Python Help

[DavidLeslie]

Is there a way I can create a list of only the deletable fields in a feature class (and by deletable I mean fields other than OBJECTID, Shape, etc . I tried using arcpy.ListFields(), but it list all of the feilds.

[DavidBlanchard · Accepted solution]

You will have to filter your list of fields produced by arcpy.ListFields() using the properties of the Field object. If you need help on filtering your list, the Dive Into Python guide has an excellent chapter on this: 4.5. Filtering Lists.

[DavidLeslie]

Thanks for your quick reply! From your post, I realized that I could use the editable method to check to see if a field can be deleted or not!

[DanPatterson_Retired]

just be aware of the subtle difference between editable and required

...

Editable fields:

[[False, u'FID'], [True, u'Shape'], [True, u'Id'], [True, u'X'], [True, u'Y'], [True, u'Label']]

Required fields:

[[True, u'FID'], [True, u'Shape'], [False, u'Id'], [False, u'X'], [False, u'Y'], [False, u'Label']]

...

[DanPatterson_Retired]

like this...

>>> import arcpy
>>> shp_file = "c:/temp/x.shp"
>>> flds = arcpy.ListFields(shp_file)
>>>
>>> req_flds = [ [fld.required, fld.name] for fld in flds]
>>> req_flds
[[True, u'FID'], [True, u'Shape'], [False, u'Id'], [False, u'X'], [False, u'Y'], [False, u'Label']]
>>>

[DavidLeslie]

I just used:

for i in range(len(parcelFieldList)):
     if parcelFieldList.editable:
          parcelFieldNames.append(str(parcelFieldList.name))

[curtvprice]

List comprehensions are just so elegant.

efields = [f.name for f in arcpy.ListFields(table) if f.editable]