{"id":181701,"date":"2012-08-30T23:14:38","date_gmt":"2012-08-31T06:14:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/?post_type=blog&p=181701"},"modified":"2018-12-18T11:21:39","modified_gmt":"2018-12-18T19:21:39","slug":"field-mapping-and-python-scripting","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-desktop\/analytics\/field-mapping-and-python-scripting","title":{"rendered":"Field mapping and Python scripting"},"author":5181,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":""},"categories":[23341],"tags":[24321,24341,24351],"industry":[],"product":[36991],"class_list":["post-181701","blog","type-blog","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-analytics","tag-geoprocessing","tag-python","tag-scripting","product-arcgis-desktop"],"acf":{"short_description":"A number of geoprocessing tools including Spatial Join (Analysis), Append (Management), Merge (Management), Feature Class To Feature Class","flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

A number of geoprocessing tools including\u00a0Spatial Join (Analysis)<\/a>,\u00a0Append (Management)<\/a>,\u00a0Merge (Management)<\/a>,\u00a0Feature Class To Feature Class (Conversion)<\/a>, and\u00a0Table To Table (Conversion)<\/a>, have a parameter for controlling how fields from the input dataset(s) are processed and written, or mapped, to the output dataset \u2013 the\u00a0Field Map<\/a>\u00a0parameter. In addition to the simple moving of attributes from input to output, field mapping can also be useful for some common tasks such as field concatenation and calculating statistics like mean, sum, and standard deviation.<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Field Map in the Append (Managemnet) tool dialog<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

If you haven\u2019t used the Field Map before, you should! Understanding and using field mapping will often reduce the number of processing steps in a workflow, and ensure that, in any scenario, attributes are handled in an appropriate way. Yes, the Field Map parameter is a complicated one, but it is well worth the time it takes to figure it out.<\/p>\n

Because the Field Map is a complicated parameter, working with it in Python can also be complicated. The best way to interact with field mapping in Python scripting is with the\u00a0FieldMappings<\/a>\u00a0object. In Python, most geoprocessing tool parameter types are seen as simple numbers or strings (specifying a feature class input is as easy as providing the feature class\u2019 path). But several of the more complex parameters have objects that exist to help you effectively work with the parameter. The Field Map parameter\u00a0can<\/em>\u00a0accept a long structured string indicating the field map settings (you may have seen this long string equivalent in geoprocessing messages), however, working with the field mapping string is inefficient and error-prone, so use the FieldMappings object for the best experience.<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

String equivalent of Field Map parameter<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

FieldMappings object has many properties and methods to efficiently work with field mapping<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Problem<\/strong><\/h1>\n

I was recently presented with a data migration problem where field mappings and Python scripting literally saved me weeks of work. The goal was to convert a collection of hundreds of VPF (Vector Product Format) databases containing many feature classes to a handful of geodatabases, and because of the large scale of the migration it had to be accomplished in an automated fashion (this is where the many weeks of work would be saved). The schema of the geodatabases was already set up with a number of feature datasets and empty feature classes into which the VPF feature class data would be imported using the Append (management) tool.<\/p>\n

The iteration through the collection of VPF databases was solved with some simple looping techniques involving the\u00a0arcpy.ListDatasets()<\/a><\/code>and\u00a0arcpy.ListFeatureClasses()<\/a><\/code>\u00a0functions. \u00a0However, there was a fundamental problem that nearly derailed the automation of this process: VPF feature classes can have spaces in their field names, while geodatabase datasets cannot. When the empty geodatabase feature classes were created from the schema of the VPF feature classes, the spaces in the field names were automatically changed to underscores ( _ ) in the geodatabase feature classes. This very subtle difference caused huge ripples in the automated process, since the Append (Management) tool can not automatically match fields like \u2018mcc description\u2019 to \u2018mcc_description\u2019; in the output geodatabase feature class, all the values in the \u2018mcc_description\u2019 field are NULL because the fields were not matched.<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

VPF and geodatabase feature class fields<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Viewing the Field Map parameter on the Append (Management) tool helps illustrate the issue. The fields \u2018f_code description\u2019, \u2018mcc description\u2019, and \u2018mcs description\u2019 are not automatically matched to the geodatabase target schema because of the difference of the space and underscore characters.<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Append tool default Field Map, showing the target geodatabase feature class schema<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Solution<\/strong><\/h1>\n

This situation can be rectified by manually adding the matching input fields using the Field Map controls on the Append tool. For each field that does not have a match, right-click and add the appropriate input field from the VPF feature class.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Use the Field Map controls to do manual field mapping<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

These manual steps resulted in a correct field mapping and import of the VPF feature class data to geodatabase\u00a0for a single VPF feature class<\/em>. To successfully perform the automated migration, I incorporated this additional field mapping work into the migration script using the FieldMappings object. For each iteration before a VPF feature class is appended into a geodatabase feature class, the script iterates through each VPF feature class field, does a find and replace for those fields with a space and the corresponding field with an underscore, and matches the two fields in the FieldMappings object. A good way to understand the usage of the FieldMappings object is to think about these steps in the same context as when the field mapping was done in the tool dialog: the script goes through each output field in the Field Map (these are the fields from the Target Dataset), and adds an input field from the VPF feature class that matches, regardless of the difference with space and underscore characters, before finally executing the Append process with the customized field mapping.<\/p>\n

