How to delete features/records in ArcGIS Server using Python

Question

How can I use python to delete records from a table, or features from a featureclass, when they are stored in ArcGIS Server?

using REST "delete features" in arcgis api for javascript shows how to do this in JavaScript - what is the Python syntax?

Answer 1

I couldn't find this syntax listed anywhere so I'm sharing it in case it helps someone else.

import urllib, urllib2, json
serviceEndPoint = "http://<server>/ArcGIS/rest/services/<name>/FeatureServer/<ID>/"
#Query the server for the objects to be deleted
params = urllib.urlencode({'where': <whereclause>, 'f': 'json', 'returnIdsOnly': 'true'})
response = urllib2.urlopen(serviceEndPoint + "query?", params).read()
#Convert the response into JSON then extract the IDs. Convert to a string
data = json.loads(response)
IDs = data["objectIds"]
range = ','.join([str(x) for x in IDs])
#Build the delete code, and submit it
delParams = urllib.urlencode({'objectIds': range, 'f': 'json'})
urllib2.urlopen(serviceEndPoint + "deleteFeatures?", delParams)

• Ernesto CD: Is the <whereclause> the only piece of the script that I need to modify to make this work? Lets say that I need to delete all the features, can I say objectIds>0? Is there any other other part that I need to modify?
• Midavalo: It may be better if you ask this as a new question
• alphabetasoup: This does not provide an answer to the question. To critique or request clarification from an author, leave a comment below their post - you can always comment on your own posts, and once you have sufficient reputation you will be able to comment on any post. - From Review
• Stephen Lead: @ErnestoCD yes, to do this put OBJECTID > 0 as the whereclause