List metadata with Python

JoshThompson

I have a list of feature classes from a geodatabase I created from a Python script and would like to add their respective metadata or a portion of (such as the description portion of the ArcGIS metadata style) to this list by feature class. Is this possible with Python or am I asking too much?

Thanks,
Josh

BrianColson

Curtis,

This appears to be really helpful code, but I am certainly still learning Python.  I am trying to use it on multiple datasets, and loop through with multiple metadata xml files, and to pull out only three parts (Abstract, Summary, and Credits).  The code appears to be working but it never pulls the xml file to get any information out of it.  If you wish I can send you a sample xml file as well so you can see how it�??s formatted.

My ultimate goal was output a csv file that gives a dataset name, abstract, summary and credits for everything within a folder or geodatabase.  I was going to set this up as a Toolbox Script, so the end user doesn't have to work with the python code.  I don't think I am quiet there, but that�??s why there is a bunch of stuff commented out at the top. 

Any suggestions you can provide would be greatly appreciated. 

Thank you.

Brian

# Create the Geoprocessor object 
import arcpy, sys, os
from xml.etree.ElementTree import ElementTree
from arcpy import env

# Get input parameters
##env.workspace = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(0)
##xmlfile = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(1)
##outfile = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(2)
env.overwriteOutput = True
##AGSHOME = arcpy.GetInstallInfo("Desktop")["InstallDir"]
##translatorpath = AGSHOME + r"Metadata\Translator\ARCGIS2FGDC.xml"

#Output file
##outfile=open(outfile,'w')

#Dataset list function

# list any standalone feature classes
env.workspace = r"C:\projects\Vicinity.gdb"
AGSHOME = arcpy.GetInstallInfo("Desktop")["InstallDir"]
translatorpath = AGSHOME + r"Metadata\Translator\ARCGIS2FGDC.xml" 
fcList = arcpy.ListFeatureClasses()
fcList.sort()
for fc in fcList:
    fcname = str(fc)
##    outfile.write(fcname + "\n" + ",")
    print fc
    xmlfile = r"C:\projects\Testing\ " + fcname + ".xml"
    arcpy.UpgradeMetadata_conversion (fc, "ESRIISO_TO_ARCGIS")
    arcpy.ExportMetadata_conversion(fc, translatorpath, xmlfile) 
    tree = ElementTree() 
    tree.parse(xmlfile)
    spot = tree.find("abstract")
    if spot: # if spot is True (not None) 
        print spot.text 
    else:
        print "No Abstract"
    spot = tree.find("purpose") 
    if spot: # if spot is True (not None)
        print spot.text 
    else:
        print "No Summary"
    spot = tree.find("datacred") 
    if spot: # if spot is True (not None)
        print spot.text
    else:
        print "No Credits"
# list feature datasets
datasetList = arcpy.ListDatasets("","Feature")
datasetList.sort()
for dataset in datasetList:
    print dataset
    # list feature classes inside the dataset
    arcpy.env.workspace = dataset
    fcList = arcpy.ListFeatureClasses()
    fcList.sort()
    for fc in fcList:
        print "  " + fc
        arcpy.ExportMetadata_conversion(fc, translatorpath, xmlfile) 
        tree = ElementTree() 
        tree.parse(xmlfile) 
        spot = tree.find("descript/abstract") 
        if spot: # if spot is True (not None)
            print "  " + spot.text
        else:
            print "  No abstract"