Truncate Table (Data Management)

Summary

Removes all rows from a database table or feature class using truncate procedures in the database.

Usage

Caution:

If a selection is applied to a layer or table view, the selection will be ignored and all records will be truncated.

• Supported data types are simple points, lines, or polygons stored in a database. Complex data types such as terrains, topologies, and network datasets are not supported as input.

• The input database table or feature class must be from a database connection established as the data owner.

• Versioned data is not supported as input. Data must be unregistered as versioned before the tool will run successfully.

• If the input table has archiving enabled, rows will still exist in the history table after running the tool. To remove these rows, you can disable archiving, run the tool, and enable archiving again.

• Truncate commands do not use database transactions and are unrecoverable. This improves performance over row-by-row deletion.

• Use this tool for workflows in which all rows will be removed from a table or feature class and there is no requirement to back up the transactions, such as the nightly reloading of data.

• This tool supports a feature service layer as input when connected as a user that can administer the service, and the supportsTruncate service property is true.

• This tool does not support feature classes with attachments. To delete rows from a feature class that has attachments, use the Delete Rows tool.

Parameters

Dialog

Label	Explanation	Data Type
Input Table	The input database table or feature class that will be truncated.	Table View

Derived Output

Label	Explanation	Data Type
Truncated Table	The truncated table.	Table View

Python

arcpy.management.TruncateTable(in_table)

Name	Explanation	Data Type
in_table	The input database table or feature class that will be truncated.	Table View

Derived Output

Name	Explanation	Data Type
out_table	The truncated table.	Table View

Code sample

TruncateTable example 1 (Python window)

The following Python window script demonstrates how to use the TruncateTable function in immediate mode.

import arcpy
arcpy.TruncateTable_management("neil/whistler.sde/function.junction.table")

TruncateTable example 2 (stand-alone script)

The following Python window script demonstrates how to use the TruncateTable function.

# Name: TruncateTable_Example2.py
# Description: Truncates all tables in a file geodatabase.

# Import system modules
import arcpy

# Set the workspace.
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/work/vancouver.gdb"

# Get a list of all the tables.
tableList = arcpy.ListTables()

# Loop through the list and run truncate
for table in tableList:
    arcpy.TruncateTable_management(table)

Environments

Current Workspace