Truncate Table (Data Management)

Summary

Removes all rows from a database table or feature class using truncate procedures in the database.

Usage

Caution:

If a selection is applied to a layer or table view, the selection will be ignored and all records will be truncated.

• Supported data types are simple points, lines, or polygons stored in a database. Complex data types such as terrains, topologies, and network datasets are not supported as input.

• Versioned data is not supported as input. Data must be unregistered as versioned before the tool will execute successfully.

• Truncate commands do not use database transactions and are unrecoverable. This improves performance over row-by-row deletion.

• It is recommended that this tool be use for workflows in which all rows are removed from a table or feature class and there is no need to back up the transactions, such as nightly reloading of data.

• This tool does not support a feature service layer as input.

Parameters

Dialog

Label	Explanation	Data Type
Input Table	The input database table or feature class that will be truncated.	Table View

Derived Output

Label	Explanation	Data Type
Truncated Table	The truncated table.	Table View

Python

arcpy.management.TruncateTable(in_table)

Name	Explanation	Data Type
in_table	The input database table or feature class that will be truncated.	Table View

Derived Output

Name	Explanation	Data Type
out_table	The truncated table.	Table View

Code sample

TruncateTable example 1 (Python window)

The following Python window script demonstrates how to use the TruncateTable tool in immediate mode.

import arcpy
arcpy.TruncateTable_management("neil/whistler.sde/function.junction.table")

TruncateTable example 2 (stand-alone script)

The following Python window script demonstrates how to use the TruncateTable tool.

# Name: TruncateTable_Example2.py
# Description: Truncates all tables in a file geodatabase.

# Import system modules
import arcpy

# Set the workspace.
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/work/vancouver.gdb"

# Get a list of all the tables.
tableList = arcpy.ListTables()

# Loop through the list and run truncate
for table in tableList:
    arcpy.TruncateTable_management(table)

Environments

Current Workspace

Licensing information

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