topic Re: How to update a double field from a text field in ArcGIS Pro Questions

How to update a double field from a text field

Laura — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 20:56:54 GMT

I keep getting errors that it does not append when trying to do this.

Re: How to update a double field from a text field

DanPatterson — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 21:25:50 GMT

You can't update the field type if there is data in the field.

Perhaps you can elaborate on what you are trying to do for alternate suggestions

Re: How to update a double field from a text field

Laura — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 21:27:47 GMT

i know that. the only work around was to create another field with the desired data type and fill it, however that is not working

Re: How to update a double field from a text field

JohannesLindner — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 21:38:13 GMT

Create a new Double field, then run Calculate Field with this Python expression (note the exclamation marks in line 2):

# NewField = convert(!OldField!) # Code Block def convert(x): try: return float(x) except: return None

JohannesLindner_0-1692135413257.png

Re: How to update a double field from a text field

DanPatterson — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 22:47:13 GMT

Or if you don't want to use a code block... (substitute !junk! for your field name of course)

float(!junk!) if !junk!.isnumeric() else None

float2.png

float.png

Re: How to update a double field from a text field

Laura — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 14:55:23 GMT

These sound great. My specific issue is related to pipe diameter. So they have the " inch sign attached to the numbers, and that may be why it is not going into the double field?

Re: How to update a double field from a text field

JohannesLindner — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 15:45:58 GMT

Yes. If it can't convert the string into a number, the conversion will fail. You need to strip out the character:

# NewField = convert(!OldField!) # Code Block def convert(x): try: x = x.replace('"', '') return float(x) except: return None

Re: How to update a double field from a text field

Laura — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 16:17:16 GMT

Awesome, that seemed to do the trick, thanks!