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arcpy.describe in stand alone script

RandyBurton

Does Describe work differently in a stand-alone script vs. a script run inside ArcMap? More specifically, does Describe use the workspace if one is specified? Here's the script:

<SPAN class="keyword token">import</SPAN> arcpy

gdb <SPAN class="operator token">=</SPAN> r<SPAN class="string token">'C:\Path\To\Default.gdb'</SPAN> <SPAN class="comment token"># path to a file geodatabase</SPAN>
arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>env<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>workspace <SPAN class="operator token">=</SPAN> gdb

<SPAN class="keyword token">for</SPAN> fc <SPAN class="keyword token">in</SPAN> arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>ListFeatureClasses<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN><SPAN class="string token">"*"</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">:</SPAN>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; desc <SPAN class="operator token">=</SPAN> arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>Describe<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>fc<SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <SPAN class="keyword token">print</SPAN> <SPAN class="string token">"{} - {}"</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>format<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>fc<SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN> desc<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>dataType<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>

Here's the folder structure:

File Structure

Note that there is a folder outside the file geodatabase with the same name as a feature inside it - in this case "point_fc".

Here are the results:

# Outside ArcMap in stand-alone script:
point_fc - Folder
line_fc - FeatureClass
polygon_fc - FeatureClass

# In ArcMap's Python window:
point_fc - FeatureClass
line_fc - FeatureClass
polygon_fc - FeatureClass‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍<SPAN class="line-numbers-rows"><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN></SPAN>

The stand-alone script picked up the folder, whereas the script when ran in ArcMap picked up the feature class. Is this expected behavior for Describe?

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RandyBurton

I am still getting the folder instead of the feature with 10.5.0. I added a few lines to check the working directory for Python and found if I change the cwd to the arcpy workspace then describe finds the feature. Perhaps there's a problem with the Python path/environment?

<SPAN class="keyword token">print</SPAN> <SPAN class="string token">"Arcpy: {}"</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>format<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>env<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>workspace<SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN>
<SPAN class="keyword token">print</SPAN> <SPAN class="string token">"Python: {}"</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>format<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>os<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>getcwd<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN>

<SPAN class="keyword token">for</SPAN> fc <SPAN class="keyword token">in</SPAN> arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>ListFeatureClasses<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN><SPAN class="string token">"*"</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">:</SPAN>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; desc <SPAN class="operator token">=</SPAN> arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>Describe<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>fc<SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <SPAN class="keyword token">print</SPAN> <SPAN class="string token">"{} - {}"</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>format<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>fc<SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN> desc<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>dataType<SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN>

os<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>chdir<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>env<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>workspace<SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN>
<SPAN class="keyword token">print</SPAN> <SPAN class="string token">"\nNow: {}"</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>format<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>os<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>getcwd<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN>

<SPAN class="keyword token">for</SPAN> fc <SPAN class="keyword token">in</SPAN> arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>ListFeatureClasses<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN><SPAN class="string token">"*"</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">:</SPAN>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; desc <SPAN class="operator token">=</SPAN> arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>Describe<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>fc<SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <SPAN class="keyword token">print</SPAN> <SPAN class="string token">"{} - {}"</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>format<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>fc<SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN> desc<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>dataType<SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN>

<SPAN class="comment token"># Output (using IDLE):</SPAN>

Arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">:</SPAN> C<SPAN class="punctuation token">:</SPAN>\Temp\describe\Default<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>gdb
Python<SPAN class="punctuation token">:</SPAN> C<SPAN class="punctuation token">:</SPAN>\Temp\describe
point_fc <SPAN class="operator token">-</SPAN> Folder
line_fc <SPAN class="operator token">-</SPAN> FeatureClass
polygon_fc <SPAN class="operator token">-</SPAN> FeatureClass

Now<SPAN class="punctuation token">:</SPAN> C<SPAN class="punctuation token">:</SPAN>\Temp\describe\Default<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>gdb
point_fc <SPAN class="operator token">-</SPAN> FeatureClass
line_fc <SPAN class="operator token">-</SPAN> FeatureClass
polygon_fc <SPAN class="operator token">-</SPAN> FeatureClass‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍<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>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN></SPAN>

RandyBurton

I did try this on a computer running ver 10.2.1, and describe gave the correct results. I will try again with the 10.5.0 version later today.

