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LayerLogic: Beyond spreadsheets

The formulas and interlinks are similar, but THEN...

The persistent formulas and interrelatedness of LayerLogic calculations naturally remind people of a spreadsheet such as Microsoft Excel. But that’s just a start at explaining the terrific power of this technology. And it’s not Field Calculator or Model Builder, either. Read on…

Can a spreadsheet do this...?

LayerLogic shares some conceptual similarities with spreadsheets and even shares quite a few functions. But its nature and purpose are all about GIS and geospatial analysis. It’s a GIS tool for doing GIS work. As just a few examples, here are some concepts from LayerLogic that no spreadsheet would understand or support:

  • Area and distance
  • Overlaps and Touches
  • Contains and Is Within
  • Angle To
  • Center of
  • Closest
  • Virtual buffer
  • Raster analysis
  • Field formulas
  • "Get" field look-ups
  • Where conditions
  • Graphical formula writing
  • Embedded geoprocessing tools

    • Field Calculator grows up... WAY up.

    The ArcGIS Field Calculator provides a handy way to calculate and/or apply new field values. It’s practically a habit, for example, for regular ArcGIS users to select a set of features, open Field Calculator, and type in a number or simple calculation to apply.

    But wouldn’t it be nice if you didn’t have to retype the field calculation every time? Wouldn’t it be nice to have a formula that stayed in place, so you could just click “Update Selected” and get your new values instantly? Wouldn’t it be nice to have:

  • Almost 100 functions in 13 categories including Topology and Geometry?
  • The ability to perform analysis using fields and geometries from multiple layers at once?
  • A graphical, easy-to-use editor that didn’t require VB scripts?
  • The ability to set up and use variable inputs?

    • …And wouldn’t it be even more terrific if all those functions were right next to Field Calculator on your menus, and just as easy to access at any time?

    LayerLogic does all these things.

    Good news. Things can be that nice.

    Capability Spreadsheet LayerLogic
    Works on... Tables of values Geodatabases
    Formulas for... Cells Fields
    Interlinked data Yes Yes
    Auto updates Yes Yes
    Numeric functions Yes Yes
    Text functions Yes Yes
    Logic functions Yes Yes
    If/Then and Where Limited Yes
    Field functions Limited Yes
    Spatial functions No Yes
    Geoprocessing compatible No Yes
    Graphical formulas No Yes
    Integrated with ArcGIS No Yes