How to delete selected rows using ArcPy?

Question

I want to delete all rows in a feature class but remain rows 1 to 5. In other hand I want to remain first five rows and delete others. I know that I have to use search cursor and update cursor but I couldn't use them. How can I delete the rows using ArcPy ?

Answer 1

You can use an Update Cursor to delete rows based on your conditions. In this example, any rows where OBJECTID > 5 is deleted.

import arcpy

fc = r'C:\temp\test.gdb\tmp'

with arcpy.da.UpdateCursor(fc, "OBJECTID") as cursor:
    for row in cursor:
        if row[0] > 5:
            cursor.deleteRow()

Alternatively, use Select Layer By Attribute (Data Management).

import arcpy, os

fc = r'C:\temp\test.gdb\tmp'
outws = r'C:\temp\test.gdb'

# Make a layer from the feature class
arcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management(fc, "fc_lyr")

# Use a SQL query to select OBJECTID 1 - 5
arcpy.SelectLayerByAttribute_management("fc_lyr", "", ' "OBJECTID" <= 5 ')

# Write the selected features to a new feature class
arcpy.CopyFeatures_management("fc_lyr", os.path.join(outws, "fc_out"))