Split features script returning Python ERROR 000840: The value is not a Feature Layer

Question

I am trying to split a feature layer by rows. I've previously some time ago been able to use the below script, however now when I use it, it returns:

Python ERROR 000840: The value is not a Feature Layer

import arcpy
outputNum = 5000000
outputFCName = "Flows" 
def listSplit(myList, n):
 for i in xrange(0, len(myList), n):
 yield myList[i:i + n]
arcpy.env.workspace = r"C:\...\Database.gdb" #The dots are replaced with a proper path
lyr = arcpy.mapping.Layer("Layername") 
arcpy.SelectLayerByAttribute_management(lyr, "CLEAR_SELECTION")
fList = list()
with arcpy.da.SearchCursor(lyr, "OID@") as cursor:
 for row in cursor:
 fList.append(row[0])
listGroup = listSplit(fList, outputNum)
for x in listGroup:
 lyr.setSelectionSet("NEW", x)
 arcpy.CopyFeatures_management(lyr, arcpy.CreateUniqueName(outputFCName))

The reason for splitting is that I have a dataset with 24.000.000 rows, which I would prefer in smaller parts.

• Bera: Try print type(lyr), what output? Try using MakeFeatureLayer
• PolyGeo: What's the full error message including line number?

Answer 1

The culprit would be lyr = arcpy.mapping.Layer("Layername") which returns a Result object not a Layer.

You can try lyr = arcpy.mapping.Layer("Layername")[0] or MakeFeatureLayer as suggested.

• PolyGeo: Related Q&A (mostly about ArcGIS Pro but with arcpy.mapping in an answer) is at gis.stackexchange.com/questions/279298/…