Check if any features are selected

[Zeke]

I want to check if any features in a feature class are selected, and exit the script with a message to the user if they aren't. But I can't find a function that checks if any features are selected. The code below gives a count of selected features, if any are, but it also returns a count of all features (~27k+) if none are. This defeats the purpose of the if statement.

Is there a way to just check if any are selected - a HasSelected type of property? Thanks.

# check how many parcels are selected     count = int(arcpy.GetCount_management("Parcel").getOutput(0)) # returns count of all parcels if none selected. This makes if statement always true, regardless if any parcels are selected      # if no parcels are selected, inform user and exit script     if count < 1:         arcpy.AddError("No features selected! \n Please select at least one parcel feature. \n")         arcpy.AddError("Quitting the Create Case tool \n")         sys.exit("Goodbye! Try again!")

[DarrenWiens2 · Accepted solution]

The arcpy Layer object has a property called FIDSet that is "A semicolon-delimited string of selected feature IDs (record numbers)." So, you should be able to test against that to either count selected or determine if any features are selected.

[curtvprice]

I want to check if any features in a feature class are selected, and exit the script with a message to the user if they aren't.

I think a good approach to try would be to switch the selection.

UPDATE: code repaired to add "_management" to tool call, see post below

# check how many parcels are selected
count1 = int(arcpy.GetCount_management("Parcel").getOutput(0)) 
arcpy.SelectLayerByAttribute_management("Parcel","SWITCH_SELECTION") # switch selection
count2 = int(arcpy.GetCount_management("Parcel").getOutput(0)) 
arcpy.SelectLayerByAttribute_management("Parcel","SWITCH_SELECTION") # switch it back 
# if no parcels are selected, inform user and exit script
if count1 == 0 or count2 == 0:
    arcpy.AddError("No features selected! \n Please select at least one parcel feature. \n")
    arcpy.AddError("Quitting the Create Case tool \n")
else:
    ....

[Zeke]

Thanks, the FIDSet worked. I tried switching selections, but that raised an error on SelectLayerByAttribute - module has no attribute, and although it seems like it would be necessary to select an attribute, I don't see where it's required for that function in help.
Anyway, thanks for the help, I really appreciate it. I'm trying to idiot-proof the script, and feel very qualified to test that.  I have another question as to why GetParameterAsText retrieves the value entered ok, but will strip off all characters before a final "-" when I use CalculateField to set the field value, but I'll post that in another thread if I can't figure it out.

[curtvprice]

I tried switching selections, but that raised an error on SelectLayerByAttribute - module has no attribute

This was my bad. Still getting used to arcpy syntax, which if you don't import the managment module requires you to specify it: SelectLayerByAttribute_management

I repaired the code sample above.

[Zeke]

Thanks, I'll try that. Surprised I didn't see it myself. Maybe I should actually look before I just copy & paste... 😉

[ABishop]

Hello @Zeke  and @DarrenWiens2 ,

I am working on a similar script but instead of just listing the selection, I want to use it as a logical parameter for executing "Calculate Geometry Attributes" on a parcel polygon.

So far I have built a model which works OK, except I get a field character count warning 🙄 When I export the model as a python script (see python window for the model script), I get an error saying this:

  File "<string>", line 6
def # NOT IMPLEMENTED# Function Body not implemented
^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax

# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
"""
Generated by ArcGIS ModelBuilder on : 2021-09-17 08:27:10
"""
import arcpy
def #  NOT  IMPLEMENTED# Function Body not implemented

def GeometryCalc():  # GeometryCalc

    # To allow overwriting outputs change overwriteOutput option to True.
    arcpy.env.overwriteOutput = False

    arcpy.ImportToolbox(r"c:\program files\arcgis\pro\Resources\ArcToolbox\toolboxes\Data Management Tools.tbx")
    # Model Environment settings
    with arcpy.EnvManager(scratchWorkspace=r"C:\Users\abishop\AppData\Local\Temp\ArcGISProTemp10544\1ba0f558-c873-4c6c-be6d-dc08393016c0\Default.gdb", workspace=r"C:\Users\abishop\AppData\Local\Temp\ArcGISProTemp10544\1ba0f558-c873-4c6c-be6d-dc08393016c0\Default.gdb"):
        parcel = "I:\\users\\abishop\\DATA\\CadastreCopy.gdb\\parcel"

        # Process: Select Layer By Attribute (Select Layer By Attribute) (management)
        parcel_Layer, Count = arcpy.management.SelectLayerByAttribute(in_layer_or_view=parcel, selection_type="NEW_SELECTION", where_clause="GIS_ACRES IS NULL", invert_where_clause="")

        # Process: If Selection Exists (If Selection Exists) ()
        True_48, False_49 = #  NOT  IMPLEMENTED(in_layer_or_view=parcel_Layer, selection_condition="EXISTS", count=0, count_min=0, count_max=0)

        # Process: Calculate Geometry Attributes (Calculate Geometry Attributes) (management)
        if True_48:
            parcel_Layer_2_ = arcpy.management.CalculateGeometryAttributes(in_features=parcel_Layer, geometry_property=[["GIS_ACRES", "AREA"]], length_unit="", area_unit="ACRES", coordinate_system="PROJCS[\"NAD_1983_StatePlane_Florida_West_FIPS_0902_Feet\",GEOGCS[\"GCS_North_American_1983\",DATUM[\"D_North_American_1983\",SPHEROID[\"GRS_1980\",6378137.0,298.257222101]],PRIMEM[\"Greenwich\",0.0],UNIT[\"Degree\",0.0174532925199433]],PROJECTION[\"Transverse_Mercator\"],PARAMETER[\"False_Easting\",656166.6666666665],PARAMETER[\"False_Northing\",0.0],PARAMETER[\"Central_Meridian\",-82.0],PARAMETER[\"Scale_Factor\",0.9999411764705882],PARAMETER[\"Latitude_Of_Origin\",24.33333333333333],UNIT[\"Foot_US\",0.3048006096012192]]", coordinate_format="SAME_AS_INPUT")[0]

if __name__ == '__main__':
    GeometryCalc()

[DarrenWiens2]

The line ("def #...") is not valid Python syntax. For some reason, exporting to Python script has malfunctioned - it has lots of problems. If there's supposed to be a function there, you'll have to write it yourself. If not, delete that line and continue on.

edit: I'm pretty sure you'll also have to edit the line "True_48, False_49 = #" 

[ABishop]

The problem with changing or eliminating the True False is that the logical condition of checking the selection will be eliminated.  I think that's why there is a malfunction.  That logical operator I used in the ModelBuilder "If Selection Exists" only works in ModelBuilder. 😥