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Delete Features

Summary

Deletes all or the selected subset of features from the input.

If the input features are from a feature class or table, all rows will be deleted. If the input features are from a layer with no selection, all features will be deleted.

Usage

  • This tool accepts layers with selections as input and will delete only those features that are selected. To delete specific features from a feature class, convert the feature class into a layer using Make Feature Layer or by adding it to the ArcMap display. A selection can then be applied using the Select Layer By Attribute or Select Layer By Location tools or by querying a map layer or selecting features with the selection arrow in ArcMap.

  • If a layer is input, and that layer does not have a selection, all features will be deleted. If a feature class is input, all features will be deleted.

  • This tool deletes both the geometry and attributes of the Input Features.

  • The Output Extent environment is honored by this tool. Only the features that are within or intersect the output extent environment will be deleted. If the input layer has a selection, only the selected features that are within or intersect the output extent will be deleted.

  • When using a layer with selections as input, using this tool in an edit session will allow for the Delete Features operation to be undone using undo/redo.

Syntax

DeleteFeatures_management (in_features)
ParameterExplanationData Type
in_features

The feature class, shapefile, or layer containing features to be deleted.

Feature Layer

Code sample

DeleteFeatures example 1 (Python window)

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

import arcpy
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/data"
arcpy.CopyFeatures_management("majorrds.shp", "C:/output/output.gdb/majorrds2")
arcpy.DeleteFeatures_management("C:/output/output.gdb/majorrds2")
DeleteFeatures example 2 (stand-alone script)

The following stand-alone script demonstrates how to use the DeleteFeatures tool to delete features based on an expression.

# Name: DeleteFeatures_Example2.py
# Description: Delete features from a feature class based on an expression
 
# Import system modules
import arcpy
 
# Set environment settings
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/data/airport.gdb"
 
# Set local variables
inFeatures = "parcels"
outFeatures = "C:/output/output.gdb/new_parcels"
tempLayer = "parcelsLayer"
expression = arcpy.AddFieldDelimiters(tempLayer, "PARCEL_ID") + " = 'Cemetery'"
 
try:
    # Execute CopyFeatures to make a new copy of the feature class
    arcpy.CopyFeatures_management(inFeatures, outFeatures)
 
    # Execute MakeFeatureLayer
    arcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management(outFeatures, tempLayer)
 
    # Execute SelectLayerByAttribute to determine which features to delete
    arcpy.SelectLayerByAttribute_management(tempLayer, "NEW_SELECTION", 
                                            expression)
 
    # Execute GetCount and if some features have been selected, then 
    #  execute DeleteFeatures to remove the selected features.
    if int(arcpy.GetCount_management(tempLayer).getOutput(0)) > 0:
        arcpy.DeleteFeatures_management(tempLayer)
         
except Exception:
    e = sys.exc_info()[1]
    arcpy.AddError(e.args[0])

Environments

Licensing information

  • ArcGIS for Desktop Basic: Yes
  • ArcGIS for Desktop Standard: Yes
  • ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced: Yes

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