Summary
Creates a unique scratch path name for the specified data type. If no workspace is given the current workspace is used.
Syntax
CreateScratchName ({prefix}, {suffix}, {data_type}, {workspace})| Parameter | Explanation | Data Type |
prefix | The prefix that is added to the scratchname. By default, a prefix of xx is used. (The default value is xx) | String |
suffix | The suffix added to the scratchname. This can be an empty double-quoted string. | String |
data_type | The data type which will be used to create the scratchname. Valid datatypes are:
| String |
workspace | The workspace used to determine the scratch name to be created. If not specified, the current workspace is used. | String |
| Data Type | Explanation |
| String | The unique scratch path name. |
Code sample
Create a unique scratch name for the derived output of the Buffer tool. This scratch name is then used as input to the Clip tool.
import arcpy
# Set workspace
#
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/Data/Municipal.gdb"
# Create a scratch name for the Buffer tool output.
# The scratch name created will be include 'temp0.shp',
# If temp0.shp already exists, the number will be incremented
# until the name is unique in the workspace.
#
scratch_name = arcpy.CreateScratchName("temp",
data_type="Shapefile",
workspace=arcpy.env.scratchFolder)
# Execute Buffer tool, using scratch name for output
#
arcpy.Buffer_analysis("Roads", scratch_name, "1000 feet")
# Execute Clip tool, using scratch name for input
#
arcpy.Clip_analysis(scratch_name, "CityBoundary", "CityRoads")
# Delete scratch dataset
arcpy.Delete_management(scratch_name)