ArcPy Data Access Insert Cursor not writing geometries to feature class?

Question

I'm using PyScripter and running ArcGIS 10.2.1.

I am having troubles with the Insert Cursor in the arcpy module.

I have an empty feature class in my geodatabase and have created the short script below to try and find the issue, but have not been able to. When I run the script, it executes fine, but when I look in the attribute table of the feature class afterwards it is still empty.

import arcpy

fc = r"C:\Users\djh\Desktop\topo_map\test.gdb\well_location"
cursor = arcpy.da.InsertCursor(fc, ["SHAPE@XY"])
xy = (206901.75, 5997594.47)

cursor.insertRow([xy])

I have copied this script straight from the "writing geometries" page on the ArcGIS help website, so I don't think it's a problem with syntax. Please let me know if there's a way to get around this issue.

Answer 1

PyScripter is somewhat lax with object lifetimes and will keep stuff around after it's run. Use the with statement to ensure you close the edit session.

import arcpy

fc = r"C:\Users\djh\Desktop\topo_map\test.gdb\well_location"
xy = (206901.75, 5997594.47)

with arcpy.da.InsertCursor(fc, ["SHAPE@XY"]) as cursor:
    cursor.insertRow([xy])

Answer 2

Using IDLE, I ran your test using ArcGIS 10.2.2 for Desktop, immediately after a reboot (by coincidence) so there should be nothing laying around from previous tests. The code is identical to the third example at Writing Geometries, and I agree with you that the point does not get written.

I believe that part of the documentation is in error and that instead you should use the following which I tested successfully.

import arcpy

fc = r"C:\Users\djh\Desktop\topo_map\test.gdb\well_location"
cursor = arcpy.da.InsertCursor(fc, ["SHAPE@XY"])
xy = arcpy.Point(206901.75, 5997594.47)

cursor.insertRow([xy])

As @JasonScheirer commented, this combination will also work:

cursor = arcpy.da.InsertCursor(fc, ["SHAPE@"])
xy = (206901.75, 5997594.47)

while this does not:

cursor = arcpy.da.InsertCursor(fc, ["SHAPE@"])
xy = arcpy.Point(206901.75, 5997594.47)

but this should:

cursor = arcpy.da.InsertCursor(fc, ["SHAPE@"])
xy = arcpy.PointGeometry(arcpy.Point(206901.75, 5997594.47))