topic Re: How can I export selected records to a new file using Model Builder in ModelBuilder Questions

How can I export selected records to a new file using Model Builder

lindatomaselli — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 17:36:02 GMT

I have a file of all the census blocks in Illinois. After selecting only the records that I want, how can I export them as a new file in Model Builder?

Re: How can I export selected records to a new file using Model Builder

DanPatterson_Retired — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 00:28:06 GMT

use Copy Features to save your selected output to a new featureclass

Re: How can I export selected records to a new file using Model Builder

lindatomaselli — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 14:31:19 GMT

Copy Features only works if the file is a shapefile, not a dbf. Furthermore, even if I join the block data to the block shapefile, the result of Copy Features has fields like "original1", "original2" from my block shapefile......and then "il_pop1", il_pop2" from the joined. So I would have a big problem with my field names.

If I join my block shapefile to the Illinois data and select only the records that match, if I just use Copy, it copies all the Illinois records and does not include the joined records.

Does this mean that I can only interactively use Export to get the desired result rather than being able to do it in a model?

Re: How can I export selected records to a new file using Model Builder

DanPatterson_Retired — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 16:38:00 GMT

I didn't see 'just the table' part... which in this case would mean use Copy Rows and if there are any other preconditions on what rows to include or exclude, then that has to be dealt with first.

Re: How can I export selected records to a new file using Model Builder

lindatomaselli — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 22:14:59 GMT

OK. I saw copy rows, and I tried using it, but I will try again. Thanks for your feedback.

Re: How can I export selected records to a new file using Model Builder

curtvprice — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 01:52:26 GMT

I would get away from shapefiles, and try file geodatabase... the 10-character field limit is going to make the output field names really hard to interpret. You may want to turn off the environment setting Qualified Field Names to minimize the field renaming.

Re: How can I export selected records to a new file using Model Builder

lindatomaselli — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 15:29:26 GMT

Yes, I was able to join my local block file to the state block file and select the records that I want. If I remove the join, I can use Copy Rows to save the selected records.

However, in cases where I have joined 2 dbf files and want to export them to another file, the field names are changed, just as in Copy Features. If I interactively use Export, the field names are preserved.

My rhetorical question is, why is there no Export function among the tools?

Thanks for your help again. At least you solved part of my problem.

Dr. Linda Tomaselli, GISRDC

341 Jamaica Way

Niceville, FL 32578

(850) 687-6459 or (850) 897-2012

<mailto:Ltomaselli@GISRDC.com> Ltomaselli@GISRDC.com or <mailto:Ltomaselli@Earthlink.net> Ltomaselli@Earthlink.net

Re: How can I export selected records to a new file using Model Builder

lindatomaselli — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 17:02:26 GMT

OK Dan!

The secret was in the environment settings, as you suggested.

This seems like such a basic function, yet it took a long amount of time to find the answers.

I am very grateful.

THANKS!

Dr. Linda Tomaselli, GISRDC

341 Jamaica Way

Niceville, FL 32578

(850) 687-6459 or (850) 897-2012

<mailto:Ltomaselli@GISRDC.com> Ltomaselli@GISRDC.com or <mailto:Ltomaselli@Earthlink.net> Ltomaselli@Earthlink.net

Re: How can I export selected records to a new file using Model Builder

DanPatterson_Retired — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 17:53:46 GMT

glad it worked out

Re: How can I export selected records to a new file using Model Builder

lindatomaselli — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 20:14:04 GMT

Dan:

Another note. Copy Rows shows the environment options when you are just using the tool out of the toolbox. When it is inserted into a model, the Environment option disappears. But if you enter the file names and then save the model and then double click on it, one can set the environment that way.

Again, thanks for your help.

Re: How can I export selected records to a new file using Model Builder

curtvprice — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 21:13:02 GMT

Linda, environment variables can be set at many levels - application, model, model tool. You can set it by-tool inside model builder with right click the tool > Properties > Environments tab.

Environment levels and hierarchy—Help | ArcGIS Desktop

Re: How can I export selected records to a new file using Model Builder

lindatomaselli — Sat, 04 Nov 2017 17:28:50 GMT

Dan:

Another “discovery”. While one can set the environment for the fields in the model, the setting is not preserved in the model if it is run again. I found that I must go to Geoprocessing > environments to set it to be constant for all my models that need to preserve the field names. I am sure you knew this, but I am just documenting it “for the record”.

Re: How can I export selected records to a new file using Model Builder

DanPatterson_Retired — Sat, 04 Nov 2017 21:47:19 GMT

remember that for when you start scripting things... you can set stuff and not rely on colored ovals to assume they are doing the right thing