Create Fishnet (Data Management Tools)

Summary

Creates a fishnet of rectangular cells. The output can be polyline or polygon features.

Learn more about how Create Fishnet works

Usage

• The Generate Tessellation tool is an alternate tool that generates repeating shapes that cover an area without gaps or overlap. See the tool documentation for details.

• The coordinate system of the output can be set by either providing a feature class or layer in the Template Extent parameter or setting the Output Coordinate System environment.

• In addition to the output fishnet, a point feature class will be created with label points at the center of each fishnet cell if the Create Label Points parameter is checked. This feature class will use the name of the output fishnet feature class with a suffix of _label and will be created in the same location.

• Use the Geometry Type parameter to create output polyline (default) or polygon cells. Creating a polygon fishnet may be slower, depending on the number of rows and columns.

• The Cell Size Width and the Cell Size Height parameter values are in the same units as defined by the output feature class.

Parameters

• Dialog
• Python

Label	Explanation	Data type
Output Feature Class	The output feature class containing the fishnet of rectangular cells.	Feature Class
Fishnet Origin Coordinate	The pivot point of the fishnet.	Point
Y-Axis Coordinate	The y-axis coordinate that will be used to orient the fishnet. The fishnet will be rotated by the same angle as defined by the line connecting the origin and the y-axis coordinate.	Point
Cell Size Width	The width of each cell. To calculate the cell width using the Number of Rows parameter value, leave this parameter unspecified or set the value to zero; the width will be calculated when the tool is run.	Double
Cell Size Height	The height of each cell. To calculate the cell height using the Number of Columns parameter value, leave this parameter unspecified or set the value to zero; the height will be calculated when the tool is run.	Double
Number of Rows	The number of rows in the output fishnet. To calculate the number of rows using the Cell Size Width parameter value, leave this parameter unspecified or set the value to zero; the number of rows will be calculated when the tool is run.	Long
Number of Columns	The number of columns in the output fishnet. To calculate the number of columns using the Cell Size Height parameter value, leave this parameter unspecified or set the value to zero; the number of columns will be calculated when the tool is run.	Long
Opposite corner of Fishnet (Optional)	The opposite corner of the fishnet set by the Fishnet Origin Coordinate parameter. The values for opposite corner are automatically set if the Template Extent parameter is specified. This parameter is inactive if the Fishnet Origin Coordinate, Y-Axis Coordinate, Cell Size Width, Cell Size Height, Number of Rows, and Number of Columns parameters are specified.	Point
Create Label Points (Optional)	Specifies whether a point feature class will be created containing label points at the center of each fishnet cell. Checked—A point feature class will be created. This is the default. Unchecked—A point feature class will not be created.	Boolean
Template Extent (Optional)	The extent of the fishnet. The extent can be provided by specifying the coordinates or using a template dataset. Current Display Extent —The extent will be based on the active map or scene. Draw Extent —The extent will be based on a rectangle drawn on the map or scene. Extent of a Layer —The extent will be based on an active map layer. Choose an available layer or use the Extent of data in all layers option. Each map layer has the following options: All Features —The extent of all features. Selected Features —The extent of the selected features. Visible Features —The extent of visible features. Browse —The extent will be based on a dataset. Clipboard —The extent can be copied to and from the clipboard. Copy Extent —Copies the extent and coordinate system to the clipboard. Paste Extent —Pastes the extent and coordinate system from the clipboard. If the clipboard does not include a coordinate system, the extent will use the map's coordinate system. Reset Extent —The extent will be reset to the default value. When coordinates are manually provided, the coordinates must be numeric values and in the active map's coordinate system. The map may use different display units than the provided coordinates. Use a negative value sign for south and west coordinates.	Extent
Geometry Type (Optional)	Specifies whether the output fishnet cells will be polyline or polygon features. Polyline—The output will be a polyline feature class. Each cell is defined by four line features. Polygon—The output will be a polygon feature class. Each cell is defined by one polygon feature.	String

Derived output

Label	Explanation	Data type
Output Label Feature Class	The output point feature class with label points at the center of each fishnet cell When the Create Label Points parameter is checked, a point feature class will be created with label points at the center of each fishnet cell. This feature class will use the name of the output fishnet feature class with a suffix of _label and will be created in the same location. When the labels parameter is set to LABELS, a point feature class will be created with label points at the center of each fishnet cell. This feature class will use the name of the output fishnet feature class with a suffix of _label and will be created in the same location.	Feature Class

Environments

Default Output Z Value, Output CONFIG Keyword, Output M Domain, Output XY Domain, Output Z Domain, Output Coordinate System, Extent, Output has M values, Output has Z values

Licensing information

• Basic: Yes
• Standard: Yes
• Advanced: Yes

Related topics

• An overview of the Sampling toolset
• Find a geoprocessing tool
• How Create Fishnet works