NAME: Split Multipart Features   (Click Name to Download)

Aka: split_multipart.avx

Last modified:  March 1, 2005

TOPICS:  Multipart Feature Complex Multipoint ShapeZ ShapeM Point Polygon Polyline

AUTHOR:  Jeff Jenness, GIS Analyst

Jenness Enterprises

3020 N. Schevene Blvd.

Flagstaff, AZ 86004
jeffj@jennessent.com

DESCRIPTION:  This is a straightforward extension which identifies and optionally separates all multipart features in a feature theme.  Multipart features are those which are composed of separate, disconnected parts.  A multipart polygon, for example, might be split into several polygon shapes.  Selecting any one of these will select all of them because they are all the same object, and are all contained in a single record in the attribute table.

This extension has been tested on Multipoint, MultipointZ, MultipointM, Polygon, PolygonZ, PolygonM, Polyline, PolylineM, and PolylineZ features.

Output:  In all cases, this extension will produce a report listing all multipart features it found in a theme. Optionally it can add a field to the theme attribute table containing the number of parts in each record. Optionally it can produce a new shapefile with all multipart features separated into separate features.

REQUIRES:  This extension requires that the file "avdlog.dll" be present in the ArcView/BIN32 directory (or $AVBIN/avdlog.dll) and that the Dialog Designer extension be located in your ArcView/ext32 directory, which they usually are if you're running AV 3.1 or better. The Dialog Designer doesn't have to be loaded; it just has to be available. If you are running AV 3.0a, you can download the appropriate files for free from ESRI at:

http://support.esri.com/index.cfm?fa=downloads.patchesServicePacks.viewPatch&PID=25&MetaID=483

Recommended Citation Format: For those who wish to cite this extension, the author recommends something similar to:

Jenness, J. 2005. Split multipart features (split_multipart.avx) extension for ArcView 3.x. Jenness Enterprises. Available at: http://www.jennessent.com/arcview/split_multipart.htm

Please let me know if you cite this extension in a publication (jeffj@jennessent.com). I will update the citation list to include any publications that I am told about.

Updates:  None Yet

General Instructions:

1)  Begin by placing the "split_multipart.avx" file into the ArcView extensions directory (../../Av_gis30/Arcview/ext32/).

2)  After starting ArcView, load the extension by clicking on File --> Extensions… , scrolling down through the list of available extensions, and then clicking on the checkbox next to the extension called "Split Multipart Features."

3) This extension will add a single button to your View button bar.

4) Make sure your themes of interest are in your view.

5) Click the button to start the process. You will first be asked to identify your theme, ID field, and output options. ID values are only used in the report and are not a critical part of the analysis:

6) Click “OK” and the extension will go to work. Upon completion, it will produce a report describing exactly what it did: