Populate date field with any chosen date within a python script

[RobMacDonald2]

Hi all. I am trying to write a script in Python that will populate a date field in a featureclass with a date of my choosing. Not today's date. Can anybody point me in the right direction?

Thanks!

[RandyBurton]

You should be familiar with Python's datetime module and ArcGIS' Update Cursor tool.  For a more specific answer, you should describe your work environment.  What version of Python and ArcGIS are you using?  What is the type of geodatabase?

[RobMacDonald2]

Hi Randy! Thanks very much for your answer!

I am using PyCharm 2018.3.3 and ArcGIS Pro 10.5 with a File GDB

My current attempt is:

import arcpy
import datetime

arcpy.env.workspace = r"xxxx.gdb"

arcpy.env.overwriteOutput = True

datefrom = datetime.datetime(2019,01,17)
dateto = datetime.datetime(2020,01,01)

arcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management("L_LISTED_BUILDINGS", "LISTED_BUILDINGS")

A_OP_LISTBUILDINGS = arcpy.SelectLayerByLocation_management('LISTED_BUILDINGS', 'INTERSECT', 'FEATURE', 0, 'NEW_SELECTION')

A_OP_LISTBUILDINGS = arcpy.CalculateField_management(A_OP_LISTBUILDINGS,"DateFrom",datefrom)
A_OP_LISTBUILDINGS = arcpy.CalculateField_management(A_OP_LISTBUILDINGS,"DateTo",dateto)

arcpy.CopyFeatures_management(A_OP_LISTBUILDINGS, 'A_OP_190117_LISTBUILDINGS')

However this populates the field with "00:00:00" i.e assuming it's a time. I think this is because it is in the format yyyy,mm,dd but that is the only format datetime.datetime accepts (I think). 

Any ideas?

Many thanks

Rob

[FC_Basson · Accepted solution]

First you need to create an expression value for the field calculation:

exp = 'datetime.datetime(2019,1,17).strftime("%Y/%m/%d")'‍

Then do the field calculation:

arcpy.CalculateField_management(A_OP_LISTBUILDINGS, "DateFrom",exp,"PYTHON_9.3","")‍

[RobMacDonald2]

.strftime("%Y/%m/%d")

This was what i was missing!! Thanks so much! You legend