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Example using search cursor to copy data from cells in attribute table A to attribute table B

MPach

Does anyone have an example of how to copy data from a cell in attribute A to a cell in Attribute B?

Ideally, here's an example of what I would like to do.

1) Select the two features in the map I'd copy data from

2) From Feature_A Copy cell from column1, column2, and column3

3) Paste data from step 2 into Feature_B cells for column3, column4, and column5

I didn't see an example like this, which seems like a pretty basic use of the search cursor.

Thanks in advance!

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Accepted answers

JohannesLindner

You can accomplish that with the arcpy.da.*Cursor classes:

copy_layer = "Layer A"
copy_fields = ["columns1", "column2", "column3"]
paste_layer = "Layer B"
paste_fields = ["column3", "column4", "column5"]

# read the first copy feature
data = [row for row in arcpy.da.SearchCursor(copy_layer, copy_fields)][0]

# paste the copy feature's data into each paste feature
with arcpy.da.UpdateCursor(paste_layer, paste_fields) as cursor:
    for row in cursor:
        cursor.updateRow(data)

All comments

MPach

Thank you. I'll play around with this and give it a shot.

blake.terhune

Maybe this is what you're looking for then? You might have to save the mxd after you make the selection and before you run the script. I have not tested this, but I expect it to copy the identified fields of the one record you selected in the copy layer and paste those values into the identified fields of every selected record in the paste layer.

You could also put this logic into a script tool or Python Toolbox, which would let you access the layers in the map directly without saving the mxd.

import arcpy
mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(r"C:\Path\to\Map Document\your_filename.mxd")
try:
    df = arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(mxd, "Name of DataFrame Here")[0]
    copy_layer = arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd, "CopyLayerName", df)[0]
    copy_fields = ["columns1", "column2", "column3"]
    paste_layer = arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd, "PasteLayerName", df)[0]
    paste_fields = ["column3", "column4", "column5"]

    if len(copy_layer.getSelectionSet()) == 1 and len(paste_layer.getSelectionSet()) > 0:
        copy_data = [row for row in arcpy.da.SearchCursor(copy_layer, copy_fields)][0]
        with arcpy.da.UpdateCursor(paste_layer, paste_fields) as cursor:
            for row in cursor:
                cursor.updateRow(copy_data)
    else:
        raise Exception("One of the layers does not have the correct number of selected records.")
finally:
    del mxd

abaldenweck@blm.gov_BLM_EGIS

Oh, I've never seen that done that way. That is slick.

MPach

Thanks Blake, I saved that link to my favorites folder. Much appreciated!

MPach

Thank you Johannes. Cheers!

blake.terhune

Agreed, this is my preferred method as well. It's also the methodology @RichardFairhurst uses for Turbo Charging Data Manipulation with Python Curso... - Esri Community

DavidPike

Prefer this over instantiating a cursor for each row.

JohannesLindner

You can accomplish that with the arcpy.da.*Cursor classes:

copy_layer = "Layer A"
copy_fields = ["columns1", "column2", "column3"]
paste_layer = "Layer B"
paste_fields = ["column3", "column4", "column5"]

# read the first copy feature
data = [row for row in arcpy.da.SearchCursor(copy_layer, copy_fields)][0]

# paste the copy feature's data into each paste feature
with arcpy.da.UpdateCursor(paste_layer, paste_fields) as cursor:
    for row in cursor:
        cursor.updateRow(data)

abaldenweck@blm.gov_BLM_EGIS

You just have to nest it with either an update cursor or insert cursor, depending on if the target row already exists.

Rough, untested code:

#search through rows
with arcpy.da.SearchCursor(fc1, [fields]) as cursor:
    for row in cursor:
        #do something to match the rows, probably a where clause along these lines 
        with arcpy.da.UpdateCursor(fc2, [fields] where_clause = 'field = row[2]') as c2rsor:
            for r2w in c2rsor:
                 r2w = row
                 c2rsor.updateRow(r2w)

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