idea Make function to access the Geodatabase elements date and size in Python Ideas

Add 'File Size' and 'Date Modified' to arcpy.Describe featureclass properties

JohnDye — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:27:52 GMT

It would be really nice to be able to return the 'File Size' and 'Date Modified' properties of a feature class through the arcpy.describe function. This would be really helpful in helping to ensure that users are current with their datasets.

something like:

importarcpy# Create a Describe object from the feature class#desc=arcpy.Describe("C:/data/arch.dgn/Point")# Print some feature class properties#print"File Size: "+desc.fileSizeprint"Date Modified : "+desc.dateModifiedprint"Read/Write: "+ desc.permissions

Re: Add 'File Size' and 'Date Modified' to arcpy.Describe featureclass properties

MicahBabinski — Wed, 20 May 2015 16:59:31 GMT

FYI, there is a geonet thread related to this topic. It can be accomplished using some ArcObjects integration with Python, but it would be wonderful if this idea were promoted and the functionality included in a future release of the software,

Re: Add 'File Size' and 'Date Modified' to arcpy.Describe featureclass properties

PhilLarkin1 — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 22:56:05 GMT

After 4.5 years the answer from ESRI is....Meh.

Re: Add 'File Size' and 'Date Modified' to arcpy.Describe featureclass properties

EricTran — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 14:15:49 GMT

This would add so much functionally with python scripting. You can see If a feature class has changed file size, you can see any feature classes that have been updated in the last week, you can set up a check to see if there were any major changes in file size in the last week, you can make a check to see if the feature class was updated the same day, then run the script if it was or return a reminder to update the FC if it wasn't. Check to see if any FC's in a GDB has been updated in the last week and update all associated MXDs to services based on what was changed...

Sadly, after waiting for so long, I don't think ESRI's interested in adding that functionality. So I'll be sticking with shape files if I ever want the convenience of that kind of file metadata.

Re: Add 'File Size' and 'Date Modified' to arcpy.Describe featureclass properties

JoshuaBixby — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 00:00:28 GMT

Phil Larkin‌, make that 6.5 years! I will leave a note to my kid to check back when he is grown up because I think this request will outlive me.

Make function to access the Geodatabase elements date and size

graharg_MAO — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 22:43:23 GMT

The Geodatabase elements Name, Type, Date Modified, Size and Path can be viewed in ArcGIS PRO Catalog View. Please add a function to access these element descriptions. I would like to be able to post these descriptions in the Table of Contents show the data vintage can quickly be found.

Re: Make function to access the Geodatabase elements date and size

RPGIS — Thu, 01 Dec 2022 21:13:34 GMT

Here is some documentation that will allow for you to export any file information regarding the database.

Get file information via python

os.path.getatime(path)

Return the time of last access of path. The return value is a floating point number giving the number of seconds since the epoch (see the time module). Raise OSError if the file does not exist or is inaccessible.

os.path.getmtime(path)

Return the time of last modification of path. The return value is a floating point number giving the number of seconds since the epoch (see the time module). Raise OSError if the file does not exist or is inaccessible.

Changed in version 3.6: Accepts a path-like object.

os.path.getctime(path)

Return the system’s ctime which, on some systems (like Unix) is the time of the last metadata change, and, on others (like Windows), is the creation time for path. The return value is a number giving the number of seconds since the epoch (see the time module). Raise OSError if the file does not exist or is inaccessible.

Changed in version 3.6: Accepts a path-like object.

os.path.getsize(path)

Return the size, in bytes, of path. Raise OSError if the file does not exist or is inaccessible.

Changed in version 3.6: Accepts a path-like object.

Re: Make function to access the Geodatabase elements date and size

geomatix — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 20:00:40 GMT

Thank you!

Re: Make function to access the Geodatabase elements date and size - Status changed to: In Product Plan

HannesZiegler — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 17:54:02 GMT

We're working on this! This status does not guarantee that the functionality will be in the next release, but development work has begun. Release cycles vary by product so make sure to check the product life cycle information to get an idea of when to expect the next release.

Re: Make function to access the Geodatabase elements date and size - Status changed to: Implemented

HannesZiegler — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 17:33:17 GMT

This Idea has been implemented for featureclasses, tables, and shapefiles in ArcGIS Pro 3.2. The properties size, dateAccessed, dateCreated, and dateModified have been added to the Describe object (among others).

Please see the What's New documentation for more new features in Pro 3.2.

The Your Ideas in ArcGIS Pro 3.2 blog and video have been posted to the Esri Community blog. You can take a look at these to see your idea and all others that were implemented in this release of ArcGIS Pro.

Re: Make function to access the Geodatabase elements date and size

AndrewRudin1 — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 15:48:38 GMT

The implemented enhancements in ArcPy.Describe for Pro 3.2 don't return a dateModified property for feature classes in my 10.9.1 Oracle geodatabase. Nor does it work for feature classes in my 10.9.1 Azure SQL Database. It does for a file geodatabase feature class though.

So really the enhancement is Arcpy describe will return size and dateModified if the underlying geodatabse supports it... and enterprise geodatabases (at least at 10.9.1) don't support it.

I assume this is because the SDE business tables don't contain any kind of auditing fields for date created or date modified for geodatabase items...because I've hunted for something like this and no luck.

I'd be curious if the value would be returned by ArcPy if the Oracle geodatabase was at version 11.2. But I assume those columns would have to be added to the SDE business schema somewhere and populated to make the data available for Arcpy to grab. I could not find any documentation specific to what's new in enterprise geodatabase functionality at 11.2 so can't verify this was done.

Re: Make function to access the Geodatabase elements date and size

RPGIS — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 18:45:36 GMT

Hi @AndrewRudin1,

Have you tried using python's os module as mentioned before. It may not be necessary for there to be an arcpy module since the os module can get the file size, modification date, and so forth already exists.

Re: Make function to access the Geodatabase elements date and size

AJR — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 17:20:40 GMT

This update doesn't seem to be reflected in the arcpy help documentation for any of the types listed by @HannesZiegler

https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/arcpy/functions/featureclass-properties.htm

https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/arcpy/functions/table-properties.htm

https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/arcpy/functions/gdb-featureclass-properties.htm

https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/arcpy/functions/gdb-table-properties.htm

or be part of the general high-level describe object properties

https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/arcpy/functions/describe-object-properties.htm

Am I looking in the wrong place(s)?

Re: Make function to access the Geodatabase elements date and size

ShaunWalbridge — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 23:50:11 GMT

@AJRI see them all under the linked to https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/arcpy/functions/table-properties.htm, I believe that's where they are within the object hierarchy.

Re: Make function to access the Geodatabase elements date and size

AJR — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 23:53:03 GMT

Thanks @ShaunWalbridge , I thought I had looked there, but must have missed it.