CopyFeatures_management() and FeatureClassToFeatureClass_conversion() return blank shp files

Wei_3671

Here is the issue, which is quite simple:

tried to create six individual shp files (six counties in IL) by using Select by Attributes, but got six blank shp files.

Input: IL_counties.shp, NAD83

I tested a python script as follows:

import arcpy
arcpy.env.overwriteOutput = True
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/Users/....."
try:
     arcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management("IL_counties.shp", "lyr")
     counties =["LAKE", "COOK", "DUPAGE", "KANE", "MCHENRY", "WILL"]
     for k in counties:
        qry = "COUNTY_NAM = + 'k' "
        arcpy.SelectLayerByAttribute_management("lyr", "NEW_SELECTION", qry )
        arcpy.FeatureClassToFeatureClass_conversion("lyr", "C:/Users/.....", k+"02.shp")
except: print "An error occurred during creation"

 

I tried both CopyFeatures_management() and FeatureClassToFeatureClass_conversion().

No error was reported, but the outputs are all blank. In particular, all the Extent values are blank (screenshot).

What might be wrong? Many thanks!  

 

extent.PNG

blake.terhune

As @DanPatterson mentioned, your query looks off. You should be able to use the where_clause parameter of FeatureClassToFeatureClass_conversion(). That way you don't have to make a selection. Also, try using string format instead of the + operator. It's more reliable because it will convert data types on the fly as needed (in case your variable is a number instead of a string).

import arcpy

arcpy.env.overwriteOutput = True
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/Users/....."
try:
    counties =["LAKE", "COOK", "DUPAGE", "KANE", "MCHENRY", "WILL"]
    for k in counties:
        arcpy.FeatureClassToFeatureClass_conversion(
            in_features="lyr",
            out_path="C:/Users/.....",
            out_name="{}02.shp".format(k),
            where_clause="COUNTY_NAM = '{}'".format(k)
        )
except Exception as e:
    print "An error occurred during creation\n{}".format(e)