Using arcpy.da.SearchCursor, how do you sort data in either ascending or descending order? I noticed the old arcpy.SearchCursor had sort_fields. arcpy . SearchCursor ( dataset , { where_clause } , { spatial_reference } , { fields } , { sort_fields } ) I have a script that uses arcpy.da.SearchCursor to create a list of table fields. The "D" in the function of line 8 is meant to put it in descending order, but it does not. env . workspace = r '\\gisfile\GISstaff\Jared\ModelBuilder\TEST folder\TESTGDB.gdb' #variables intable = "ElectionResults_Nov2016" tbList = [ ] #create list #use cursor to get all unique values in field, and list them in ascending order for row in arcpy . da . SearchCursor ( intable , "ContestTitle" , "D" ) : if row [ 0 ] not in tbList : tbList . append ( row [ 0 ] ) EDIT: I've also been looking into sorted. It's a matter of placing it in the cursor, though. sorted ( )

As Dan Patterson suggests, you need to use the sql_clause in the search cursor: for row in arcpy . da . SearchCursor ( intable , "ContestTitle" , sql_clause = ( None , 'ORDER BY ContestTitle DESC' ) :

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Arcpy SearchCursor: list fields in ascending/descending order?

JaredPilbeam2

Using arcpy.da.SearchCursor, how do you sort data in either ascending or descending order?

I noticed the old arcpy.SearchCursor had sort_fields.

arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>SearchCursor<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>dataset<SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN> <SPAN class="punctuation token">{</SPAN>where_clause<SPAN class="punctuation token">}</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN> <SPAN class="punctuation token">{</SPAN>spatial_reference<SPAN class="punctuation token">}</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN> <SPAN class="punctuation token">{</SPAN>fields<SPAN class="punctuation token">}</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN> <SPAN class="punctuation token">{</SPAN>sort_fields<SPAN class="punctuation token">}</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN>‍<SPAN class="line-numbers-rows"><SPAN>‍</SPAN></SPAN>

I have a script that uses arcpy.da.SearchCursor to create a list of table fields. The "D" in the function of line 8 is meant to put it in descending order, but it does not.

env<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>workspace <SPAN class="operator token">=</SPAN> r<SPAN class="string token">'\\gisfile\GISstaff\Jared\ModelBuilder\TEST folder\TESTGDB.gdb'</SPAN>

<SPAN class="comment token">#variables</SPAN>
intable <SPAN class="operator token">=</SPAN> <SPAN class="string token">"ElectionResults_Nov2016"</SPAN>
tbList <SPAN class="operator token">=</SPAN> <SPAN class="punctuation token">[</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">]</SPAN> <SPAN class="comment token">#create list </SPAN>

<SPAN class="comment token">#use cursor to get all unique values in field, and list them in ascending order</SPAN>
<SPAN class="keyword token">for</SPAN> row <SPAN class="keyword token">in</SPAN> arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>da<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>SearchCursor<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>intable<SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN> <SPAN class="string token">"ContestTitle"</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN> <SPAN class="string token">"D"</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">:</SPAN>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <SPAN class="keyword token">if</SPAN> row<SPAN class="punctuation token">[</SPAN><SPAN class="number token">0</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">]</SPAN> <SPAN class="operator token">not</SPAN> <SPAN class="keyword token">in</SPAN> tbList<SPAN class="punctuation token">:</SPAN>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; tbList<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>append<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>row<SPAN class="punctuation token">[</SPAN><SPAN class="number token">0</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">]</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN>‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍<SPAN class="line-numbers-rows"><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN></SPAN>

EDIT: I've also been looking into sorted. It's a matter of placing it in the cursor, though.

sorted<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN><SPAN class="line-numbers-rows"><SPAN>‍</SPAN></SPAN>

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Accepted answers

RandyBurton

As Dan Patterson‌ suggests, you need to use the sql_clause in the search cursor:

<SPAN class="keyword token">for</SPAN> row <SPAN class="keyword token">in</SPAN> arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>da<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>SearchCursor<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>intable<SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN> <SPAN class="string token">"ContestTitle"</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN> sql_clause<SPAN class="operator token">=</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>None<SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN><SPAN class="string token">'ORDER BY ContestTitle DESC'</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">:</SPAN><SPAN class="line-numbers-rows"><SPAN>‍</SPAN></SPAN>

All comments

RandyBurton

Just use ASC, which is the default. See this for more info: SQL reference for query expressions used in ArcGIS

JaredPilbeam2

Thanks both Dan and Randy. That was the solution.

Interestingly, what you have there works to order the fields in a descending order. On the other hand, the only way I got them to order in ascending order was not to have anything after ...ContestTitle:

<SPAN class="keyword token">for</SPAN> rows <SPAN class="keyword token">in</SPAN> arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>da<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>SearchCursor<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>intable<SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN> field<SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN> sql_clause<SPAN class="operator token">=</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>None<SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN> <SPAN class="string token">"ORDER BY ContestTitle"</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">:</SPAN><SPAN class="line-numbers-rows"><SPAN>‍</SPAN></SPAN>

I tried "ORDER BY ContestTitle ASCE" and it threw an errror.

RandyBurton

As Dan Patterson‌ suggests, you need to use the sql_clause in the search cursor:

<SPAN class="keyword token">for</SPAN> row <SPAN class="keyword token">in</SPAN> arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>da<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>SearchCursor<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>intable<SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN> <SPAN class="string token">"ContestTitle"</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN> sql_clause<SPAN class="operator token">=</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>None<SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN><SPAN class="string token">'ORDER BY ContestTitle DESC'</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">:</SPAN><SPAN class="line-numbers-rows"><SPAN>‍</SPAN></SPAN>

DanPatterson_Retired

Apparently the da.searchcursor supports ordering within an sql clause.

There are several code examples here

http://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/arcpy/data-access/searchcursor-class.htm

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