Use within Python

Question

Does anyone have experience or know if it is possible to use the fgdb api within Python?

Please don't respond with information about arcpy.da; I want to use the fgdb api.

Regards

Chuck

CharlesTilly · Answer

Joseph,

Great article.  Thanks for sharing.  I ultimately used the C# api because I was able to wrap it as a gp tool.  But this topic is one I always wanted to come back to.  You've given me a good reason to do so.  How is performance with bulk loads; do you happen to know?

Chuck

JosephArmbruster · Answer

You can definitely use the File Geodatabase API with Python, read my blog post here:
http://libjoe.blogspot.com/2014/02/python-wrapper-for-esri-file.html

I only have this working on OSX at the moment but getting this working on linux and windows is trivial.
https://code.google.com/p/file-geodatabase-api-python-wrapper/

Joseph Armbruster

ShaunWalbridge · Answer

Chuck,

OGR will work fine with the File GDB, just build against the API and you'll have a FGDB driver from within GDAL/OGR and its SWIG Python bindings.

If you're working with features, you can also use Sean Gilles' Pythonic wrapper for OGR, Fiona. And as Vince mentioned, you can use SWIG to create a wrapper to the API as it's just C++, there's also an idea for this if you think it should be something that Esri supports. That said, for many use-cases GDAL/OGR works well directly.

cheers,
Shaun