Script won't run outside of ArcMap

[MichaelRiccio1]

Hello, I am fairly new to Python, but I'm having an issue running a script. It runs fine when I use the python window in ArcMap, but when I try to run the same script either from double clicking a .py file, or running in the IDLE window, I get an error. I know I can easily do this just using select by attributes in ArcMap, but I'm trying to learn more python to automate more things down the road, this is a first test.

The Code:

import arcpy
import os

tree = r"M:\\Temp\ArcPy\Tree.shp"
arcpy.env.overwriteOutput=True 
arcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management(tree, "Tree")
arcpy.SelectLayerByAttribute_management("Tree","NEW_SELECTION",' "Diameter" >=50')
arcpy.CopyFeatures_management ("Tree","Trees50DBH")
arcpy.FeatureClassToFeatureClass_conversion("TreesGreater50DBH",r"M:\\Temp\ArcPy","Tree50DBH")

The Error (happens at the arcpy.CopyFeatures_management code)

Traceback (most recent call last):

  File "M:\Temp\ArcPY\TreeArcPyTest.py", line 12, in <module>

    arcpy.CopyFeatures_management ("Tree","Trees50DBH")

  File "C:\Program Files (x86)\ArcGIS\Desktop10.3\ArcPy\arcpy\management.py", line 2434, in CopyFeatures

    raise e

ExecuteError: ERROR 000210: Cannot create output Trees50DBH

Failed to execute (CopyFeatures).

I tried searching the various solutions here and elsewhere, but largely they don't apply? Thanks for your help.

[RebeccaStrauch__GISP]

you can start by putting an "r" before you path assignment

tree = r"M:\\Temp\ArcPy\Tree.shp"

also, check out Posting Code blocks in the new GeoNet​  for info on posting/formatting your code.  Makes it easier for others to read, and helps with knowing if you space/tabs are lined up.

[MichaelRiccio1]

Thanks for the formatting tip. I have updated the post.

I also added the r in front of the path assignment, but result is unchanged.

[FreddieGibson · Accepted solution]

I'm guessing your problem is with workspaces. In the call to the CopyFeatures tool you're specifying the name of the output class without the directory. Try giving the following a shot. I'm assuming you want to create shapefiles, so I added the extension to the name of the output file. I'd assume in arcmap that everything would output to the default.gdb.

import arcpy
import os


tree = r"M:\Temp\ArcPy\Tree.shp"
arcpy.env.overwriteOutput = True
arcpy.env.workspace = os.path.dirname(tree)
arcpy.management.MakeFeatureLayer_management(tree, "Tree")
arcpy.SelectLayerByAttribute_management("Tree","NEW_SELECTION",'"Diameter" >=50')
arcpy.CopyFeatures_management ("Tree","Trees50DBH.shp")
arcpy.FeatureClassToFeatureClass_conversion("TreesGreater50DBH", r"M:\Temp\ArcPy","Tree50DBH.shp")

[MichaelRiccio1]

Thanks a lot, this has made it work. In the future I'll keep the workspace issue in mind and add any file extensions.