topic Re: arcpy.da.UpdateCursor too few parameters in Python Questions

arcpy.da.UpdateCursor too few parameters

JustinWolff — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 09:23:24 GMT

I'm running ArcGIS 10.3 and have a geodatabase with multiple feature datasets each containing multiple feature classes. Each feature class has multiple string type fields containing <Null> values. I want to change the <Null> values to "TBD" (without the quotation marks).

I feel I'm very close, but at 'for row in cursor:' I'm receiving the error "Too few parameters. Expected 1." I guess the cursor isn't actually returning any rows at all? Below is what I currently have; I haven't added any documentation or messaging yet. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

import arcpy
from arcpy import env
import os

#Set variables
inputgdb = sys.argv[1]
nullCount = 0

#Set workspace
arcpy.env.workspace = inputgdb

#Populate Nulls with TBD
datasetList = arcpy.ListDatasets(feature_type = 'feature')
datasetList = [''] + datasetList if datasetList is not None else []
for dataset in datasetList:
    env.workspace = inputgdb + "\\" + dataset
    dataset = dataset + "\\"
    fcList = arcpy.ListFeatureClasses()
    for fc in fcList:
        fc = fc +"\\"
        fieldList = arcpy.ListFields(fc,["String"])
        for field in fieldList:
            with arcpy.da.UpdateCursor (fc, 'fieldList') as cursor:
                for row in cursor:
                    if row[0] == None:
                        row[0] = 'TBD'
                        cursor.updateRow(row)

Re: arcpy.da.UpdateCursor too few parameters

WesMiller — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 17:54:34 GMT

Through in some print statements

I would recommend:

print datasetList

print fc

print fieldList

after each has been assigned I don't think you are getting the values you are expecting

Re: arcpy.da.UpdateCursor too few parameters

DarrenWiens2 — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 17:58:09 GMT

You create a list called fieldList, but then try to call a single field (string) called 'fieldList'. Remove the quotes to access the variable fieldList, rather than the string 'fieldList'.

edit: actually, if you mean to loop through individual fields in fieldList, then you should direct the cursor to look for field (no quotes).

edit 2: rather than cursoring through your feature classes for each string field, you should cursor through each feature class once and inspect the values in row.

Re: arcpy.da.UpdateCursor too few parameters

WesMiller — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 18:15:33 GMT

Darren,

I think he is trying to get field type string

field_names = [f.name for f in arcpy.ListFields(fc,'','String')]

Edit:

Sorry just looked at your edit 2

Re: arcpy.da.UpdateCursor too few parameters

JustinWolff — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 19:31:02 GMT

Darren and Wes,

Thanks for the suggestions. I did add some messaging and it is at least returning the feature datasets, feature classes and fields as I was anticipating.

If I understand Darren's edit 2, I don't need to cursor through a list of fields, just the list of feature classes?

Thanks again.

Re: arcpy.da.UpdateCursor too few parameters

BlakeTerhune — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 19:35:03 GMT

Just for future reference, you can format your code with syntax highlighting so it looks like it does in the IDE and is easier to read.

Posting Code blocks in the new GeoNet

Re: arcpy.da.UpdateCursor too few parameters

DarrenWiens2 — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 09:23:27 GMT

Right, I believe creating cursors is an expensive operation, so the fewer the better.

for dataset in datasetList:
    env.workspace = inputgdb + "\\" + dataset
    dataset = dataset + "\\"
    fcList = arcpy.ListFeatureClasses()
    for fc in fcList:
        fc = fc +"\\"
        fieldList = arcpy.ListFields(fc,["String"])
        with arcpy.da.UpdateCursor (fc, fieldList) as cursor:
            for row in cursor: # for each row in the feature class
                 for i in len(row): # for each value in row (i.e. field values)
                    if row == None:
                        row = 'TBD'
                 cursor.updateRow(row)

Re: arcpy.da.UpdateCursor too few parameters

JoshuaBixby — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 09:23:30 GMT

Correct. As a side note, you should really consider using the os.path module to create file system paths (like feature classes in feature datasets).

