topic Re: How to remove spaces with Calculate field in ArcMap? in Python Questions

How to remove spaces with Calculate field in ArcMap?

LianaSmith — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 19:43:49 GMT

My values are padded with spaces. Sometimes it's "1", sometimes it's " 1" sometimes its "1 ".

I need to remove all the spaces before, between, after, wherever they appear...

Thanks!!!!

Re: How to remove spaces with Calculate field in ArcMap?

ChrisSmith7 — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 20:14:02 GMT

For leading and trailing whitespace, I would recommend using Python String strip() Method

Here's an example:

For any and all spaces, try replace:

Re: How to remove spaces with Calculate field in ArcMap?

LianaSmith — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 20:17:46 GMT

Thanks, Chris. I need to use it in the Model. I am not familiar how I can add this to the model... Is there any way to do it with Field Calculator?

Re: How to remove spaces with Calculate field in ArcMap?

ChrisSmith7 — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 20:22:40 GMT

Sure, here's an example in the model (for replace):

This tool is available under...

>> Data Management Tools

>> Fields

>> Calculate Field

Re: How to remove spaces with Calculate field in ArcMap?

LianaSmith — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 20:31:52 GMT

Chris, it works but I get zeros for some of the values..

For example, before I had "B", " B", "000B2"

After calculation I get: "B", "000B", "000B2"

I don't want it to be "000B"

For the rest of the records it worked fine

Re: How to remove spaces with Calculate field in ArcMap?

ChrisSmith7 — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 20:34:58 GMT

So you want to remove whitespace AND zeros? If you'd like to remove zeros as well, is it just leading zeros?

Re: How to remove spaces with Calculate field in ArcMap?

DanPatterson_Retired — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 20:56:59 GMT

Chris... I would wait until you get a list of all possible iterations, permutations and combinations that could be in the table. This sounds like a test of the most horrible kind... working in modelbuilder...with an ever increasing list of new conditions.

Re: How to remove spaces with Calculate field in ArcMap?

LianaSmith — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 20:57:59 GMT

I want to remove just the spaces. Some of the values should have zeros before them. The problem is that after calculation for the case " B" (three spaces before letter) I get "000B". It should become B, not 000B

Re: How to remove spaces with Calculate field in ArcMap?

ChrisSmith7 — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 21:02:02 GMT

I was thinking along those lines since it sounds like scope is creeping a bit...

Liana,

Just a warning, too - make sure you have a back-up of your data before running processes that are final!

Re: How to remove spaces with Calculate field in ArcMap?

ChrisSmith7 — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 21:11:55 GMT

I see now... that's strange - can you give your processes step-by-step? Are you positive "000B" wasn't the value before the strip/replace was executed? Could you possibly supply a file, without any identifiable info, exemplifying the issue?

Re: How to remove spaces with Calculate field in ArcMap?

DanPatterson_Retired — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 21:27:22 GMT

the method of parsing the data isn't clear... here is an example that can result in zeros before and after.

Just call it ... to bee or not to bee...

>>> bee = "B"

>>> "{!s:>04}".format(bee)

'000B'

>>> "{!s:<04}".format(bee)

'B000'

So the parser also needs to be clarified