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I am running my script to do geoprocessing in the python window of ArcMap.

Since the geoprocessing includes lots of intermediate files, and these files were added in ArcMap at the same time of the processing.

I thought it is a waste of time to display all these intermediate files in ArcMap.

Can anyone help to suggest a way to only operate on these intermediate files in background and without adding them to ArcMap?

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    Use the in_memory workspace and delete once you're done with the intermediate step.
    – Paul
    Commented Aug 7, 2014 at 18:37

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
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In ArcMap click on the Geoprocessing menu and go to Geoprocessing Options.

Uncheck the second to last box-

Add results of geoprocessing operations to the display

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@ian provided a great method to stop adding the results to the display. There are several additional ways to deal with intermediate data in Python scripts:

1) Use an integrated development environment like PyScripter or IDLE outside of ArcMap. This is the most straight-forward way to avoid adding layers to the ArcMap display when using Python.

2) Create and delete using Delete (Data Management)

3) Use the in_memory workspace

4) Create temporary layers with Make Feature Layer (Data Management) or Make Raster Layer (Data Management)

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  • Nice summary of the four methods. Could you also suggest on which method probably is the most computationally efficient? If dealing with large dataset and processing speed is a big concern.
    – enaJ
    Commented Aug 7, 2014 at 20:24
  • Using the in_memory workspace is highly efficient and I try to integrate this into any Python processing that I do.
    – Aaron ♦
    Commented Aug 7, 2014 at 20:44
  • Well, that was different from my expectation. I thought using stand-alone python script running at IDLE would be more efficient. I'll dive deeper on this front. And if you have more information related this topic, please feel free to share.
    – enaJ
    Commented Aug 7, 2014 at 20:49
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    @enaJ I never run scripts directly in ArcMap and always opt for PyScripter or IDLE.
    – Aaron ♦
    Commented Aug 7, 2014 at 20:55

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