JoshuaBixby

What happens when you run the following outside of ArcGIS:

<SPAN class="keyword token">import</SPAN> arcpy
<SPAN class="keyword token">import</SPAN> os

fld <SPAN class="operator token">=</SPAN> r<SPAN class="string token">"C:\tmp"</SPAN> <SPAN class="comment token"># path to folder for running test</SPAN>

desc_fld <SPAN class="operator token">=</SPAN> arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>CreateFolder_management<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>fld<SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN> <SPAN class="string token">"describe"</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN> 
arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>CreateFolder_management<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>desc_fld<SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN> <SPAN class="string token">"point_fc"</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN>
fgdb <SPAN class="operator token">=</SPAN> arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>CreateFileGDB_management<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>desc_fld<SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN> <SPAN class="string token">"Default"</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN>
arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>CreateFeatureclass_management<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>fgdb<SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN> <SPAN class="string token">"point_fc"</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN> <SPAN class="string token">"POINT"</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN>
arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>CreateFeatureclass_management<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>fgdb<SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN> <SPAN class="string token">"line_fc"</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN> <SPAN class="string token">"POLYLINE"</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN>
arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>CreateFeatureclass_management<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>fgdb<SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN> <SPAN class="string token">"polygon_fc"</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN> <SPAN class="string token">"POLYGON"</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN>

arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>env<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>workspace <SPAN class="operator token">=</SPAN> fgdb<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>getOutput<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN><SPAN class="number token">0</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN>
<SPAN class="keyword token">for</SPAN> fc <SPAN class="keyword token">in</SPAN> arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>ListFeatureClasses<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN><SPAN class="string token">"*"</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">:</SPAN>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; desc <SPAN class="operator token">=</SPAN> arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>Describe<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>fc<SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <SPAN class="keyword token">print</SPAN> <SPAN class="string token">"{} - {}"</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>format<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>fc<SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN> desc<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>dataType<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>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN></SPAN>

The code above recreates the folder and GDB structure you display in the original post

and the results for me are:

point_fc <SPAN class="operator token">-</SPAN> FeatureClass
line_fc <SPAN class="operator token">-</SPAN> FeatureClass
polygon_fc <SPAN class="operator token">-</SPAN> FeatureClass
<SPAN class="operator token">>></SPAN><SPAN class="operator token">></SPAN><SPAN class="line-numbers-rows"><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN></SPAN>

RandyBurton

In my latest test I was using "point_fc" for a folder name, with the same name used for a feature inside the geodatabase. I first noticed it when I moved a folder using the same name as a polygon feature that was part of a dataset into the directory with the file geodatabase. I was using describe to look at a feature's shapeType property - which is not a property when describing a folder!

DanPatterson_Retired

Did you create the same structure Joshua with the duplicates?

Randy what was in the folder just in case that has an impact as well?

RandyBurton

Version is ArcMap 10.5

JoshuaBixby

What version of ArcGIS are you running? I just testing your code running 10.5.1, and I cannot replicate your results. I get the same results running in a standalone script and running in the interactive Python window.

RandyBurton

There are several ways to work around this issue. Renaming the folder is one option. Or this adjustment to the code will also work:

<SPAN class="keyword token">for</SPAN> fc <SPAN class="keyword token">in</SPAN> arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>ListFeatureClasses<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN><SPAN class="string token">"*"</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">:</SPAN>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; desc <SPAN class="operator token">=</SPAN> arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>Describe<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>gdb<SPAN class="operator token">+</SPAN><SPAN class="string token">'\\'</SPAN><SPAN class="operator token">+</SPAN>fc<SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN> <SPAN class="comment token"># include gdb/workspace</SPAN>
<SPAN class="line-numbers-rows"><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN></SPAN>

I was expecting Describe to use the declared workspace in a stand-alone script. But, apparently, it starts with the folder that contains the geodatabase. This is an example where scripts work slightly different between ArcMap's Python window and a stand-alone script.

Using hasattr to check for properties is a good suggestion.

DanPatterson_Retired

In the middle of that link, there is a suggestion that if you aren't sure about a property you should use the 'hasattr' check. I would put both in if you aren't sure. Also, can you rename your folder and featureclass to see if the duplicate naming is doing some 'go that one already' filtering.

I don't think datatype is sufficient in all situations so an extra check especially if duplicate names of objects appear.

Below is a suggestion from the help for checking for other attributes once a datatype is specified

<SPAN class="keyword token">if</SPAN> hasattr<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>desc<SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN> <SPAN class="string token">"dataType"</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">:</SPAN>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <SPAN class="keyword token">print</SPAN> <SPAN class="string token">"DataType:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "</SPAN> <SPAN class="operator token">+</SPAN> desc<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>dataType
<SPAN class="keyword token">if</SPAN> hasattr<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>desc<SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN> <SPAN class="string token">"catalogPath"</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">:</SPAN>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <SPAN class="keyword token">print</SPAN> <SPAN class="string token">"CatalogPath: "</SPAN> <SPAN class="operator token">+</SPAN> desc<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>catalogPath
<SPAN class="line-numbers-rows"><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN></SPAN>

so I would be inclined to check whether if has 'folder' properties as well and featureclass properties too

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