Using Select By Location in ArcPy?

Question

How do you create a new feature class from the select by location tool in python? This is my script that works but I just don't know what the next step is.

arcpy.SelectLayerByLocation_management("Buildings", "WITHIN_A_DISTANCE", "Hydrography", "50 feet", "NEW_SELECTION","NOT_INVERT") 

Answer 1

To do this with python you need to create some variables first so you can call the selection and with the arcpy.CopyFeatures tool copy the selection to a new feature class.

# Define output feature class location    
fc = "C:\Users\Documents\ArcGIS\Default.gdb\Testers"
# Define Selection criteria
Selection = arcpy.SelectLayerByLocation_management('Points', "WITHIN", 'Trajectory')
# Define output selection and fc
arcpy.CopyFeatures_management(Selection, fc)

This example was used within the Python interpreter in ArcMap. You can see that by using variables it makes everything easier to use and understand.

The example you provide should be something like this:

import arcpy 
#Set geoprocessing environments 
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/Student/PythonBasics10_0/Westerville.gdb"
arcpy.env.overwriteOutput = True 

# Set name of output fc and select buildings by location
Outputfc =  "BuildingsWithin50ft"
Selection = arcpy.SelectLayerByLocation_management("Buildings", "WITHIN_A_DISTANCE", "Hydrography", "50 feet", "NEW_SELECTION","NOT_INVERT") 

arcpy.CopyFeatures_management(Selection, Outputfc) 

Answer 2

An alternative approach to creating new fc from selected layer features would be:

1. Define environmental workspace
2. Define two selection fc's to use within select by location method
3. Use Make Feature Layer method (you will have to use this if performing selections via standalone script, outside of ArcGIS)
4. Use Select Layer by Location method
5. Use Feature Class to Feature Class method to create new layer from selected features