Converting XY Event Layer to Shapefile using ArcObjects and C#?

Question

Using C# code, convert the XYEvent layer to a shapefile. Add the created shapefile to the map.

I have already created the XY event layer with the following code:

public void XYEvent()
{
    //http://edndoc.esri.com/arcobjects/9.0/samples/tables/create_a_layer_based_on_xy_data.htm

    IMxDocument mxdoc = ArcMap.Application.Document as IMxDocument;
    IMap map = mxdoc.FocusMap;

    // Get the table named XYSample.txt
    IStandaloneTableCollection stTableCollection = map as IStandaloneTableCollection;
    IStandaloneTable standaloneTable = null;
    ITable table = null;

    //Error check to make sure the table has been added before the event is created
    for (int i = 0; i < stTableCollection.StandaloneTableCount; i++)
    {
    standaloneTable = stTableCollection.StandaloneTable[i];
    if (standaloneTable.Name == "ONT_Stations")
    {
    table = standaloneTable.Table;
    break;
    }
    }


    if (table == null)
    {
    MessageBox.Show("ONT_Stations table was not found in this map.");
    return;
    }

    // Get the table name object
    IDataset dataset = table as IDataset;
    IName tableName = dataset.FullName;

    // Specify the X and Y fields
    IXYEvent2FieldsProperties xyEvent2FieldsProperties = new XYEvent2FieldsProperties() as IXYEvent2FieldsProperties;
    xyEvent2FieldsProperties.XFieldName = "LATITUDE_DECIMAL_DEGREES";
    xyEvent2FieldsProperties.YFieldName = "LONGITUDE_DECIMAL_DEGREES";
    xyEvent2FieldsProperties.ZFieldName = "ELEVATION";

    // Specify the projection
    //Projection found at: http://edndoc.esri.com/arcobjects/9.1/ComponentHelp/esriGeometry/esriSRGeoCSType.htm
    ISpatialReferenceFactory spatialReferenceFactory = new SpatialReferenceEnvironment() as ISpatialReferenceFactory;
    IGeographicCoordinateSystem geographicCoordinateSystem = spatialReferenceFactory.CreateGeographicCoordinateSystem((int)esriSRGeoCSType.esriSRGeoCS_NAD1983);

    // Create the XY name object as set it's properties
    IXYEventSourceName xyEventSourceName = new XYEventSourceName() as IXYEventSourceName;
    xyEventSourceName.EventProperties = xyEvent2FieldsProperties;
    xyEventSourceName.SpatialReference = geographicCoordinateSystem;
    xyEventSourceName.EventTableName = tableName;
    IName xyName = xyEventSourceName as IName;
    IXYEventSource xyEventSource = xyName.Open() as IXYEventSource;
    IFeatureLayer featureLayer = new FeatureLayer() as IFeatureLayer;
    featureLayer.FeatureClass = xyEventSource as IFeatureClass;
    featureLayer.Name = "ONT_Stations_Events";

    //Add layer to map          
    map.AddLayer(featureLayer);
    mxdoc.ActiveView.Refresh();
}

Answer 1

Here's something I put together to show how to create a shapefile (just the basics) and iterate through a feature class writing to an output as you go:

void NewShapefile(string FullName, ISpatialReference SR, ILayer FromLayer )
{
    System.IO.FileInfo pFInfo = new System.IO.FileInfo(FullName);
    IWorkspaceFactory pWSfact = new ShapefileWorkspaceFactoryClass();
    IWorkspace pWS = pWSfact.OpenFromFile(pFInfo.DirectoryName, 0); // open the folder as a 'workspace'
    IFeatureWorkspace pFWS = (IFeatureWorkspace)pWS;// make that a feature workspace
    IFeatureLayer pFtLayer = (IFeatureLayer)FromLayer;// layer as feature layer

    IFields pFields = new FieldsClass();
    IFieldsEdit pFieldsEdit = (IFieldsEdit)pFields;

    // create the FID field
    IField pField = new FieldClass();
    IFieldEdit pFieldEdit = (IFieldEdit)pField;
    pFieldEdit.Name_2 = "FID";
    pFieldEdit.Type_2 = esriFieldType.esriFieldTypeOID;
    pFieldsEdit.AddField(pField);

    // create the Shape field
    pField = new FieldClass();
    pFieldEdit = (IFieldEdit)pField;
    pFieldEdit.Name_2 = "Shape";
    pFieldEdit.Type_2 = esriFieldType.esriFieldTypeGeometry;
    // geometry def: point, spatial reference
    IGeometryDef pGeomDef = new GeometryDefClass();
    IGeometryDefEdit pGeomDefEd = (IGeometryDefEdit)pGeomDef;
    pGeomDefEd.GeometryType_2 = esriGeometryType.esriGeometryPoint;
    pGeomDefEd.SpatialReference_2 = SR;
    pFieldEdit.GeometryDef_2 = pGeomDef;

    // add more fields here if you like

    // create the feature class
    IFeatureClass OutFC =  pFWS.CreateFeatureClass(pFInfo.Name, pFields, null, null, esriFeatureType.esriFTSimple, "Shape", "");

    // get ready to start writing the new features
    IFeatureBuffer pFtBuff = OutFC.CreateFeatureBuffer();
    IFeatureCursor pOutCur = OutFC.Insert(true);
    IFeatureCursor pFromCur = pFtLayer.FeatureClass.Search(null, true); // get a cursor on the 'from' features, the xy event layer
    IFeature fromFt = pFromCur.NextFeature();
    // loop through all the features and put them in the out feature class
    while (fromFt != null)
    {
        pFtBuff.Shape = fromFt.ShapeCopy;

        // use pFtBuff.set_Value(index,value) to set the values of any new fields
        pOutCur.InsertFeature(pFtBuff);
        fromFt = pFromCur.NextFeature();
    }
    pOutCur.Flush(); // write pending edits..
}

but compare that to using the IGeoprocessor interface:

        IGeoProcessor pGP = new GeoProcessorClass();
        IVariantArray gpParams = new VarArrayClass();
        gpParams.Add("ONT_Stations_Events"); // 'from features'
        gpParams.Add(FullName);
        pGP.Execute("CopyFeatures_management", gpParams, null);

Yes, you get more control over doing it manually but if all you want to do is write to a shapefile, whatever is there, then I'd do it in 5 lines with the IGeoProcessor.