topic Re: Delete or ovewriting existing data in model builder in ModelBuilder Questions

Delete or ovewriting existing data in model builder

DanielErklauer — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 18:20:53 GMT

I have a model that converts shape files to a feature dataset in an existing database. I would like to either overwrite the existing feature classes in the db or delete them and perform the conversion. Which method is the most efficient and how do I do it?

v10.2

Re: Delete or ovewriting existing data in model builder

LizaGrits — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 18:40:59 GMT

When I convert shapefile to feature class in the geodatabase, I use Feaure Class to Feature Class tool and it does overwrite by default. Did you try and it didn't overwrite?

Lisa

Re: Delete or ovewriting existing data in model builder

AsrujitSengupta — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 19:31:06 GMT

Enable the 'Overwrite the outputs of geoprocessing operations" option on Geoprocessing Options and then try.

Re: Delete or ovewriting existing data in model builder

DanielErklauer — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 19:37:33 GMT

Liza that is not a batch function unfortunately.

Re: Delete or ovewriting existing data in model builder

DanielErklauer — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 19:37:54 GMT

Thanks but I have that option checked already. No luck

Re: Delete or ovewriting existing data in model builder

AsrujitSengupta — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 19:41:52 GMT

just in case...The data in that Feature Dataset should not have Locks on them, when you are replacing them.

Re: Delete or ovewriting existing data in model builder

DanielErklauer — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 19:42:54 GMT

The DB is not locked

Re: Delete or ovewriting existing data in model builder

LizaGrits — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 19:44:39 GMT

Oh, I see. If you use FeatureClass to Geodatabase (multiple) it doesn't overwrite.

I would use Feaure Class to Feature Class tool and iterators to convert all the shapefiles.

Re: Delete or ovewriting existing data in model builder

LizaGrits — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 19:56:52 GMT

Like this:

Re: Delete or ovewriting existing data in model builder

DanielErklauer — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 20:02:36 GMT

I get the warning error 000258 name already used when I attempt to run the model again to check that it works

Re: Delete or ovewriting existing data in model builder

LizaGrits — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 20:09:58 GMT

What tool are you using? Is it just warning or the model doesn't run after this error? Do you want to show your model here?

Re: Delete or ovewriting existing data in model builder

DanielErklauer — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 20:13:09 GMT

that's what I have...my folder GIS setting the env is recursive because the shapefiles are in directories within the folder GIS. When I run the model the second time it takes aproximatly1 second

Re: Delete or ovewriting existing data in model builder

LizaGrits — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 20:27:37 GMT

Could you try to save to GDB outside of Feature Dataset?

Re: Delete or ovewriting existing data in model builder

DanielErklauer — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 20:31:24 GMT

when I do that I get this

000258: Output S:\Shared\1 Survey Operations\Data Management\Databases\DB\HarkandDB_Nad27.gdb\protrac already exists

Re: Delete or ovewriting existing data in model builder

MicahBabinski — Sun, 12 Dec 2021 10:39:39 GMT

Hi there!

First off, let me just say that I feel your pain. This was (just) one of the limitations of ModelBuilder that eventually led me to embrace Python/arcpy as my solution of choice. If you're willing to go that route, you can export to a python script by editing the model and going to the Model menu > Export > to Python script. (Edit: seems like you're already aware of how to do this.)

From there, you have a couple of options. Option 1 is to set the overwriteOutput environment on your script by typing:

arcpy.env.overwriteOutput = True

at the beginning, but after importing the arcpy module.

If this fails to overwrite, you may employ a test for the existence of the feature class that you want to overwrite and if it does exist, delete it before running your conversion tool of choice. It would likely look something similar to:

# Iterate through your shapfiles with a for loop
for shp in shapefiles_to_convert:
     # Get the input to the conversion tool
     in_shp = shp
     # Get the feature dataset where your tool will output
     output_featureDataset = r"path_to_feature_dataset"
     # Get the base name of your output feature class
     output_name = arcpy.Describe(shp).baseName
     # Test to see if the output feature class already exists
     if arcpy.Exists(output_featureDataset + "\\" + output_name):
          # Delete it if it does
          arcpy.Delete_management(output_featureDataset + "\\" + output_name)
     # Run the conversion tool
     arcpy.FeatureClassToFeatureClass_conversion(shp, output_featureDataset, output_name)

I hope you find a solution to your problem!

Warm Regards,

Micah Babinski

Re: Delete or ovewriting existing data in model builder

LizaGrits — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 20:49:50 GMT

Unfortunately I don't know what to say.

I have it working (v. 10.1) and it looks just the same.

# Import arcpy module

import arcpy

# Load required toolboxes

arcpy.ImportToolbox("Model Functions")

# Local variables:

GDB_to_save_converted_FC = "C:\\temp\\NewGeodatabase.gdb"

Folder_with_shapefiles_to_convert = "C:\\temp"

FeatureClass = "C:\\temp\\XYbycode2.shp"

# Process: Iterate Feature Classes

arcpy.IterateFeatureClasses_mb(Folder_with_shapefiles_to_convert, "*.shp", "", "RECURSIVE")

# Process: Feature Class to Feature Class

arcpy.FeatureClassToFeatureClass_conversion(FeatureClass, GDB_to_save_converted_FC, "%Name%", "", "", "")

Micah's solution looks very good.

Hope you find the solution.

Re: Delete or ovewriting existing data in model builder

DanielErklauer — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 21:03:40 GMT

Looks like I am going to go that route. Thanks. The solution is posted here

Re: Delete or ovewriting existing data in model builder

JohnGallo — Tue, 05 May 2015 22:14:39 GMT

Hello Asrujit,

I am having the same problem as Daniel, and I do not have an option of moving over to a python solution. It seems that there shold be a model builder solution. Maybe this is a bug? Or something in my settings? I've closed windows explorer, arcCatalog, and arcMap, then re-opened arcMap and validated my model and it still shows up as a white circle (not abnle to run) with the same error message.

Is there another way to triple check that ther eis no schema lock?

Any other ideas?

Thanks,

John

Re: Delete or ovewriting existing data in model builder

DanielErklauer — Wed, 06 May 2015 13:15:43 GMT

My problem was that it is a bug (ESRI tech support confirmed) and I could not perform my work flow with python it had to be done with model builder which worked. You can check the folders where the data you are manipulating resides and look for the schema lock file and manually delete it. It some cases the lock file does not get deleted. Are you sure you checked the overwrite geoprocessing files in the geoprocessing options setting?

Re: Delete or ovewriting existing data in model builder

JohnGallo — Wed, 06 May 2015 14:21:15 GMT

Thanks Daniel.

Yes, I'm sure that box is checked. All my other models overwrite outputs fine.

Now I guess my decision is whether or not to try moving from 10.2 to 10.3 to see if the bug has been fixed...