idea Match previous functionality of Export Features to Feature Class to Feature Class - Output Name missing as parameter variable in ModelBuilder Ideas

Match previous functionality of Export Features to Feature Class to Feature Class - Output Name missing as parameter variable

RyanBohan — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 22:49:08 GMT

Match previous functionality of Export Features to Feature Class to Feature Class.

The Feature Class to Feature Class (deprecated) allowed dynamic Output Name using string variables, which was very useful for adding timestamps and differentiating model runs.

This model is run approximately every 3-6 months, and being able to have historic data automatically saved is a key component.

The Export Features GP tool (replacing Feature Class to Feature Class) no longer allows model variables to be used for Output Name. This eliminates the ability to easily add timestamps to exported feature layer names.

While I can manually rename the exported layer, this extra step wasn't needed with the Feature Class to Feature Class tool

Re: Match previous functionality of Export Features to Feature Class to Feature Class - Output Name missing as parameter variable

LindsayRaabe_FPCWA — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 02:59:03 GMT

You can still use generated variables in the output name, it's just not a hardwired part of the tool because there's no separate feature class 'path' and 'name' fields. To do this, if your Calculate Value step output is called "Value", then in the output pathway of Export Features, you could enter C:\my\folder\path\my.gdb\%Value% and that will use the calculated value from that step (probably wise to set that as a precondition to the Export Features tool to ensure it has run first).

Re: Match previous functionality of Export Features to Feature Class to Feature Class - Output Name missing as parameter variable

LindsayRaabe_FPCWA — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 04:07:11 GMT

Read here for more info: Inline variable substitution—ArcGIS Pro | Documentation

Re: Match previous functionality of Export Features to Feature Class to Feature Class - Output Name missing as parameter variable

RyanBohan — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 16:40:41 GMT

Thank you @LindsayRaabe_FPCWA that did work.

It would be a great enhancement to make the Export Features GP use of a generated Output Name a simple drag and drop as we previously could with the now depreciated Feature Class to Feature Class GP tool.