ListDatasets

Summary

Returns a list of datasets in the current workspace. Search conditions can be specified for the dataset name and dataset type to limit the list that is returned.

Discussion

The workspace environment must be set before using several of the list functions, including ListDatasets, ListFeatureClasses, ListFiles, ListRasters, ListTables, and ListWorkspaces.

Syntax

ListDatasets ({wild_card}, {feature_type})
ParameterExplanationData Type
wild_card

Limits the results returned. If a value is not specified, all values are returned. The wildcard is not case sensitive.

SymbolDescriptionExample

*

Represents zero or more characters.

Te* finds Tennessee and Texas.

String
feature_type

The type of dataset that will be returned.

  • CoverageCoverages will be returned.
  • FeatureCoverages or geodatabase datasets will be returned, depending on the workspace.
  • GeometricNetworkGeometric network datasets will be returned.
  • LasDatasetLAS datasets will be returned.
  • MosaicMosaic datasets will be returned.
  • NetworkNetwork datasets will be returned.
  • ParcelFabricParcel fabric datasets will be returned.
  • ParcelFabricForArcmapArcMap parcel fabric datasets will be returned.
  • RasterRaster datasets will be returned.
  • RasterCatalogRaster catalog datasets will be returned.
  • TerrainTerrain datasets will be returned.
  • TinTIN datasets will be returned.
  • TopologyTopology datasets will be returned.
  • TraceNetworkTrace network datasets will be returned.
  • UtilityNetworkUtility network datasets will be returned.
  • AllAll datasets in the workspace will be returned.

(The default value is All)

String
Return Value
Data TypeExplanation
String

A list containing dataset names returned from the function, limited by the wildcard and feature type arguments.

Code sample

ListDatasets example

List feature dataset names that start with C.

import arcpy

arcpy.env.workspace = "c:/data"

# Print all the feature datasets in the workspace that start with the letter C.
datasets = arcpy.ListDatasets("C*", "Feature")

for dataset in datasets:
    print(dataset)
ListDatasets example 2

List feature dataset names that start with c or f, start with letters except c, or contain both c and f.

import arcpy
arcpy.env.workspace = 'c:/data'

# Print all the feature datasets in the workspace that start with the letter c
# or f.
datasets1 = list(set(arcpy.ListDatasets("c*", "Feature")) |
                 set(arcpy.ListDatasets("f*", "Feature")))
print(datasets1)

# Print all the feature datasets in the workspace that start with the letters
# except c.
datasets2 = list(set(arcpy.ListDatasets("*", "Feature")) -
                 set(arcpy.ListDatasets("c*", "Feature")))
print(datasets2)

# Print all the feature datasets in the workspace that contain both the letter c
# and f.
datasets3 = list(set(arcpy.ListDatasets("*c*", "Feature")) &
                 set(arcpy.ListDatasets("*f*", "Feature")))
print(datasets3)
ListDatasets example 3

List trace network datasets using the feature_type keyword argument.

import arcpy

arcpy.env.workspace = 'c:/data/myGDB.gdb/TN_dataset'

# Print all the trace networks in the workspace.
datasets = arcpy.ListDatasets(feature_type="tracenetwork")
for dataset in datasets:
    print(dataset)
ListDatasets example 4

List raster datasets within a geodatabase using positional arguments.

import arcpy

arcpy.env.workspace = 'c:/data/mySQLserver.sde'

# Print all the raster datasets in the workspace.
datasets = arcpy.ListDatasets("", "Raster")
for dataset in datasets:
    print(dataset)

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