Why does DLT modify datetime import definition

DETCOG_GIS — Fri, 10 Dec 2021 22:37:12 GMT

The ExecuteDataLoad tool, when run in python at least, appears to overwrite the datetime module imported by import arcpy. This sample code hopefully describes the issue:

import arcpy‍

import datetime
#import datetime appears to be part of import arcpy
#but for readability of code, you can include it, though it's redundant

#even if we exclude "import datetime", the following line shows it imports the module
print(datetime)
#returns <module 'datetime' from 'C:\\...\\ESRI\\conda\\envs\\arcgispro-py3-clone\\lib\\datetime.py'>

#so you can do things like the following:
print(datetime.datetime.now())

#Now lets run the data loading tools
arcpy.dlt.ExecuteDataLoad(r'...\dataloadingworkspace\DataReference.xlsx')

#However, after running the ExecuteDataLoad tool, datetime is modified, so now:
print(datetime)
#returns <class 'datetime.datetime'>

#which means the code
print(datetime.datetime.now())
#that previously worked, suddenly now
#returns AttributeError: type object 'datetime.datetime' has no attribute 'datetime'‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

The problem is, first off, this is confusing as can be, and makes reading/following the code rather confusing that there's an undocumented shift in what is defined as datetime. However, second, and more worrisome, is the fact that I have to assume import arcpy includes an import of datetime for a reason. What I'm getting at is, if arcpy assumes datetime will be the datetime module and calls like datetime.datetime.now() (and others) will work in that specific syntax. Then isn't there a potential that a tool, only callable within arcpy, modifying that core assumption, could cause issues with other parts of arcpy...?

Am I over-thinking this or missing something?

Re: Why does DLT modify datetime import definition

AlixVezina — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 23:59:11 GMT

Hi John Streeb‌,

Thank you for reporting this, our developer will fix this issue for the upcoming release of the tools.

Regards

Re: Why does DLT modify datetime import definition

PeterWiringa — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 19:18:33 GMT

I just ran into this and this appears to go back years, at least as far as import arcpy overriding datetime.

See https://community.esri.com/t5/python-questions/import-arcpy-tramples-datetime-import/m-p/288325

Alix, are you able to tell us what release this is scheduled to be fixed in? I see it's still present in ArcPy shipping with Pro 2.7.x.

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Why does DLT modify datetime import definition

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Re: Why does DLT modify datetime import definition