topic Re: How can I delete a field with a different name in a list of feature classes? in Python Questions

How can I delete a field with a different name in a list of feature classes?

GabrielBacca-Cortes — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 22:07:33 GMT

Hi All -

I am trying to delete a field in list of feature classes that changes name depending upon FC is in. This field in all FC has two things in common:

i) the field name starts with "FID_" in all the FCs,

ii) the field is located third [3rd] in the list of fields, right after the fields "FID" and "Shape".

With this in mind, I've tried a couple of things, as shown below, but they don't seem to work. I appreciate any ideas/suggestions you may have.

thanks !

Gabriel

import arcpy, os

from arcpy import env

env.workspace = r"C:\GIS\Track1\1_Orig\Track_int1"

wildcard = "xy**.shp"

fctype = "POLYLINE"

try:

fclist = arcpy.ListFeatureClasses(wildcard, fctype)

for fc in fclist:

# I'VE TRIED THIS:

## desc = arcpy.Describe(fc)

## # Get a list of field objects from the describe object

## fields = desc.fields

## for field in fields:

## if field.name == "FID_**":

## arcpy.DeleteField_management(fc, "FID_**")

## break

# AND THIS:

fieldList = arcpy.ListFields(fc)

fieldToDel = fieldList[3:]

arcpy.DeleteField_management(fc, fieldToDel)

except:

print arcpy.GetMessages(0)

print arcpy.GetMessages(1)

print arcpy.GetMessages(2)

Re: How can I delete a field with a different name in a list of feature classes?

DanPatterson_Retired — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 22:58:14 GMT

the 3rd field is index number 2 ie fieldList[2] please try this and any other attempts on backups!!!!

Re: How can I delete a field with a different name in a list of feature classes?

GabrielBacca-Cortes — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 15:39:34 GMT

Dan - thanks for your response.

I've tried that but I am still getting the same errors:

ERROR 000622: Failed to execute (DeleteField). Parameters are not valid.

ERROR 000623: Invalid value type for parameter drop_field.

any other ideas ?

thanks

Gabriel

Re: How can I delete a field with a different name in a list of feature classes?

JoshuaCrough — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 17:11:54 GMT

This should work:

import arcpy, os

from arcpy import env

env.workspace = r"C:\GIS\Track1\1_Orig\Track_int1"

wildcard = "xy**.shp"

fctype = "POLYLINE"

try:

fclist = arcpy.ListFeatureClasses(wildcard, fctype)

for fc in fclist:

fieldList = arcpy.ListFields(fc)

for field in fieldList:

if field.name[:4] == "FID_":

deleteField = field.name

arcpy.DeleteField_management(fc, deleteField)

except:

print arcpy.GetMessages(0)

print arcpy.GetMessages(1)

print arcpy.GetMessages(2)

Re: How can I delete a field with a different name in a list of feature classes?

GabrielBacca-Cortes — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 17:27:28 GMT

Thank you Joshua ! that did the trick... i am really new to this and during my first readings I had seen that format [:4], but had completely forgotten. thanks again !

Gabriel