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ListSpatialReferences

Summary

The ListSpatialReferences function lists available spatial reference names for use as an argument to the SpatialReference class.

Syntax

ListSpatialReferences({wild_card}, {spatial_reference_type})

Parameter Explanation Data Type

wild_card

Limits the results returned. If a value is not specified, all values are returned. The wildcard is not case sensitive.

Use an asterisk (*) to represent zero or more characters. For example, Te* finds Tennessee and Texas.

String

spatial_reference_type

Specifies the spatial reference types that will be listed.

  • GCS—Only geographic coordinate systems will be listed.

  • PCS—Only projected coordinate systems will be listed.

  • ALL—Both projected and geographic coordinate systems will be listed. This is the default.

String

Return value

Data Type Explanation

String

A list of spatial references that match the wildcard and spatial reference type. Each item in the list includes qualifying information, separated with forward slashes, to help you limit your search or better understand the purpose of the spatial reference.

For example, 'Projected Coordinate Systems/World/Sinusoidal (world)' might be in the list. Its path indicates that this spatial reference is Sinusoidal, which is a projected coordinate system that is intended to be used at a global extent.

Another example is 'Projected Coordinate Systems/UTM/South America/Corrego Alegre UTM Zone 25S'. This is a UTM spatial reference for a UTM zone in South America.

Code sample

ListSpatialReferences example 1

List all geographic spatial references.

import arcpy

# Get the list of spatial references and print it.
srs = arcpy.ListSpatialReferences(spatial_reference_type="GCS")
for sr_name in srs:
    print(sr_name)
ListSpatialReferences example 2

Print the central meridians and names of UTM zones in New Zealand.

import arcpy

# Get the list of spatial references
srs = arcpy.ListSpatialReferences("*utm/new zealand*")

# Create a SpatialReference object for each one and print the
# central meridian
for sr_string in srs:
    sr_object = arcpy.SpatialReference(sr_string)
    print("{0.centralMeridian}   {0.name}".format(sr_object))