Describe().SpatialReference.Name with period in file name

DanWakefield1

Hello,

I'm running ArcGIS 9.3.1 and I have a shapefile with a period in the name, such as "Test.2.shp", which I can not use Describe to get the projection for. When I try to use gp.Describe('Test.2.shp').SpatialReference.Name, I get the error "RuntimeError: DescribeData: Method SpatialReference does not exist."

Here is my code:

import arcgisscripting, sys

gp = arcgisscripting.create(9.3)
gp.SetProduct("ArcInfo")
gp.workspace = 'D:/Temp'

print 'Test1.shp Name: '+gp.Describe('Test1.shp').Name
print 'Test.2.shp Name: '+gp.Describe('Test.2.shp').Name

print 'Test1 Prj: '+gp.Describe('Test1.shp').SpatialReference.Name
print 'Test.2 Prj: '+gp.Describe('Test.2.shp').SpatialReference.Name

And this is the result from the command line:

Test1.shp Name: Test1.shp
Test.2.shp Name: Test.2.shp
Test1 Prj: NAD_1983_StatePlane_Illinois_East_FIPS_1201
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "D:\Temp\test.py", line 11, in <module>
    print 'Test.2 Prj: '+gp.Describe('Test.2.shp').SpatialReference.Name
RuntimeError: DescribeData: Method SpatialReference does not exist

Both Test1.shp and Test.2.shp have the same projection. Am I doing something wrong, or does anyone have a suggestion for me? I'd prefer not to have to rename the files.

Thanks,
Dan

ChrisSnyder

Hmm...

Another option (assuming this works), would be to temporarily rename the shapefile (use the Rename tool), use the describe, and then rename it back.

Yet another option: There is a .prj file that accompanies the .shp (assuming there is a defined projection). Instead of using the describe method directly, maybe just have Python look for/read the .prj file. The prj string can then be loaded into a SR object using the "loadFromString" method.