Working with Geoprocessing tools
The Esri GIS Dictionary defines geoprocessing as: "a GIS operation used to manipulate GIS data." A geoprocessing tool allows you to perform a single and specific geoprocessing operation using at least one dataset to produce a new dataset. Most of the geoprocessing tools create new datasets, leaving the existing datasets intact. In this context, geoprocessing occurs during the following:
Copying, importing, and adding features from one dataset to another dataset (for example, the Feature To Point system tool from ArcToolbox, the Data Management toolbox, the Features toolset)
Converting datasets (for example, the CAD to Geodatabase system tool from the Conversion Tools toolbox, the To Geodatabase toolset)
Analyzing data using specific geoprocessing operations (for example, the Clip tool from the Analysis Tools toolbox, the Extract toolset)
There are three main categories of geoprocessing tools for spatial data analysis in ArcToolbox:
Extraction: This creates a...
