How to add a path to default database in ArcPy script?

[KarolinaKorzeniowska]

I would like to add a path to default database in Arcpy script. The path will be a place where the results from evaluation will be saved. However, I do not want to add a full path, but a relative path, which enable to apply my script also in another computer. How to add relative path to default database?

[LukeSturtevant]

Are you talking about referencing your current workspace that is set in your environment settings in ArcMap? If so then arcpy.env.workspace would correctly reference your default geodatabase.

[KarolinaKorzeniowska]

Thank you for your answer. Yes, I am trying to reference to my default geodatabase. From your link I have found that I should use:

arcpy.env.workspace = path

but here I also have to specify the path to the "path". How to do this? When I change the computer the script will not work, because the "path" will be different.

[BlakeTerhune]

You could do it based on the directory the script is being run from using os.getcwd()​, then just build the rest of your directory from there. The requirement would be that you have to run the script from the same starting folder location on each computer.

[KarolinaKorzeniowska]

Thank you for suggestion, but I think it is not what I am looking for. I would like to build a python toolbox which run like standard ArcGIS toolboxes - when you open the toolbox and do not specify the path then the results are automatically saved in default geodatabase.

[DarrenWiens2]

That is how you would set the workspace environment. If you just want to get the workspace environment, switch the equation:

>>> path = arcpy.env.workspace
>>> print path # workspace location

Some other peripheral ideas would be to reference the script location:

>>> import sys
>>> print sys.argv[0] # script location

... or the current mxd location:

>>> print arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("CURRENT").filePath # current mxd location

[LukeSturtevant]

As Darren said, if you are running your tool from ArcMap or ArcCatalog you do not need to explicitly set arcpy.env.workspace to a path. It will automatically be set to your default geodatabase as I mentioned earlier.

[KarolinaKorzeniowska]

Okay, thanks for answer. But then how to use the output file as an input in the next step of my script? I have to tell the script where the file is located right?

[LukeSturtevant]

Its hard telling not knowing what you are trying to do exactly, but you can set the output as a variable for example:

feature = arcpy.CreateFeatureclass_management (env.workspace, "test1","POINT","","","",26919)

arcpy.Append_management (inputs, feature, "NO_TEST")

Here the new feature class is set to the variable 'feature' and then it can be referenced as feature throughout your script.

[KarolinaKorzeniowska]

I am trying to build a toolbox where at first I am evaluating Focal Statistics from DEM (raster) and then I am subtracting (Raster Calculator) both rasters. That I why I need a path to the results from my first evaluation.

# Import arcpy module
import os
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
from arcpy.sa import *

# Set the input data
inRaster = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(0)
# Set the output data
outRaster = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(1)
# Set the path to workspace location
path = arcpy.env.workspace
print path


# Evaluate mean DEM
inRaster = "DEM.tif"
neighborhood = NbrRectangle(3, 3, "CELL")
# Check out the ArcGIS Spatial Analyst extension license
arcpy.CheckOutExtension("Spatial")
# Execute FocalStatistics
outFocalStatistics = FocalStatistics(inRaster, neighborhood, "MEAN","")
# Save the output 
outFocalStatistics.save("DEM_mean")
#
# Subtraction
inRaster1 = Raster("DEM")
inRaster2 = Raster("DEM_mean")
# Execute Minus
outMinus = inRaster1 - inRaster2
# Save the output
outMinus.save("result")