Copy features from feature class to an existing feature class with arcpy

Question

I see CopyFeatures_management, but this creates a new feature class.

http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcgisdesktop/10.0/help/index.html#//001700000035000000

Is there a way to copy features from a feature class into an existing feature class?

Answer 1

You want to use the Append_Management tool.

If you know the attribute tables will match up (including data type), use schema_type NO_TEST anyway (even though the documentation would suggest TEST). If the attribute tables do not match up you will have to deal with field mappings, which can be a huge pain in arcpy. (If you are using NO_TEST and a subtype, make sure that you pass in None for the field_mapping argument.)

Answer 2

You can combine search cursor and insert cursor. It can be used to avoid field_mappings.

https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/arcpy/data-access/searchcursor-class.htm https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/arcpy/data-access/insertcursor-class.htm

 # check if pasted feature have common fields
 to_paste_fields_names = [field.name for field in arcpy.ListFields(shape_to_paste)]
 base_shape_fields_names = [field.name for field in arcpy.ListFields(base_shape)]
 fields_names = sorted(set(base_shape_fields_names) & set(to_paste_fields_names))
 if len(fields_names) > 0:
 # start search cursor on shape to paste
 with arcpy.da.SearchCursor(shape_to_paste, fields_names) as cursor:
 # start insert cursor on base shape
 with arcpy.da.InsertCursor(base_shape, fields_names) as insert_cursor:
 # iterate through search cursor
 for row in cursor:
 insert_cursor.insertRow(row)