rename feature layer fields

Question

Guys and gals could you please provide me with a sample code as to how to rename a field name in a Feature Layer or Table. I've been trying to use the FieldInfo object to do so over the last couple of days but it's not happening for me.

Answer 1

What this example code does is to add two NEW fields ("NAME_CITY"; "NAME_REGION") into your fieldinfo with desired new field names instead of just renaming the ORIGINAL field ("NAME_1"; "RegionNames").

After you renamed your fields you need to copy your table view/feature layer into a new table/feature class and that will be your output with renamed fields in it.

import arcpy
import os
from arcpy import env
env.overwriteOutput = True

inputFeatureClass=r"C:/Desktop/Cities/Cities.gdb/USA_Cities"

#get fields from your input feature class
fields= arcpy.ListFields(inputFeatureClass)

# Create a fieldinfo objects
fieldinfo = arcpy.FieldInfo()

# Iterate through the fields and set them to fieldinfo
for field in fields:
    if field.name == "NAME_1":
        fieldinfo.addField(field.name, "NAME_CITY", "VISIBLE", "")
    elif field.name == "RegionNames": 
        fieldinfo.addField(field.name, "NAME_REGION", "VISIBLE", "")

# The created table view will have fields as set in fieldinfo objects
arcpy.MakeTableView_management(inputFeatureClass, "temp_Table_View", "", "", fieldinfo)

# Write the table view to a new table
arcpy.CopyRows_management("temp_Table_View", "C:/Desktop/Cities/Cities.gdb/City_Table")

Hope this is helpful for you.

Thanks,

Jinnan

Answer 2

Sorry for the delay. I just modified the python script and it is now using the "setNewName" method to rename a existing field instead of adding a new field.

# Import system modules
import arcpy
import os
from arcpy import env
env.overwriteOutput = True

inputFeatureClass=r"C:/Desktop/Cities/Cities.gdb/USA_Cities"
layer = "temp_layer"

arcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management(inputFeatureClass, layer)
desc = arcpy.Describe(layer)

# If a feature layer, continue
if desc.dataType == "FeatureLayer":
    fieldInfo = desc.fieldInfo
    index = 0
    # Use the count property to iterate through all the fields    
    while index < fieldInfo.count:
        if fieldInfo.getFieldName(index)=="NAME_1":
            fieldInfo.setNewName(index, "NAME_CITY")

        elif fieldInfo.getFieldName(index)=="RegionNames":
            fieldInfo.setNewName(index, "NAME_REGION")
        index += 1

arcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management("temp_layer","cities_lyr", "", "", fieldInfo)
arcpy.CopyFeatures_management("cities_lyr", "C:/Desktop/Cities/Cities.gdb/City_Renamed")

I think this is what you are looking for.

Please let me know if you have any questions regarding the code above.

Thanks,

Jinnan