Export Features (Conversion)

Summary

Exports the rows of a feature class or feature layer to a feature class.

Usage

  • To manage the fields in the output dataset and the contents of those fields, use the Field Map parameter.

    • To change the field order, select a field name and drag it to the new position.
    • The default data type of an output field is the same as the data type of the first input field (of that name) it encounters. You can manually change the data type at any time to any other valid data type.
    • The available merge rules are first, last, join, sum, mean, median, mode, minimum, maximum, standard deviation, and count.
    • When using the Join merge rule, you can specify a delimiter such as a space, comma, period, dash, and so on. To use a space, ensure that the pointer is at the start of the input box and press the Spacebar once.
    • You can specify the start and end positions of text fields using the format option.
    • Do not perform standard deviation on a single input because values cannot be divided by zero, so standard deviation is not a valid option for single inputs.

    Learn more about mapping fields in scripts

  • An SQL expression can be used to select a subset of features. For more information about the syntax for the Expression parameter, see SQL reference for query expressions used in ArcGIS.

  • Rows can be reordered in ascending or descending order by specifying the Sort Field parameter value. If more than one field is specified, rows will be sorted by the first field, and within that order, by the second field, and so on.

  • When converting geodatabase data that has subtypes or domains, both the subtype and domain codes and descriptions can be included in the output. Use the Transfer field domain descriptions environment to control this behavior. By default, only domain and subtype codes will be included in the output, not descriptions.

    Note:

    Conversion to shapefiles with subtype and domain descriptions may take more time (slower performance) than without descriptions. If subtype and domain descriptions are not required in the output, it is recommended that you use the default setting (unchecked) for the Transfer field domain descriptions environment for best performance.

Parameters

LabelExplanationData Type
Input Features

The input features to be exported to a new feature class.

Feature Layer
Output Feature Class

The output feature class containing the exported features.

Feature Class
Expression
(Optional)

An SQL expression used to select a subset of features.

SQL Expression
Use Field Alias as Name
(Optional)

Specifies whether the input's field names or field aliases will be used as the output field name.

  • Unchecked—The input's field names will be used as the output field names. This is the default.
  • Checked—The input's field aliases will be used as the output field names.
Boolean
Field Map
(Optional)

The attribute fields that will be in the output with the corresponding field properties and source fields. By default, all fields from the inputs will be included.

Fields can be added, deleted, renamed, and reordered, and you can change their properties.

Merge rules allow you to specify how values from two or more input fields are merged or combined into a single output value. There are several merge rules you can use to determine how the output field will be populated with values.

  • First—Use the input fields' first value.
  • Last—Use the input fields' last value.
  • Join—Concatenate (join) the input field values.
  • Sum—Calculate the total of the input field values.
  • Mean—Calculate the mean (average) of the input field values.
  • Median—Calculate the median (middle) of the input field values.
  • Mode—Use the value with the highest frequency.
  • Min—Use the minimum value of all the input field values.
  • Max—Use the maximum value of all the input field values.
  • Standard deviation—Use the standard deviation classification method on all the input field values.
  • Count—Find the number of records included in the calculation.

Field Mappings
Sort Field
(Optional)

The field or fields whose values will be used to reorder the input records and the direction the records will be sorted.

  • Ascending—Records will be sorted from low value to high value.
  • Descending—Records will be sorted from high value to low value.

Value Table

arcpy.conversion.ExportFeatures(in_features, out_features, {where_clause}, {use_field_alias_as_name}, {field_mapping}, {sort_field})
NameExplanationData Type
in_features

The input features to be exported to a new feature class.

Feature Layer
out_features

The output feature class containing the exported features.

Feature Class
where_clause
(Optional)

An SQL expression used to select a subset of features. For more information on SQL syntax see the help topic SQL reference for query expressions used in ArcGIS.

SQL Expression
use_field_alias_as_name
(Optional)

Specifies whether the input's field names or field aliases will be used as the output field name.

  • NOT_USE_ALIASThe input's field names will be used as the output field names. This is the default.
  • USE_ALIASThe input's field aliases will be used as the output field names.
Boolean
field_mapping
(Optional)

The attribute fields that will be in the output with the corresponding field properties and source fields. By default, all fields from the inputs will be included.

Fields can be added, deleted, renamed, and reordered, and you can change their properties.

Merge rules allow you to specify how values from two or more input fields are merged or combined into a single output value. There are several merge rules you can use to determine how the output field will be populated with values.

  • First—Use the input fields' first value.
  • Last—Use the input fields' last value.
  • Join—Concatenate (join) the input field values.
  • Sum—Calculate the total of the input field values.
  • Mean—Calculate the mean (average) of the input field values.
  • Median—Calculate the median (middle) of the input field values.
  • Mode—Use the value with the highest frequency.
  • Min—Use the minimum value of all the input field values.
  • Max—Use the maximum value of all the input field values.
  • Standard deviation—Use the standard deviation classification method on all the input field values.
  • Count—Find the number of records included in the calculation.

Field Mappings
sort_field
[sort_field,...]
(Optional)

The field or fields whose values will be used to reorder the input records and the direction the records will be sorted.

  • ASCENDING—Records will be sorted from low value to high value.
  • DESCENDING—Records will be sorted from high value to low value.

Value Table

Code sample

ExportFeatures example 1 (Python window)

The following Python window script demonstrates how to use the ExportFeatures function in immediate mode.

import arcpy
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/data/SFValley.gdb"
arcpy.conversion.ExportTable("streets", "C:/output/output.gdb/streets")
ExportFeatures example 2 (stand-alone script)

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

# Name: ExportFeatures_Example2.py
# Description: Use Export Features with an expression to create a subset of the
# original feature class.

# Import system modules

import arcpy

# Set environment settings
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/data/SFValley.gdb"

# Set local variables
inFeatures = "streets"
outFeatureClass =  "C:/output/output.gdb/arterials"
expression = arcpy.AddFieldDelimiters(arcpy.env.workspace, "Category") + " = 'Arterials'"

# Execute ExportFeatures
arcpy.ExportTable_conversion(inFeatures, outFeatureClass, expression,
                             "NOT_USE_ALIAS", None, None)

Licensing information

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

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