Recording selection with and without .lyr file using ArcPy

Question

I tried recording a selection using first arcpy.SelectLayerByAttribute_management and then 'arcpy.CopyFeatures_management' but since my input was a feature class I get an error. So, I converted my input into a .lyr and now my output is empty when I open it in Arcgis.

import arcpy
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/Temp/PyData"
shpfile = 'building_split.shp'
arcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management(in_features=shpfile,
                                  out_layer="bui_lyr")
lyr = 'bui_lyr'
arcpy.SelectLayerByAttribute_management(in_layer_or_view=lyr,
                                        selection_type= "SUBSET_SELECTION",
                                        where_clause= '"length" > 25')

arcpy.CopyFeatures_management(in_features=lyr,
                              out_feature_class= 'res_building_25')

Here is my code, I guess there is a simple mistake somewhere I just began writing scripts in Python. Also, how can I perform a selection on my feature class. I guess I am not obliged to go through the creation of a .lyr file.

Edit: I did another try with a simpler code below, the test.shp file remains empty

import arcpy
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/Temp/PyData"
arcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management("building_split.shp", "bui_lyr")
arcpy.SelectLayerByAttribute_management("bui_lyr", "SUBSET_SELECTION", "length > 25")
arcpy.CopyFeatures_management("bui_lyr", "C:/Temp/PyData/Test.shp")

GISGe · Accepted Answer

There is an issue with your where clause, so nothing gets selected.

First, I'm not sure using SUBSET_SELECTION will work if there isn't an existing selection. Keep the default value (NEW_SELECTION).

Second, field names delimiters should be double quotes (they also can be omitted) for shapefiles. Also, wrapping your clause with triple double quotes is a good practice to ensure inner and outer quotes are matched properly (when you have multiple pairs of embedded quotes):

where_clause = """length > 25"""

See also the arcpy.FieldDelimiters() function if you want to make your query workspace-proof.

If the ultimate goal is to save your selection to a feature class, Select will do the trick in one step. Comment regarding the where clause apply here too.

MacroZED · Answer

The expression you have used in the "Select Layer by Attribute" tool is wrong. Try and use string formatting to create an expression or use the following expression:

exp = """"length" > 25"""

There are a few ways to improve your code.

You can use the "where clause" within the "Make Feature Layer" tool to create a layer based on your condition. 
You can use the "Select" tool to directly create a feature class or shapefile from a dataset by using an expression.

Extracts features from an input feature class or input feature layer,
  typically using a select or Structured Query Language (SQL) expression
  and stores them in an output feature class.

Recording selection with and without .lyr file using ArcPy

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