities"
Out_Location = "C:/Data/Default.gdb"
Out_Name = "SampleWorldCities"
# Execute the WFSToFeatureClass tool
arcpy.WFSToFeatureClass_conversion(WFS_Service, WFS_FeatureType, Out_Location, Out_Name)Environments
Licensing information
- Basic: Yes
- Standard: Yes
- Advanced: Yes