Use ArcObjects to get the x and y coordinates of points, polygon centroids, or line midpoints

Summary

Instructions provided describe the steps using ArcObjects to get the x and y coordinates of points, polygon centroids, or line midpoints.

The code below generates a generic error if the data contains invalid geometry. If an error occurs while running the code, run the shapefile or personal geodatabase data through ArcToolbox's Repair Geometry command, located in the Data Management > Features toolset.

Point: If a point layer is selected, the fields added are called X_COORD and Y_COORD and are populated with the feature's x and y coordinates.

Line: If a line layer is selected, the fields added are called MID_X and MID_Y and contain the coordinates of the midpoint of each line.

Polygon: If a polygon layer is selected, the fields added are called CENTROID_X and CENTROID_Y and contain the coordinates of the centroid of each polygon.

Procedure

1. Start ArcMap.
2. Add the feature class for which you want to calculate the coordinates. You must have write-access to the feature class.
3. Open the Visual Basic Editor.
   
   
   In ArcMap, select Tools > Macros > Visual Basic Editor.
   
   
4. In the Project Explorer window, expand Project.mxt and select ArcMap Objects > ThisDocument then right-click and select View Code.
   
   

   Note:
   Code in the Project's ThisDocument code module will only run in the current map document.  If you want to store the code in all your map documents open the Normal.mxt ThisDocument code module instead.

   
   
5. Copy the following code into the code module.
   

   Code:
   Dim X_Pos As Integer
   Dim Y_Pos As Integer
   Dim fClass As IFeatureClass
   Public Sub addCoords()
    ' Adds coordinate information to shapefile, coverage,
    ' and geodatabase feature class tables
    Dim mxDoc As IMxDocument
    Dim selectedLayer As ILayer
    Dim fLayer As IFeatureLayer
    
    Set mxDoc = ThisDocument
    Set selectedLayer = mxDoc.selectedLayer
    If selectedLayer Is Nothing Then
     MsgBox "Select a layer in the Table of Contents.", _
            vbCritical, "No layer selected"
     Exit Sub
    End If
    If Not TypeOf selectedLayer Is IFeatureLayer Then
     MsgBox "Select a feature layer in the Table of Contents.", _
            vbCritical, "Selected layer is not a feature layer"
     Exit Sub
    End If
    Set fLayer = selectedLayer
    Set fClass = fLayer.FeatureClass
    Select Case fClass.ShapeType
     Case esriGeometryPoint
      If AddFields("X_Coord", "Y_Coord") = True Then
       AddXY_Points
      End If
     Case esriGeometryPolyline
      If AddFields("Mid_X", "Mid_Y") = True Then
       AddXY_Lines  ' based on fromPoint of line.
      End If
     Case esriGeometryPolygon
      If AddFields("Centroid_X", "Centroid_Y") = True Then
       AddXY_Polygons  ' based on centroid of polygon.
      End If
     Case Else
      MsgBox "This tool only works with point, line and polygons.", _
             vbCritical, "Unsupported geometry type"
      Exit Sub
    End Select
   End Sub
   
   Private Function AddFields(fieldName1 As String, _
          fieldName2 As String) As Boolean
          
    ' Add required fields that will store the coordinate information.
    On Error GoTo couldntAddFields
    Dim newField As IFieldEdit
    
    ' Delete required field if it exists.
    If fClass.FindField(fieldName1) <> -1 Then
     fClass.DeleteField fClass.Fields.Field(fClass.FindField(fieldName1))
    End If
    
    ' Create the required field.
    Set newField = New Field
    With newField
     .Name = fieldName1
     .Type = esriFieldTypeDouble
    End With
    fClass.AddField newField
    
    ' Delete required field if it exists.
    If fClass.FindField(fieldName2) <> -1 Then
     fClass.DeleteField fClass.Fields.Field(fClass.FindField(fieldName2))
    End If
    
    ' Create the required field.
    Set newField = New Field
    With newField
     .Name = fieldName2
     .Type = esriFieldTypeDouble
    End With
    fClass.AddField newField
    X_Pos = fClass.FindField(fieldName1)
    Y_Pos = fClass.FindField(fieldName2)
    If X_Pos = -1 Or Y_Pos = -1 Then
     GoTo couldntAddFields
    End If
    AddFields = True
    Exit Function
   couldntAddFields:
    MsgBox Err.Description & Chr(13) & "AddXY was not completed.", _
           vbCritical, "Could not add required fields"
    AddFields = False
   End Function
   
   Private Sub AddXY_Points()
   
    ' Populate X_Coord and Y_Coord fields for each point.
    Dim fCursor As IFeatureCursor
    Dim aFeature As IFeature
    Dim thePoint As IPoint
    
    Set fCursor = fClass.Update(Nothing, False)
    Set aFeature = fCursor.NextFeature
    Do Until aFeature Is Nothing
     Set thePoint = aFeature.Shape
     aFeature.Value(X_Pos) = thePoint.X
     aFeature.Value(Y_Pos) = thePoint.Y
     fCursor.UpdateFeature aFeature
     Set aFeature = fCursor.NextFeature
    Loop
    MsgBox "Finished", vbInformation, "Add Coordinates"
   End Sub
   
   Private Sub AddXY_Lines()
    ' Populate Mid_X and Mid_Y fields with the mid-point XY for each line.
    Dim fCursor As IFeatureCursor
    Dim aFeature As IFeature
    Dim theCurve As ICurve
    Dim thePoint As IPoint
    
    Set thePoint = New Point
    Set fCursor = fClass.Update(Nothing, False)
    Set aFeature = fCursor.NextFeature
    Do Until aFeature Is Nothing
     Set theCurve = aFeature.Shape
     theCurve.QueryPoint 0, 0.5, True, thePoint
     aFeature.Value(X_Pos) = thePoint.X
     aFeature.Value(Y_Pos) = thePoint.Y
     fCursor.UpdateFeature aFeature
     Set aFeature = fCursor.NextFeature
    Loop
    MsgBox "Finished", vbInformation, "Add Coordinates"
   End Sub
   
   Private Sub AddXY_Polygons()
    ' Populate Centroid_X and Centroid_X fields
    ' with the centroid for each polygon.
    Dim fCursor As IFeatureCursor
    Dim aFeature As IFeature
    Dim thePolygon As IArea
    Dim thePoint As IPoint
    
    Set fCursor = fClass.Update(Nothing, False)
    Set aFeature = fCursor.NextFeature
    Do Until aFeature Is Nothing
     Set thePolygon = aFeature.Shape
     Set thePoint = thePolygon.Centroid
     aFeature.Value(X_Pos) = thePoint.X
     aFeature.Value(Y_Pos) = thePoint.Y
     fCursor.UpdateFeature aFeature
     Set aFeature = fCursor.NextFeature
    Loop
    MsgBox "Finished", vbInformation, "Add Coordinates"
   End Sub

   
   
6. Close the Visual Basic Editor.
7. Run the code by clicking Tools > Macros > Macros, then change the 'Macros in:' to "Normal (Normal.mxt)", select "ThisDocument.addCoords" in the 'Macro name:' box, and then click Run. A message box will tell you when the code is finished running.