topic Re: Copy FeatureClass in Python Questions

Copy FeatureClass

MickeyO_Neil — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 11:49:30 GMT

Hello,

i want to copy a FeatureClass which is in a Feature-Dataset into an other Feature-Class (which is also in a Feature-Dataset).Both Feature-Classes are on different SDEs.

arcpy.Copy_management(fromgdbpath + "\\" + fd + "\\" + fc,  togdbpath + "\\" + toschema + "." + outfd+ "\\" + toschema + "." + outfc, "FeatureClass")

I always get the following error:
('ERROR 000258: Output C:\\...<Path>... already exists\nFailed to execute (Copy).\n',)

Of course the Output-FC already exists, but why is this a Problem? If I use the Copy-Geoprocessintool in ArcCatalog with the same Parameters everything works fine!
And if i copy Feature-Classes into other Feature-Classes which are not in a Feature-Dataset, it works, too.

Thanks for your help!

Cheers Mickey

Re: Copy FeatureClass

Zeke — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 12:17:32 GMT

You don't want Copy, you want Append or Merge. Copy makes a new feature class, and you already have the destination feature class. If you want to replace the destination, delete the destination first and use copy, or delete features and append.

Re: Copy FeatureClass

MickeyO_Neil — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 12:25:50 GMT

But the Copy-Tool also copys the Indexes and my target FC is empty, so copy would be just fine.

Re: Copy FeatureClass

Zeke — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 13:11:40 GMT

Do the feature classes have the same name? Do they have different spatial references? Either will cause the tool to fail.

Re: Copy FeatureClass

MickeyO_Neil — Mon, 12 May 2014 12:44:52 GMT

It works on ArcGIS 10.1 when I use this Line of Code:

arcpy.env.overwriteOutput = True

But when I want to run the same Script on an ArcGIS 10.2.1, the same ERROR shows up!
How is that possible? It's the same code?
Even the Place where I copy to, is the same ArcSDE in my local Network!

Re: Copy FeatureClass

MichaelVolz — Mon, 12 May 2014 13:00:40 GMT

Is this an error that just appeared when you upgraded from v10.1 to v10.2?

Re: Copy FeatureClass

MickeyO_Neil — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 19:51:02 GMT

No, these are two different machines. No upgrad was made.

My final solution:
I split my script in two parts:
If I'm allowed to delete a FeatureClass I use:

if arcpy.Exists(__toFCpath):
   arcpy.Delete_management(__toFCpath)
arcpy.Copy_management(__fromFCpath, __toFCpath)

And if i'm not allowed to delete a FeatureClass I use:

arcpy.DeleteRows_management(...)
arcpy.Append_management(...)

and

arcpy.AddIndex_management(...)

to copy the Indexes.

But be aware of Bug NIM084818 if you are using ArcGIS 10.2.0 or lower:
The Append geoprocessing tool fails to append field values for fields with field names that have 29 or more characters.

Cheers.
Mickey