Unable to Process Line Feature Class in in_memory Workspace

Question

I'm trying to run a script that will generate a contour map from a raster in a geodatabase, run Simplify Line on the contour map, and then run Smooth Line. At first I ran it in disk, and it worked (albeit slowly), and now I'd like to do it using the in_memory workspace. However, it returns the error message at the bottom. I've tried this in PyScripter and ArcMap with both foreground and background (64-bit) geoprocessing, and the result is the same. What is the problem with my code that is causing this to fail when I use the in_memory workspace?

>>> # -*- coding: utf-8 -*- ... 
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ... 
# Snippet.py ... 
# Created on: 2018年07月17日 11:14:47.00000 ... 
# (generated by ArcGIS/ModelBuilder) ... 
# Description: ... 
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ... ... 
# Import arcpy module ... 
import arcpy ... 
from arcpy.sa import * ... 
from arcpy.ddd import * ... 
arcpy.CheckOutExtension("Spatial") ... 
arcpy.CheckOutExtension("3D") ... ... 
# Local variables: ... 
FilteredDEM = "D:\\ArcGIS\\Folder\\Geodatabase.gdb\\FilteredDEM" ... 
FiveMeterContour = "in_memory\\FiveMeterContour" ... 
FiveMeterSimplify_Pnt = FiveMeterContour ... 
FiveMeterSimplify = "in_memory\\FiveMeterSimplify" ... 
FiveMeterSmooth = "in_memory\\FiveMeterSmooth" ... ... 
# Process: Contour ... 
arcpy.Contour_3d(FilteredDEM, FiveMeterContour, "5", "0", "1") ... ... 
# Process: Simplify Line ... 
arcpy.SimplifyLine_cartography(FiveMeterContour, FiveMeterSimplify, "BEND_SIMPLIFY", "5 Meters", "RESOLVE_ERRORS", "KEEP_COLLAPSED_POINTS", "CHECK") ... ... 
# Process: Smooth Line ... 
arcpy.SmoothLine_cartography(FiveMeterSimplify, FiveMeterSmooth, "BEZIER_INTERPOLATION", "0 Meters", "FIXED_CLOSED_ENDPOINT", "FLAG_ERRORS") ... ...
arcpy.CheckInExtension("Spatial") ... 
arcpy.CheckInExtension("3D") ... 

Result:

Runtime error Traceback (most recent call last): 
File "", line 27, in File "c:\program files (x86)\arcgis\desktop10.4\arcpy\arcpy\cartography.py", line 1340, in SimplifyLine 
raise e ExecuteError: ERROR 000207: 
Cannot create intermediate output GPInMemoryWorkspace:{5568791D-08F7-4A36-BC5F-A640D3D64572}\FiveMeterSimplify_TmpIn Failed to execute (SimplifyLine). >>>

• KHibma: I wonder if the last 2 parameters and the topo checks have anything to do with it? Try changing the last 2 to NO_KEEP and NO_CHECK
• Matthew: I changed the parameters accordingly, and I no longer get that error message. Instead, when I use background processing, it throws Error 001143. In foreground processing, it crashes.
• KHibma: How about trying the Generalize tool instead? Does basically the same thing as SimplifyLine.
• Matthew: That worked, thanks. So it seems like it works when it's operating on the same feature class, but doesn't work when the input and output are different feature classes.

Answer 1

I have not tested this but I notice that the syntax for Simplify Line is:

SimplifyLine_cartography (in_features, out_feature_class, algorithm, tolerance, {error_resolving_option}, {collapsed_point_option}, {error_checking_option})

The help also says that:

• in_features must be of data type Feature Layer
• out_feature_class will be of data type Feature Class

I have a suspicion that it may be you providing a feature class in an in-memory workspace as your in_features instead of a feature layer that is tripping it up. Perhaps you can use Make Feature Layer on that feature class in an in-memory workspace first.

However, the workaround that @KHibma suggests, of using Generalize instead, may be the simplest option. Although I note that uses a Feature Layer as input too.

• Matthew: Thanks! Here's my results: 1) It worked when I converted the output feature classes into feature layers. 2) Simplify Line worked when I used a smaller DEM; Generalize works with larger datasets (must be a memory issue). 3) Simplify line can't do topo checks in memory; it works when no check is done. I also tried using Repair Geometry, out of curiosity, and it didn't work either.