Script to load multiple features into already existing feature class?

[SharonLitteral]

I have an existing feature class in a file gdb.  I am trying to write a python script to load data from a SQL2012 gdb.  I am new to this.  Normally, I would just drop a tool into modelbuilder and convert it to a python script.  However, I do not know how to do this with the Simple data loader that I use in ArcCatalog.  I would think that someone has already done this.  Any help is appreciated.

[SharonLitteral]

Okay, so I wrote the script to load or append data to an existing feature class.  First, I use arcpy.ListFeatureClasses and get a list of the feature classes from my source feature dataset.   I then loop through each one of the feature classes in the list above and:

     1.  Use arcpy.Describe and create a list containing all of the field names in the source

     2. Use arcpy.SearchCursor on my source feature dataset and for each row in this cursor I loop through and

     3. Use arcpy.InsertCursor.newRow and create a new row in my target dataset

     4. Then for each field name in the list of field names from 1. above I loop through and populate that field value in my  new row with the value from the source (I use getValue and setValue)

     5. Finally, I use the InsertCursor from 3. above and use the method insertRow to update the row in my target database.

     6. I clean up my cursors.

This all works, however it takes a long time to do this.

Does anyone have any experience with tuning the python performance or suggestions for how to modify my logic above to increase performance?

[DarrenWiens2]

You can improve performance by using the cursors in the data access module‌. So, arcpy.da.SearchCursor rather than arcpy.SearchCursor, and arcpy.da.InsertCursor rather than arcpy.InsertCursor.

[IanMurray]

Note the parameter order changes slightly between da Cursors and standard Cursors

[DarrenWiens2]

^ their entire use is quite different.