| Product(s): |
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| Version(s): | 26.00.00.XXX and higher | |
| Area(s): | Export |
Problem
How can I export element connectivity lines (dashed lines) to a Shapefile? For example, to enable the dashed lines to be viewed in an external application along with other exported model data.
Overview
Starting with version 2026 (26.00.00.XXX and higher), users can directly export element connectivity lines (dashed lines) as shapefiles. This feature is available for you whether you are working in the Standalone version or using the ArcGIS Pro platform. It is useful for users who want to display these element associations in a GIS application for better mapping and presentation.
So, what are these element connectivity lines (dashed lines)? In your models, you have surely seen those dashed lines that provide a visual link between elements, for example, the line that shows which pipe an isolation valve belongs to, or the one connecting a catchment area to its outflow node. These lines are just for visual representation and don't have any hydraulic properties. Until now, they were only visible inside the model's drawing pane.
Examples:
Solution
Steps for Standalone platform -
To export the element element connectivity lines (dashed lines), follow the steps below:
- From the main ribbon, navigate to the File tab.
- In the File menu, click on Export.
- Under the Export (Shapefiles) section that appears, select the element connectivity lines (dashed lines) option.
(The image below illustrates the menu path to access this feature.)
- A file browser dialog will open. Choose a location on your computer, enter a name for your shapefile, and click Save.
The resulting shapefile will contain the line geometry for all element connectivity lines (dashed lines) present in your model and can now be used in any GIS software for further visualization and analysis.
Video demonstration -
Steps for the ArcGIS integrated platform -
If you are working inside ArcGIS Pro (with WaterGEMS or SewerGEMS), the process is slightly different. When you use this, the tool automatically creates the decorations shapefile and adds it to your map. Here are a few things to keep in mind about how it works with your ArcGIS Project:
- Export decorations using 'Add/Update Decorations' from the Symbology drop-down menu.
- When this option is used, a decorations shapefile is created in the home project path of the ArcGIS project. This location typically corresponds to the directory containing the .aprx file.
- If you create a new ArcGIS project, attach a hydraulic model, and then export decorations, the shapefile will be created in the home path, which may initially be a temporary folder until the ArcGIS project is saved.
- When saving a new ArcGIS project (which is typically created in a temporary directory), the shapefile will automatically be copied to the final .aprx location by AGP.
Note: If you perform a Save As operation on the ArcGIS project, the shapefile is not copied to the new location; instead, it continues to reference the original location. If you re-export the decorations, a new shapefile will be created in the new project location.
- If the decorations layer already exists, it will be automatically removed and re-added upon a successful export.
- During export, the coordinate system of the hydraulic model is written to the .prj file, if one is specified. When the shapefile is added as a layer in AGP, it is automatically projected to match the coordinate system of the file geodatabase.
- To determine the exact location of the generated shapefile, view the layer properties under the Source section.
This feature is available in both WaterGEMS and SewerGEMS for ArcGIS Pro.