\n
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\n
import<\/code> arcpy<\/code><\/div>\n
import<\/code> os<\/code><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
folder <\/code>=<\/code> r<\/code>\"C:testingfieldmapautodnc13\"<\/code><\/div>\n
gdbfolder <\/code>=<\/code> r<\/code>\"C:testingfieldmapautogdbs\"<\/code><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
arcpy.env.workspace <\/code>=<\/code> folder<\/code><\/div>\n
listvpf <\/code>=<\/code> arcpy.ListDatasets()<\/code><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
for<\/code> vpf <\/code>in<\/code> listvpf:<\/code><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code># First character of the VPF determines the geodatabase to append to<\/code><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code>#<\/code><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code>if<\/code> vpf[<\/code>0<\/code>] <\/code>=<\/code>=<\/code> \"h\"<\/code>:<\/code><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code>gdb <\/code>=<\/code> os.path.join(gdbfolder, <\/code>\"DNCHarbor.gdb\"<\/code>)<\/code><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code>elif<\/code> vpf[<\/code>0<\/code>] <\/code>=<\/code>=<\/code> \"a\"<\/code>:<\/code><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code>gdb <\/code>=<\/code> os.path.join(gdbfolder, <\/code>\"DNCApproach.gdb\"<\/code>)<\/code><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code>elif<\/code> vpf[<\/code>0<\/code>] <\/code>=<\/code>=<\/code> \"c\"<\/code>:<\/code><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code>gdb <\/code>=<\/code> os.path.join(gdbfolder, <\/code>\"DNCCoastal.gdb\"<\/code>)<\/code><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code>elif<\/code> vpf[<\/code>0<\/code>] <\/code>=<\/code>=<\/code> \"g\"<\/code>:<\/code><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code>gdb <\/code>=<\/code> os.path.join(gdbfolder, <\/code>\"DNCGeneral.gdb\"<\/code>)<\/code><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code># The characters after the : in the VPF name determine the feature dataset to append to<\/code><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code>#<\/code><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code>fd <\/code>=<\/code> vpf.split(<\/code>\":\"<\/code>)[<\/code>1<\/code>]<\/code><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code>arcpy.env.workspace <\/code>=<\/code> os.path.join(folder,vpf)<\/code><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code>listvpffc <\/code>=<\/code> arcpy.ListFeatureClasses()<\/code><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code>for<\/code> fc <\/code>in<\/code> listvpffc:<\/code><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code>targetd <\/code>=<\/code> os.path.join(gdbfolder,gdb,fd,fc)<\/code><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code># Create FieldMappings object and load the target dataset<\/code><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code>#<\/code><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code>fieldmappings <\/code>=<\/code> arcpy.FieldMappings()<\/code><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code>fieldmappings.addTable(targetd)<\/code><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code># Loop through each field in the input dataset<\/code><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code>#<\/code><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code>inputfields <\/code>=<\/code> [field.name <\/code>for<\/code> field <\/code>in<\/code> arcpy.ListFields(fc) <\/code>if<\/code> not<\/code> field.required]<\/code><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code>for<\/code> inputfield <\/code>in<\/code> inputfields:<\/code><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code># Iterate through each FieldMap in the FieldMappings<\/code><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code>#<\/code><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code>for<\/code> i <\/code>in<\/code> range<\/code>(fieldmappings.fieldCount):<\/code><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code>fieldmap <\/code>=<\/code> fieldmappings.getFieldMap(i)<\/code><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code># If the field name from the target dataset matches to a validated input field name<\/code><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code># <\/code><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code>if<\/code> fieldmap.getInputFieldName(<\/code>0<\/code>) <\/code>=<\/code>=<\/code> inputfield.replace(<\/code>\" \"<\/code>, <\/code>\"_\"<\/code>):<\/code><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code># Add the input field to the FieldMap and replace the old FieldMap with the new<\/code><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code># <\/code><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code>fieldmap.addInputField(fc, inputfield)<\/code><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code>fieldmappings.replaceFieldMap(i, fieldmap)<\/code><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code>break<\/code><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code># Perform the Append<\/code><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code># <\/code><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/code>arcpy.management.Append(fc, targetd, <\/code>\"NO_TEST\"<\/code>, fieldmappings)<\/code><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Summary<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Several geoprocessing tools use the complex but powerful Field Map parameter to control how attributes from the input dataset(s) are mapped to the output dataset. Understanding and using the field mapping parameter on geoprocessing tools can enable time-saving workflows, will often reduce the number of required processing steps, and ensures that in any scenario attributes are never lost and always handled in an appropriate way. In Python scripting, the FieldMappings object provides efficient,\u00a0automatable<\/em>\u00a0access to all the same functionality as the Field Map control on the tool dialog, and can be used in many scenarios including programmatically matching fields with different names.<\/p>\n

Use field mapping, it will make your job easier!<\/p>\n"}],"authors":[{"ID":5181,"user_firstname":"Drew","user_lastname":"Flater","nickname":"Drew Flater","user_nicename":"drewf","display_name":"Drew Flater","user_email":"dflater@esri.com","user_url":"","user_registered":"2018-03-02 00:16:51","user_description":"Group Lead Product Engineer for the Geoprocessing development team at Esri, leading and contributing to projects across ArcGIS products with focus on ArcGIS Pro.\r\nDrew joined Esri in 2008, after completing his Masters in GIS at the University of Akron. Now he designs, codes, tests, and documents tools that can be used to understand and find meaning in raw geospatial data. He works to make Esri's geoprocessing and analytical capabilities easy to use and automate.","user_avatar":""}],"related_articles":"","card_image":false,"wide_image":false},"yoast_head":"\nField mapping and Python scripting<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-desktop\/analytics\/field-mapping-and-python-scripting\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Field mapping and Python scripting\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-desktop\/analytics\/field-mapping-and-python-scripting\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"ArcGIS Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/esrigis\/\" \/>\n<meta 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