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I want to perform a loop of intersections between different files in different directories. Here is my code:

Intersects = ['Name1','Name2','Name3','Name4','Name5'] #Names of my files
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:\Mydirectory" #Directory of the files above
lands =  "C:\Anotherdirectory\Shapefile_To_Intersect.shp" #Name of the second shapefile to intersect, in another directory 
#    Where I want my output to be placed, this folder is already created and empty
out = "C:\Users\Laptop\Documents\ArcGIS\Default.gdb\Intersects" 
for files in Intersects:
    Intersects_Names = ['Name1','Name2','Name3','Name4','Name5']
    arcpy.Intersect_analysis([files, lands], os.path.join(out,files))

But this way I get the error: 

ERROR 000732: Input Features: Dataset Name1 #;C:\Anotherdirectory\Shapefile_to_Intersect.shp # does not exist or is not supported.

What is the issue in this case? (I checked the file name and directory are correct).

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2
  • Considering that you are referencing a workspace and not a gdb in a workspace, can I assume that that the Intersects files are shapefiles? In that case you have to add .shp to each file. If you are indeed working with a gdb then you have to add that to your workspace, like: "C:\Mydirectory\yourgdb.gdb" – BritishSteel Apr 25 '16 at 14:20
  • Also, add and r before your paths to avoid issues with escape sequences. – BritishSteel Apr 25 '16 at 14:22
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Are the feature classes in different directories? That is, your files are like:

r"C:\Mydirectory\Name1.shp"
r"C:\Mydirectory\Name2.shp"
r"C:\Anotherdirectory\Shapefile_To_Intersect.shp"

Instead of relying on workspaces, include the path with the name in your list. Then perform the intersect on that list. This intersects all of the layers together.

intersects = [r"C:\Mydirectory\Name1.shp",r"C:\Mydirectory\Name2.shp",r"C:\Mydirectory\Name3.shp",r"C:\Anotherdirectory\Shapefile_To_Intersect.shp"] 
out = "C:\Users\Laptop\Documents\ArcGIS\Default.gdb\Intersects" 
arcpy.Intersect_analysis(files,out)

Doing the join doesn't really make sense for your output. Arcpy is seeing "Intersects" in your path as a feature dataset, and trying to create a featureclass within that feature dataset.

If you want the loop to create separate intersects for each of the filenames in the list:

out = "C:\Users\Laptop\Documents\ArcGIS\Default.gdb"
for name in Intersects:
    arcpy.Intersect_analysis([name,r"C:\Anotherdirectory\Shapefile_To_Intersect.shp" ], os.path.join(out,"intesects_"+name))
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1

Use the

arcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management(r"C:\Anotherdirectory\Shapefile_to_Intersect.shp", "lyr_to_Intersect")
arcpy.Intersect_analysis([files, "lyr_to_Intersect"], os.path.join(out,files))

as input for your Intersect_analysis.

Intersect_analysis only accepts layers or classes not shp files.

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  • I did as you suggested me, now the final line looks like: "arcpy.Intersect_analysis([files, arcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management("C:\Anotherdirectory\Shapefile_to_Intersect.shp","lyr_to_Intersect")], os.path.join(out,files)) but I still receive the error message. In this case, it is exactly like before but in this case I have lyr_to_Intersect where previously there was Shapefile_to_Intersect. What may be the reason? – Patapunfate Apr 25 '16 at 13:48
  • Are you sure "C:\Anotherdirectory\Shapefile_to_Intersect.sh‌​p" is not empty? and maybe you should make the feature layer before you intersect and make sure you add the r before your inputstring of the makeFeature layer! – Kim Duyvejonck Apr 25 '16 at 13:51
  • i changed my answer like i think it should work. – Kim Duyvejonck Apr 25 '16 at 13:56
  • Unfortunately it seems this is not the reason, I still receive the same message I reported two comments above. – Patapunfate Apr 25 '16 at 14:07
  • 1
    MakeFeatureLayer shouldn't be necessary, (path to) shapefiles work fine with Intersect. That said, you should take care with all strings containing backslash characters. These should either be escaped "C:\\Temp" or prefixed with r: r"C:\Temp". Failing to do so will cause unexpected results, e.g. \t becomes a tab, \n a newline, etcetera. – Berend Apr 25 '16 at 14:39

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