Merge Connected Features
------------------------


Two or multiple polygons that are connected through a shared point may be considered as a single feature.
This tool is used to merge (or dissolve) these connected polygons into larger polygons.
The tool identifies those features that are connected through shared points and then generates a new *featureclass* after merging these connected features.

The new featureclass can then be used as input to the **Connect Nearby Linear Features Tool** and the **Connect Nearby Linear HF Features Tool** for further connection of linear nearby (but not spatially connected) features.
The new *featureclass* can also be directly used as input to the **AddAttributes** toolset and the **ClassificationFeatures** toolset to generate attributes and assign feature types.

Note that this tool can be used for both bathymetric high and bathymetric low features.

.. image:: images/merge.png
   :align: center


.. code-block:: python
   :linenos:

   from arcpy import env
   from arcpy.sa import *
   arcpy.CheckOutExtension("Spatial")
   
   # import the python toolbox
   arcpy.ImportToolbox("C:/semi_automation_tools/User_Guide/Tools/Accessory_Tools.pyt")
   
   env.workspace = 'C:/semi_automation_tools/testSampleCode/Gifford.gdb'
   env.overwriteOutput = True
   
   # specify input and output parameters of the tool
   inFeat = 'po10_1_05std_300000m2_BL'
   mergedFeatPoint = 'po10_1_05std_300000m2_BL_joinedPoint'
   
   
   # execute the tool with user-defined parameters
   arcpy.AccessoryTools.Merge_Connected_Features_Tool(inFeat,mergedFeatPoint)