Starting at the fieldList statement towards the bottom of your script:

fieldList = [f.name for f in arcpy.ListFields(fc, "*", "STRING")]
with arcpy.da.UpdateCursor (fc, fieldList) as cursor:
    for row in cursor:
        row = [(fld if fld is not None else 'TBD') for fld in row]
        # row = [(fld if fld else 'TBD') for fld in row] # this would capture empty strings too and not just NULL
        cursor.updateRow(row)

Re: arcpy.da.UpdateCursor too few parameters

JustinWolff — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 20:09:40 GMT

Thanks Blake - applied to original post. Working through the other suggestions/help now. Much appreciated.

Re: arcpy.da.UpdateCursor too few parameters

JustinWolff — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 09:23:33 GMT

I think I'm getting closer, but it does not like the fieldList in cursor.

import arcpy
from arcpy import env
import os
#Set variables
inputgdb = sys.argv[1]
nullCount = 0
#Set workspace
arcpy.env.workspace = inputgdb
#Populate Nulls with TBD
datasetList = arcpy.ListDatasets(feature_type = 'feature')
datasetList = [''] + datasetList if datasetList is not None else []
print "Getting Feature Datasets..."
arcpy.AddMessage ("Getting Feature Datasets...")
print datasetList
arcpy.AddMessage (datasetList)
for dataset in datasetList:
    env.workspace = inputgdb + "\\" + dataset
    dataset = dataset + "\\"
    fcList = arcpy.ListFeatureClasses()
    print "Getting Feature Classes..."
    arcpy.AddMessage ("Getting Feature Classes...")
    print fcList
    arcpy.AddMessage (fcList)
    for fc in fcList:
        fc = fc +"\\"
        fieldList = arcpy.ListFields(fc,["String"])
        with arcpy.da.UpdateCursor (fc, fieldList) as cursor:
            for row in cursor: #for each row in the feature class
                for i in len(row): #for each value in row (i.e., field values)
                    if row == None:
                        row = 'TBD'
                cursor.updateRow(row)
                print "Updating value..."
                arcpy.AddMessage ("Updating value...")
                print fieldList
                arcpy.AddMessage (fieldList)

Re: arcpy.da.UpdateCursor too few parameters

DarrenWiens2 — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 21:02:01 GMT

Ah, I assumed ListFields returned a list of field names, but it returns field objects. See Joshua's answer or the final example here for creating a list of field names from ListFields.

Re: arcpy.da.UpdateCursor too few parameters

JustinWolff — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 09:23:36 GMT

Thank you so much to everyone; it's working.

import arcpy
from arcpy import env
import os
#Set variables
inputgdb = sys.argv[1]
nullCount = 0
#Set workspace
arcpy.env.workspace = inputgdb
#Populate Nulls with TBD
datasetList = arcpy.ListDatasets(feature_type = 'feature')
datasetList = [''] + datasetList if datasetList is not None else []
print "Getting Feature Datasets..."
arcpy.AddMessage ("Getting Feature Datasets...")
print datasetList
arcpy.AddMessage (datasetList)
for dataset in datasetList:
    env.workspace = inputgdb + "\\" + dataset
    dataset = dataset + "\\"
    fcList = arcpy.ListFeatureClasses()
    print "Getting Feature Classes..."
    arcpy.AddMessage ("Getting Feature Classes...")
    print fcList
    arcpy.AddMessage (fcList)
    for fc in fcList:
        fc = fc +"\\"
        fieldList = [f.name for f in arcpy.ListFields(fc, "*", "STRING")]
        with arcpy.da.UpdateCursor (fc, fieldList) as cursor:
            for row in cursor:
                row = [(fld if fld is not None else 'TBD') for fld in row]
                cursor.updateRow(row)
                print "Updating value..."
                arcpy.AddMessage ("Updating value...")
                print fieldList
                arcpy.AddMessage (fieldList)