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Add Attribute Index

Summary

Adds an attribute index to an existing table, feature class, shapefile, coverage, or attributed relationship class.

Attribute indexes are used by ArcGIS to quickly locate records that match an attribute query. For information on attribute indexes in geodatabases, see Creating attribute indexes.

Usage

  • Shapefiles don't support multiple indexes, so additional fields will become part of a composite index (that is, an index created on multiple fields in a table).

  • ArcSDE and file or personal geodatabases have a new index added for each unique index name. If an index name already exists, it must be dropped before it can be updated.

  • The Fields To Index parameter's Add Field button is used only in ModelBuilder. In ModelBuilder, where the preceding tool has not been run, or its derived data does not exist, the Fields To Index parameter may not be populated with field names. The Add Field button allows you to add expected fields so you can complete the Add Attribute Index dialog box and continue to build your model.

Syntax

AddIndex_management (in_table, fields, {index_name}, {unique}, {ascending})
ParameterExplanationData Type
in_table

The table containing the fields to be indexed.

Mosaic Layer; Raster Catalog Layer; Raster Layer; Table View
fields

The list of fields that will participate in the index. Any number of fields can be specified.

Field
index_name
(Optional)

The name of the new index. An index name is necessary when adding an index to geodatabase feature classes and tables. For other types of input, the Index Name is ignored

String
unique
(Optional)

Specifies whether the values in the index are unique.

  • NON_UNIQUE —All values in the index are not unique. This is the default.
  • UNIQUE —All values in the index are unique.
Boolean
ascending
(Optional)

Specifies whether values are indexed in ascending order.

  • NON_ASCENDING —Values are not indexed in ascending order. This is the default.
  • ASCENDING —Values are indexed in ascending order.
Boolean

Code sample

AddIndex example 1 (stand-alone script)

The following stand-alone script demonstrates how to create an attribute index for specified fields.

# Name: AddAttIndex.py
# Description: Create an attribute Index for specified fields


# Import system modules
import arcpy
 
# Set a default workspace
arcpy.env.workspace = "c:/data"
  
try:
    # Create an attribute index for the few fields listed in command.
    arcpy.AddIndex_management ("counties.shp", "NAME;STATE_FIPS;CNTY_FIPS", "#", "NON_UNIQUE", "NON_ASCENDING")
    arcpy.AddIndex_management ("mexico.mdb/land/lakes", "NAME;geocompID", "NGIndex", "UNIQUE", "ASCENDING")
 
except Exception as err:
    print(err.args[0])
AddIndex example 2 (Python window)

The following code demonstrates how to use the AddIndex function in a Python interactive window.

import arcpy
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/data/input/indices.gdb"
arcpy.AddIndex_management("lakes", "NAME;geocompID", "NGIndex", "UNIQUE", "ASCENDING")

Environments

Licensing information

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

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