topic Re: Batch Add Fields, Model Builder in ModelBuilder Questions

Batch Add Fields, Model Builder

Randy_A_Stapleton — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 15:00:38 GMT

Hi All,

Can anyone suggest a better way to batch add fields using the model builder? See attached image.

Thanks,

Re: Batch Add Fields, Model Builder

HabG_ — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 15:14:37 GMT

Hi Randy,

Have you tried to batch add fields by right clicking the Add Field Tool in the Data Management Tools>Fields Toolset?

Re: Batch Add Fields, Model Builder

TimWitt2 — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 15:16:31 GMT

I think he wants it within the model builder, not doing it manually.

Re: Batch Add Fields, Model Builder

BlakeTerhune — Sun, 12 Dec 2021 11:04:12 GMT

My first thought is to use Python and arcpy.AddField_management(). This assumes all the fields are the same type and length. If they are all different, it can still be done but the code would have to be changed a bit.

import arcpy

testtable = r"C:\temp\mygdb.gdb\Test"

newfields = [
    "Test1",
    "Test2",
    "Test3",
    "Test4",
    "Test5"
]

for field in newfields:
    arcpy.AddField_management(
        testtable,  ## in_table
        field,  ## field_name
        "TEXT",  ## field_type
    )
    print "{} added".format(field)

Re: Batch Add Fields, Model Builder

Randy_A_Stapleton — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 17:50:56 GMT

Yes. Within the model builder.

Re: Batch Add Fields, Model Builder

ToddPayne1 — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 18:15:40 GMT

You can start with the Add Field tool in a Model, right-click the tool and Make Variable - From Parameter. Field Name would be the first one you need. Open it's Properties and set to List of Values. Open the Parameter and you can do all kinds of interesting things like Insert values from a table...

Add any other Variables from Parameters as needed to accommodate different field design across fields.

Re: Batch Add Fields, Model Builder

BlakeTerhune — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 18:28:37 GMT

I'm not too experienced with Model Builder and I didn't know about this. Thanks!

Re: Batch Add Fields, Model Builder

ToddPayne1 — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 18:34:15 GMT

What I like is with a List of Values, you only need one Add Field tool in the Model.

Re: Batch Add Fields, Model Builder

Randy_A_Stapleton — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 18:53:01 GMT

Thank you. This is what my model looks like now.

Re: Batch Add Fields, Model Builder

Randy_A_Stapleton — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 18:56:26 GMT

This shows that 4 additional field were created.

Re: Batch Add Fields, Model Builder

Randy_A_Stapleton — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 19:04:45 GMT

Yes. I wanted to simplify my model. Thanks, Todd.

Re: Batch Add Fields, Model Builder

ToddPayne1 — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 19:10:16 GMT

Sure thing. GeoNet is cool!