HOW TO

Automate deleting fields from a feature class

Last Published: April 25, 2020

Summary

GIS users sometimes need an automated method to delete a specified number of columns or fields on feature classes when simplifying data. Instructions provided describe how to do this using a Python script.

Procedure

The below Python script demonstrates how to automate deleting fields on a feature class based on a specified number, however avoiding the required fields such as the 'SHAPE' column.

  1. Modify the below parameters accordingly:

    workspace ="C:/Delete/fgdb/WGS84.gdb"   
    table = "test"
    max_val = 3


  2. Code:
    import arcpy, os, string

    def DeleteFields(workspace,table,max_val):
    arcpy.env.workspace = workspace
    field_list = arcpy.ListFields(table)
    listx = []
    #Populate list
    for field in field_list:
    listx.append(field.name)

    #Remove required fields
    if 'Shape.STLength()' in listx:
    listx.remove('Shape.STLength()')
    if 'Shape' in listx:
    listx.remove('Shape')
    if 'SHAPE.STLength()' in listx:
    listx.remove('SHAPE.STLength()')
    if 'Shape.STArea()' in listx:
    listx.remove('Shape.STArea()')
    if 'SHAPE.STArea()' in listx:
    listx.remove('SHAPE.STArea()')
    if 'SHAPE.AREA' in listx:
    listx.remove('SHAPE.AREA')
    if 'SHAPE.LEN' in listx:
    listx.remove('SHAPE.LEN')
    if 'SHAPE.LEN' in listx:
    listx.remove('SHAPE.LEN')
    if 'SHAPE' in listx:
    listx.remove('SHAPE')
    if 'Shape' in listx:
    listx.remove('Shape')
    if 'OBJECTID' in listx:
    listx.remove('OBJECTID')
    if 'FID' in listx:
    listx.remove('FID')

    try:
    cnt = 0
    while cnt <= max_val -1 :
    arcpy.DeleteField_management(table, str(listx[cnt]) )
    print "Deleted field {0}".format(listx[cnt])
    cnt +=1
    except:
    print "Warning: Max value may be higher than available fields to delete"

    #clear memory
    del cnt, field, listx, field_list

    if __name__== "__main__":

    workspace ="Database Connections\Connection to test.sde" #workspace
    table = "test2" #name of table
    max_val = 3 #Limiting value. E.g. 3
    DeleteFields(workspace,table,max_val)



Article ID:000011782

Software:
  • Legacy Products
  • ArcMap

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