Spatial Process Results

In the Spatial Process tool, the exact processing done and the type of object returned depends on both the Action selected and the types of the spatial objects which are input. The tables below list the various input options for each action and the possible results.

Combine Objects

First Object	Second Object	Result
Polygon	Polygon	A polygon
Line	Line	A Poly-Polyline
Null	Any object	The non-null object
All other combinations		[Null] and an Invalid Process warning is issued.

Cut 1st From 2nd

First object	Second object	Result
Polygon	Polygon	a polygon if they overlap null if they do not overlap
Polygon	Line	a poly-polyline containing of the parts of the line outside the polygon null if the polygon contains the line
Polygon	Point	the point if it is outside the polygon null if the point is in the polygon
Line	Polygon	null, and an Invalid Process warning is issued
Line	Line	a line consisting of all the segments from the second line that are not segments of the first line. null if all segments of the second line are contained in the first. The portions of one line that follow the same path as the other line geometrically, but contain additional nodes, will not be considered the same, and will not be cut.
Line	Point	the point if it is not a vertex of the line null if the point is one of the vertexes of the line. A line can cross a point without having a vertex there, and the point is not cut.
Point	Polygon	null, and an Invalid Process warning is issued
Point	Line	null, and an Invalid Process warning is issued
Point	Point	the second point, if the points are different null, if they are the same
Null	Any object	The second object
Anything	Null	Null

Cut 2nd From 1st

Reverse and see above.

Create Intersection Object

Intersecting a	with a	Result
Polygon	Polygon	a polygon if the two objects overlap null if they do not overlap
Polygon	Line	a poly-polyline containing the portions of the line that are within the polygon null if the line is entirely outside the polygon
Polygon	Point	the point if it is inside the polygon null if the point is outside the polygon
Line	Line	a point indicating where the lines intersect; if they intersect at multiple points, one point is returned and a warning is issued. null if the lines do not intersect
Line	Point	the point, if it is a vertex of the line. null if the point is not a vertex of the line A line may cross a point geometrically, but not have a vertex there, and this will not be counted as an intersection.
Point	Point	the point, if they are both the same null if they are not the same.
Null	Any object	Null

Create Inverse Intersection Object

Inverse-intersecting a	with a	Result
Polygon	Polygon	a polygon if the two objects cover different areas null if the two objects are the same
Null	Any object	The non-null object
All other combinations		[Null] and an Invalid Process warning is issued