what arcpy function does Data/Export Data correspond to?

[JianLiu]

I need to export an xyEvent layer to a shapefile. It is a big file with about 59000 records. When I used the context-sensitive menu/Data/Export Data option in ArcMap, the export took only a few seconds. However, when I try to implement it in Arcpy, it doesn't seem that I can find the right function that can perform this fast. I've tried

arcpy.FeatureClassToFeatureClass_conversion and
arcpy.CopyFeatures_management

Each one takes minutes to finish. Is there another function I should use? I am using 10.1. Thanks people!

[JoshuaChisholm]

I'm not sure if it will be faster, but you can try Select Analysis.

[JianLiu]

Joshua,

Thank you very much for the reply!

But I don't see how Select Analysis will help me to do the export faster? I want to export all the features....

Jian

[JoshuaChisholm · Accepted solution]

Hello Jian,

I think you can use arcpy.Select_analysis the same as arcpy.FeatureClassToFeatureClass_conversion and arcpy.CopyFeatures_management. Just don't specify a where statement and it will export all records in the input feature layer.

I don't think it would be any faster than arcpy.FeatureClassToFeatureClass_conversion or arcpy.CopyFeatures_management, but it might be worth a try.

[JianLiu]

Joshua,

It is MUCH FASTER! It just took seconds to export the file, about the same as using Export Data.

Just curious why CopyFeatures and featureClassToFeatureClass would be that slow... But thanks a lot and appreciate it!

Jian

Hello Jian,

I think you can use arcpy.Select_analysis the same as arcpy.FeatureClassToFeatureClass_conversion and arcpy.CopyFeatures_management. Just don't specify a where statement and it will export all records in the input feature layer.

I don't think it would be any faster than arcpy.FeatureClassToFeatureClass_conversion or arcpy.CopyFeatures_management, but it might be worth a try.

[JoshuaChisholm]

Awesome! I'm happy it worked out! Just make sure all your records are coming through.

I'm not exactly sure why it would be that much faster. I know SQL can be very fast, maybe it doesn't have to go through ArcObjects or something...