Invalid expression error 000358 when using in_memory workspace? [duplicate]

Question

This question already has an answer here:

• Why are z-values replaced with zero after in_memory use in Python? 1 answer

Make Feature Layer with an SQL Selection Expression against a geometry property like length fails when the source feature class is in an in_memory workspace. An otherwise identical model works just fine when the feature class source is in a regular workspace (file-gdb).

ERROR 000358: Invalid expression Shape_Length = 0
Failed to execute (Layer of Zero Length Lines).

I'm using ArcGIS Desktop 10.3.1 but don't believe the issue to be version specific.

Fail:

Success:

Answer 1

Answer from Esri Canada tech support:

The behaviour you are bumping is a known limitation of in memory layers. They actually don't have a shape_length field to access. For example, if you add the output of the XY to Line tool to your display and you then open the attribute table you shouldn't see a shape_length field available.

That being said, I believe there is an easy solution. In your model if you add a "Add Geometry Attributes" tool in between the XY to Line and the Layer of Zero Length Lines tool and ask that Add Geometry Attributes tool to calculate length it will add a LENGTH field that you can leverage in the Layer of Zero Length Lines tool.

In my case the simplest change is to just not use in_memory at all as the performance gain is negligible. I was using memory as a shortcut to not adding a Delete step at the end of the model. The information for what is going on though is important and will surely crop up elsewhere.