import arcpy from arcpy import env env.workspace = "C:/drainagescripting/inputdata/drainagedatasp.gdb" # THIS WORKS - prints 'true' print arcpy.Exists("C:/drainagescripting/inputdata/drainagedatasp.gdb") # THESE return '[ ]' fclist = arcpy.ListFeatureClasses() print fclist
If the feature classes reside in feature dataset then you need to include the feature dataset name in the path.
I'm not sure why it wouldn't work for you, assuming there is actually some feature classes in the .gdb.
I modified you code slightly
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = theWorkspace = "C:/__temp/test.gdb"
# THIS WORKS - prints 'true'
print arcpy.Exists(theWorkspace)
# THESE return '[ ]'
fclist = arcpy.ListFeatureClasses()
print (fclist)
and my results were..
True
[u'newpts', u'newPtsMySR', u'test', u'testout2', u'StudyZones', u'bl00_point']
so, take a look at your .gdb to see what is in there.