Debugging Error 000725 for buffer and parameter not being valid?

Question

I am very new to Python.

I built a model in the ModelBuilder in a toolbox in ArcCatalog 10.3.1. I keep getting the following error about my buffer not being able to be executed and that my parameters are not valid. I set a field for a distance value for my buffer, my buffer, and a spatial join output as Model Parameters in my model builder before I exported the script to Python to run in Python IDLE:

Traceback (most recent call last): File "F:\Projects\Working\HurricanesSCRIPT.py", line 49, in arcpy.Buffer_analysis(Hurricanes_in_Counties, Hurricanes_Buffer, v15_Miles, "FULL", "ROUND", "NONE", "", "PLANAR") File "C:\Program Files (x86)\ArcGIS\Desktop10.3\ArcPy\arcpy\analysis.py", line 692, in Buffer raise e ExecuteError: Failed to execute. Parameters are not valid. ERROR 000725: Output Feature Class: Dataset F:\Projects\Working\ModelProject\ModelData.gdb\Hurricanes_Buffer already exists. Failed to execute (Buffer).

I have already put in arcpy.env.overwriteOutput = True just below import arcpy.

Here is the script for my arguments:

# Script arguments
v15_Miles = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(0)
if v15_Miles == '#' or not v15_Miles:
    v15_Miles = "15 Miles" #15 Miles

Hurricanes_Counties_SpaJoi = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(1)
if Hurricanes_Counties_SpaJoi == '#' or not Hurricanes_Counties_SpaJoi:
    Hurricanes_Counties_SpaJoi = "F:\\Projects\\Working\\ModelProject\\ModelData.gdb\\Hurricanes_Counties_SpaJoi" # provide a default value if unspecified

Hurricanes_Buffer = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(2)
if Hurricanes_Buffer == '#' or not Hurricanes_Buffer:
    Hurricanes_Buffer = "F:\\Projects\\Working\\ModelProject\\ModelData.gdb\\Hurricanes_Buffer" # provide a default value if unspecified

And here is the script for my buffer:

# Process: Buffer
arcpy.Buffer_analysis(Hurricanes_in_Counties, Hurricanes_Buffer, v15_Miles, "FULL", "ROUND", "NONE", "", "PLANAR")

Answer 1

Add a check for whether the buffer feature class exists before you run your buffer. You can use this check to delete the existing buffer, or just print a message.

# Script arguments
v15_Miles = "15 Miles" #15 Miles
Hurricanes_Counties_SpaJoi = "F:\\Projects\\Working\\ModelProject\\ModelData.gdb\\Hurricanes_Counties_SpaJoi" # provide a default value if unspecified
Hurricanes_Buffer = "F:\\Projects\\Working\\ModelProject\\ModelData.gdb\\Hurricanes_Buffer" # provide a default value if unspecified

if arcpy.Exists(Hurricanes_Buffer):
    print "{} already exists!!".format(Hurricanes_Buffer)
    arcpy.Delete_management(Hurricanes_Buffer)

arcpy.Buffer_analysis(Hurricanes_Counties_SpaJoi, Hurricanes_Buffer, v15_Miles, "FULL", "ROUND", "NONE", "", "PLANAR")

I have used Hurricanes_Counties_SpaJoi in place of Hurricanes_in_Counties in the Buffer as Hurricanes_in_Counties wasn't defined in your arguments.

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Additionally, check the caps are in the right place in your arcpy.env.overwriteOutput = True. This one (copied from your question above) is correct, however if the O from Output or the T from True are lower-case the overwriteOutput will not be set. Double-check that this is how you've used it in your script.