Delete (Data Management)

License Level:BasicStandardAdvanced

Summary

Permanently deletes data from disk. All types of geographic data supported by ArcGIS, as well as toolboxes and workspaces (folders, geodatabases), can be deleted. If the specified item is a workspace, all contained items are also deleted.

Usage

Syntax

Delete_management (in_data, {data_type})
ParameterExplanationData Type
in_data

The input data to be deleted.

Data Element; Graph; Layer; Table View
data_type
(Optional)

Data type of the Input Data Element. Data type is displayed for informative purposes and cannot be changed.

String

Code Sample

Delete Example (Python Window)

The following Python Window script demonstrates how to use the Delete function in immediate mode.

import arcpy
from arcpy import env

env.workspace = "C:/data"
arcpy.Copy_management(("majorrds.shp"), "majorrdsCopy.shp")
arcpy.Delete_management("majorrdsCopy.shp")
Delete Example 2 (Stand-alone Python Script)

The following Python script demonstrates how to use the Delete function in a stand-alone script.

# Name: Delete_Example2.py
# Description: Delete majorrdsCopy.shp 

# Import system modules
import arcpy
from arcpy import env

# Set workspace
ENV.workspace = "C:/data"

# Set local variables
in_data0 =  "majorrds.shp"
out_data =  "majorrdscopy.shp"
data_type = ""

# Execute Copy
arcpy.Copy_management(in_data, out_data, data_type)

# Execute Delete
arcpy.Delete_management(out_data, data_type)
Delete Example 3 (Python Window)

You can use the Delete tool to delete the in_memory workspace. When you delete the in_memory workspace, all datasets in the workspace are deleted, but the in_memory workspace remains, allowing you to continue writing to it.

import arcpy

arcpy.Delete_management("in_memory")

Environments

This tool does not use any geoprocessing environments

Related Topics

Licensing Information

ArcGIS for Desktop Basic: Yes
ArcGIS for Desktop Standard: Yes
ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced: Yes
5/7/2015