topic Re: arcpy.management.<gp_tool> vs. arcpy.<gp_tool>_management? in Python Questions

arcpy.management. vs. arcpy._management?

davedoesgis — Tue, 04 Aug 2020 22:31:57 GMT

When I open the help in Pro from a GP tool, the docs (example) give me usage like this:

arcpy.SelectLayerByAttribute_management( ... )

When I go to the GP history and copy the Python snippet (now called "Copy Python Command"), it gives me slightly different syntax:

arcpy.management.SelectLayerByAttribute( ... )

The second looks much more like a Pythonic package structure to me. Is there any functional difference or any particular reason to use one over the over?

Re: arcpy.management. vs. arcpy._management?

DanPatterson — Fri, 10 Dec 2021 22:33:57 GMT

No functional difference... same script

arcpy.SelectLayerByAttribute_management??
Source:   
@gptooldoc('SelectLayerByAttribute_management', None)
.... huge snip ....
File:      c:\arc_pro\resources\arcpy\arcpy\management.py
Type:      function

arcpy.management.SelectLayerByAttribute??
Source:   
@gptooldoc('SelectLayerByAttribute_management', None)
.... huge snip ....
File:      c:\arc_pro\resources\arcpy\arcpy\management.py
Type:      function‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

Re: arcpy.management. vs. arcpy._management?

JoshuaBixby — Fri, 10 Dec 2021 22:33:59 GMT

If you are not using Jupyter, you can also see they are the same by using the code dunder attribute:

>>> arcpy.SelectLayerByAttribute_management.__code__
<code object SelectLayerByAttribute at 0x0000023D1BF5F1E0, file "C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\Pro\Resources\ArcPy\arcpy\management.py", line 8699>
>>>
>>> arcpy.management.SelectLayerByAttribute.__code__
<code object SelectLayerByAttribute at 0x0000023D1BF5F1E0, file "C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\Pro\Resources\ArcPy\arcpy\management.py", line 8699>
>>> ‍‍‍‍‍‍

Re: arcpy.management. vs. arcpy._management?

DanPatterson — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 04:01:33 GMT

It was actually Spyder... anything that can use ipython line magics will work (others include jupyterlab, notebook, jupyter console or Pro's notebooks)

Re: arcpy.management. vs. arcpy._management?

davedoesgis — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 15:17:01 GMT

So I guess that begs the question, which is more Pythonic?

Re: arcpy.management. vs. arcpy._management?

JoshuaBixby — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 15:45:02 GMT

The historical/legacy syntax was arcpy.SelectLayerByAttribute_management, and the newer/current syntax is arcpy.management.SelectLayerByAttribute. The underlying package structure of ArcPy hasn't really changed, Esri is just moving away from the function alias model they originally adopted. Personally, I consider the newer syntax more Pythonic.

Re: arcpy.management. vs. arcpy._management?

RDHarles — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 16:24:44 GMT

After 15 years they're going to switch the order? I remember back in the day when you didn't even need the "toolbox" (e.g."_management") ~AND~ you could use any case you wanted (e.g. SeLeCtLaYeRbYaTTrIBuTe).

As a old timer, I don't like it...and get off my lawn!

Re: arcpy.management. vs. arcpy._management?

davedoesgis — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 17:13:53 GMT

Too bad there aren't laugh emoji reactions in GeoNet. Thanks for the chuckle, RD.

Re: arcpy.management. vs. arcpy._management?

JoshuaBixby — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 17:30:00 GMT

This is Jive's "laugh" emoji: