Delete Field (Data Management)

Summary

Deletes one or more fields from a table, feature class, feature layer, or raster dataset.

Usage

• Fields cannot be deleted from nonnative, read-only data formats in ArcGIS, such as VPF and CAD datasets.

Parameters

Dialog

Label	Explanation	Data Type
Input Table	The table containing the fields to be deleted. The existing input table will be modified.	Mosaic Layer; Raster Layer; Table View
Drop Field	The fields to be dropped from the input table. Only nonrequired fields may be deleted.	Field

Derived Output

Label	Explanation	Data Type
Update Input Table	The updated dataset.	Table View; Raster Layer; Mosaic Layer

Python

arcpy.management.DeleteField(in_table, drop_field)

Name	Explanation	Data Type
in_table	The table containing the fields to be deleted. The existing input table will be modified.	Mosaic Layer; Raster Layer; Table View
drop_field [drop_field,...]	The fields to be dropped from the input table. Only nonrequired fields may be deleted.	Field

Derived Output

Name	Explanation	Data Type
out_table	The updated dataset.	Table View; Raster Layer; Mosaic Layer

Code sample

DeleteField example (Python window)

The following Python window script demonstrates how to use the DeleteField function in immediate mode:

import arcpy
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/data"
arcpy.CopyFeatures_management("majorrds.shp", "C:/output/majorrds_copy.shp")
arcpy.DeleteField_management("C:/output/majorrds_copy.shp", 
                             ["STREET_NAM", "LABEL", "CLASS"])

DeleteField example 2 (stand-alone script)

The following stand-alone script demonstrates how to use the DeleteField function.

# Name: DeleteField_Example2.py
# Description: Delete several fields from a feature class
  
# Import system modules
import arcpy
 
# Set environment settings
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/data"
 
# Set local variables
inFeatures = "accident.dbf"
outFeatureClass = "C:/output/new_accident.dbf"
dropFields = ["STREET_NAM", "LABEL", "CLASS"]
 
# Execute CopyFeatures to make a new copy of the feature class
#  Use CopyRows if you have a table
arcpy.CopyFeatures_management(inFeatures, outFeatureClass)
 
# Execute DeleteField
arcpy.DeleteField_management(outFeatureClass, dropFields)

DeleteField example 3 (stand-alone script)

Use the DeleteField function to delete all unnecessary fields from a feature class or table.

# Description: Delete unnecessary fields from a feature class or table.
 
# Import system modules
import arcpy
 
# Get user-supplied input and output arguments
inTable = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(0)
updatedTable = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(1)

# Describe the input (need to test the dataset and data types)
desc = arcpy.Describe(inTable)

# Make a copy of the input (so we can mantain the original as is)
if desc.datasetType == "FeatureClass":
    arcpy.CopyFeatures_management(inTable, updatedTable)
else:
    arcpy.CopyRows_management(inTable, updatedTable)

# Use ListFields to get a list of field objects
fieldObjList = arcpy.ListFields(updatedTable)

# Create an empty list that will be populated with field names        
fieldNameList = []

# For each field in the object list, add the field name to the
#  name list.  If the field is required, exclude it, to prevent errors
for field in fieldObjList:
    if not field.required:
        fieldNameList.append(field.name)

# dBASE tables require a field other than an OID and Shape.  If this is
#  the case, retain an extra field (the first one in the original list)
if desc.dataType in ["ShapeFile", "DbaseTable"]:
    fieldNameList = fieldNameList[1:]

# Execute DeleteField to delete all fields in the field list. 
arcpy.DeleteField_management(updatedTable, fieldNameList)

Environments

Current Workspace

Licensing information

• Basic: Yes
• Standard: Yes
• Advanced: Yes