Project (Data Management)

Changes the coordinate system of your Input Dataset or Feature Class to a new Output Dataset or Feature Class with the newly defined coordinate system, including the datum and spheroid.

Usage tips

• All input feature class and/or feature layer, feature dataset in geodatabase are valid inputs to this tool.

• In memory feature classes, layers or selection on layers are not supported by the Project tool. The Copy Features tool may be used as an alternative to Project, where the new feature class's coordinate system is specified in the environment settings. A datum transformation(s) may also be defined within the environment settings, if needed.

• Coverage, VPF Coverage, CAD dataset, raster dataset and catalog are not supported. For projecting Coverage use Project tool in Coverage toolbox. For projecting CAD dataset, browse properties from the context menu and click on Edit button on General tab. Use Project Raster to project raster dataset.

• You will need to rebuild the network if you project a feature class participating in that network. Topology of a feature class is not affected by the project tool.

• If you have a feature class that does not have a defined projection, then use the Define Projection tool first.

• Depending on the input and output projection definitions, a line in the input feature class may have to be clipped into more than one segment while the output feature class is being generated. This will occur whenever a line encounters the horizon line or crosses the line of longitude opposite the central meridian.

• Whenever a vertex is encountered that cannot be projected, the previous vertex will be interpreted as the end of a line, and the partially projected line will be written to the output. It is possible for a line to be split into several segments if subsequent vertices are encountered that can be projected.

• Do not name an output file the same as the projection_file, even if the projection_file has a .prj extension.

• All coordinate systems use a datum as the reference to Earth's surface. A datum may represent the entire globe (Geocentric), or a specific part (Local). Each transformation is specific to a set of input and output datums, so when a geodataset is being projected from one coordinate system to another, one or more transformations may become required. Many coordinate system conversions do not require a transformation, which is why the option to provide one or more transformations is optional. For example, a geographic transformation is not required when projecting from GCS_North_American_1983 to NAD_1983_UTM_Zone_12N because both the Input and Output Coordinate Systems use the NAD_1983 datum. However, projecting from GCS_North_American_1983 to WGS_1984_UTM_Zone_12N requires a geographic transformation because the Input Coordinate System uses the NAD_1983 datum while the Output Coordinate System uses the WGS_1984 datum. Learn more about datums.

• The Geographic Transformation parameter is initially optional. However, when any projection requires a transformation (see above tip) a green dot appears besides the control indicating it is required now. Although the label of this parameter's control shows optional (which is static), a drop down list shows available transformations. While running Project in batch mode, you need to double-click the transformation column to verify whether transformation is required.

• When working with geographic transformations, if no mention is made of the direction, the Geoprocessing Tool will handle the directionality automatically. For example, if converting data from WGS 1984 to NAD 1927, you can pick a transformation called NAD_1927_to_WGS_1984_3 and the software will apply it correctly.

• For more information on map projections, see An overview of map projections, and List of supported map projections. For more information on coordinate systems, see About coordinate systems and map projections, About geographic coordinate systems, and About projected coordinate systems.

• Learn more about spatial reference and geoprocessing. For more information on geographic transformations, see Geographic transformation methods.

• The following environments affect this tool: configKeyword, extent, outputCoordinateSystem, scratchWorkspace, Geographic transformations and workspace.