Inputting multiple featureclasses into Merge tool using ModelBuilder?

Question

So I have 490 point fc's in a single directory with uniform spatial features, field names/datatypes. I'm trying to figure out how to consecutively input the first seven fc's into the merge tool, create a new merged fc, and then iterate the model until 70 new merged fc's are created.

I know how to iterate single fc's as input into a tool, but not multiple features per x number of iterations.

I have some code below that uses list, an array, and a count system that does what i need for another GP operation. How can I translate this into modelbuilder's variables/methods? I am using modelbuilder because I was having trouble mapping fields for merge in python

try:
    # Create list of rasters
    rasters = arcpy.ListRasters("*", "tif")
    rastersCount = len(rasters)

    counter = 0
    weekNum = 1

    while counter < rastersCount:
        #collect 7 consecutive rasters
        weekRasters = []
        for i in range(counter,(counter+7)):
        weekRasters.append(rasters[i])

        # Execute CellStatistics (one can use list of rasters directly here)
        outCellStatistics = CellStatistics(weekRasters, "SUM", "NODATA")
        # Save the output
        outRasterName = "week_"+ str(weekNum)
        outCellStatistics.save("D:/dailyrainfall/nueces_dailyrainfall_rasterized/" + outRasterName )

        counter += 7
        weekNum += 1
except:
    # If an error occurred while running a tool, then print the messages.
    print arcpy.GetMessages()

Using ArcGIS 10 (ArcInfo) SP4 with all extensions

Answer 1

I'm not sure you can transfer that type of logic to modelbuilder. But are you aware that you can wire up a script to a model builder tool? Why bother with any thing else as you have the framework of logic in your existing script (it just needs tweaking)? Once you add your script as a "tool script" it looks and behaves like any other geoprocessing tool.

Answer 2

I couldn't get it to work with modelbuilder, but spent a few days modifying the code provided in the original post. Although this code isn't complex, it is for some without much experience. I hope others can profit by the time I spent crunching away.

#----------------------------------------------------------------
# merge 7 consecutive feature classes, sum one field, 
# sort the summed field ascending, and delete identical features
#
# 4/29/2012
#----------------------------------------------------------------

import arcpy
from arcpy import env

# Set workspace
env.workspace = "C:/nueces_dailyrainfall_sorted/2009/2nd/"

# Allow overwrites
arcpy.env.overwriteOutput = True

try:
    # Create list of feature classes
    fcs = arcpy.ListFeatureClasses()
    fcsCount = len(fcs)

    counter = 0
    weekNum = 1

    while counter < fcsCount:
        #collect 7 consecutive feature classes
        weekFeatures = []
        for i in range(counter,(counter+7)):
            weekFeatures.append(fcs[i])

        # local variables
        path = "C:/nueces_dailyrainfall_sorted/2009/2nd/" 
        outFeatureName = "week_"+ str(weekNum)
        outStatsTable = "week_"+ str(weekNum)+ "_summary"

        caseField = "Id"
        joinField = "Id"
        statsFields = [["Globvalue", "SUM"]]
        identField = ["Id"]

        # Execute Merge
        arcpy.Merge_management(weekFeatures, outFeatureName)

        # Execute Summary Statistics
        arcpy.Statistics_analysis(path+outFeatureName+".shp", path+outStatsTable+".dbf", statsFields, joinField)

        # Execute Join Field
        arcpy.JoinField_management(path+outFeatureName+".shp", joinField, path+outStatsTable+".dbf", joinField)

        # Sort by Sum_Globalvalue Ascending
        arcpy.Sort_management(path+outFeatureName+".shp", path+outFeatureName+"_sorted"+".shp", "Id ASCENDING", "UR")

        # Delete identical
        arcpy.DeleteIdentical_management(path+outFeatureName+"_sorted"+".shp", identField)

        counter += 7
        weekNum += 1
except:
    # If an error occurred while running a tool, then print the messages.
    print arcpy.GetMessages()