[GIS] Avoiding General function failure and deleting table field in ArcGIS Desktop

arcgis-10.1arcgis-desktopfields-attributesgeneral-function-failuretable

I am trying to delete a table field: From ArcMap table view, I right click on the field heading and select Delete field. Unfortunately, I obtain the following message:

Failed to delete the selected fields.
General function failure [TABLE_NAME]

and the field remains.

How should I proceed to delete this field?

Best Answer

Try the delete field tool and make sure that table is not in use elsewhere.

For example, if the table is in use by an ArcGIS for Server service, stopping the service, it may became possible to delete the field.

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[GIS] Troubleshooting Packaging Error of General function failure

I used the Check Geometry function to see if there was any geometry problems in my feature classes. Then, I used the Repair Geometry tool to fix the problems. When I tried to share my map as a map package after completing this steps I was able to upload it to ArcGIS online.

Running ArcMap 10.3

[GIS] Getting all (or selected) values from single field in table using ArcPy

So, while not as interactive as what I was originally going for, I re-thought my options and realized I could just create a Python GP tool that allows the user to choose the tablename and fieldname from a standard GP dialog box. I also added a boolean checkbox that would allow the user to either list out each item on a new line, or as a string converted Python list. You will need to set the fieldname parameter to be "Obtained from" the table parameter in the GP tool parameters setup dialog.

Just like any GP tool, it will only display values for the currently selected set of features, if a selection set exists.

import arcpy

tablename = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(0)
fieldname = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(1)
asCSV = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(2)

#Create a search cursor of selected records
cur = arcpy.SearchCursor(tablename)

#loop over selected elements and print the values
if asCSV == "true":
    csv = []
    for row in cur:
        csv.append(row.getValue(fieldname))
    #Print to dialog as a CSV-style Python list (string)
    arcpy.AddMessage("  {0} from {1}: \n  {2}".format(fieldname,tablename, [item.encode('ascii') for item in csv] ))

else:
    arcpy.AddMessage("  {0} from {1}:".format(fieldname,tablename))
    #Print each item on a new line
    for row in cur:
        print row.getValue(fieldname)
        arcpy.AddMessage("  {0}".format(row.getValue(fieldname)))

del row, cur

Best Answer

Related Solutions

[GIS] Troubleshooting Packaging Error of General function failure

[GIS] Getting all (or selected) values from single field in table using ArcPy

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