SCRIPT TO SHARE: Remove editor tracking fields

[alwunder]

A Python script I wrote to remove Esri default editor tracking fields from a geodatabase.
It could probably use some error handling and cleanup, but it works as-is.

### RemoveEditorTrackingFields.py
### Andrew L. Wunderlich
### andrew.wunderlich@tn.gov
### 7/18/2022

### 5/31/2023 Disables editor tracking if enabled to make field deletion possible
### 2/27/2023 Ported to ArcGIS Pro toolbox

### Removes the editor tracking fields from all classes
### within the user-specified database (if they exist).

### NOTES:
### Editor tracking fields can only be removed if they
### are DISABLED at the database level.  This script DISABLES
### Editor Tracking and then deletes the fields.
### 
### Searches for the Esri default editor tracking field names.
### If your database uses custom names, edit the field names below

### When adding to a toolbox:
### GENERAL:
### Name: RemoveEditorTrackingFields
### Label: Remove Editor Tracking Fields
### Description: Removes editor tracking fields from the specified geodatabase.
###              If editor tracking is enabled, it will be disabled so that fields can be deleted.
###              WARNING! This tool modifies the input database. ALWAYS back up your data before using this tool!
### SOURCE:
### Script File: point to this file
### PARAMETERS:
### "Input database" as a Workspace


import arcpy, sys, os.path
import GeMS_utilityFunctions as guf

### Set up workspace
### Use sys.argv[1] when running script from toolbox
#ws = r"c:\temp\testing\input.gdb"
arcpy.env.workspace = sys.argv[1]
ws = arcpy.env.workspace

list_Tables = arcpy.ListTables()
list_FeatureClasses = arcpy.ListFeatureClasses("*", "All", "")
list_Datasets = arcpy.ListDatasets(feature_type='feature')

### Create an empty list that will be populated with field names        
fieldNameList = []

### Checks for stand-alone tables
for tb in list_Tables:
    #guf.addMsgAndPrint( 'Workspace and table: ' + ws + '\\' + tb)
    guf.addMsgAndPrint( 'Checking table ' + tb + ' for editor tracking fields...')
    table = ws + '\\' + tb
    ### Describe the table to check if editor tracking is enabled
    desc = arcpy.Describe(table)
    if not desc.editorTrackingEnabled:
        for f in arcpy.ListFields(tb):
            if not f.required:
                #guf.addMsgAndPrint( '  Non-required field name: ' + f.name)
                if (f.name == 'created_user' or f.name == 'created_date' or f.name == 'last_edited_user' or f.name == 'last_edited_date'):
                    guf.addMsgAndPrint( '  Field ' + f.name + ' will be deleted from table ' + tb + '...' )
                    fieldNameList.append(f.name)
                #else: #FOR DEBUG
                    #guf.addMsgAndPrint( '  Skipping ' + tb + ' ' + f.name )
        if not fieldNameList == []:
            strListOfFields = ', '.join(str(x) for x in fieldNameList)
            guf.addMsgAndPrint( '    Deleting ' + strListOfFields + ' from ' + tb + '...' )
            arcpy.DeleteField_management(table, fieldNameList)
        else:
            guf.addMsgAndPrint( '    No editor tracking fields to delete from ' + tb + '...' )
        fieldNameList = []
    else:
        ### Editor Tracking IS enabled, disable it before attempting to delete fields
        arcpy.DisableEditorTracking_management(tb,"DISABLE_CREATOR","DISABLE_CREATION_DATE","DISABLE_LAST_EDITOR","DISABLE_LAST_EDIT_DATE")
        guf.addMsgAndPrint( '    WARNING: Editor tracking has been DISABLED in table ' + tb + '; tracking fields can now be deleted...',1)
        for f in arcpy.ListFields(tb):
            if not f.required:
                #guf.addMsgAndPrint( '  Non-required field name: ' + f.name)
                if (f.name == 'created_user' or f.name == 'created_date' or f.name == 'last_edited_user' or f.name == 'last_edited_date'):
                    guf.addMsgAndPrint( '  Field ' + f.name + ' will be deleted from table ' + tb + '...' )
                    fieldNameList.append(f.name)
                #else: #FOR DEBUG
                    #guf.addMsgAndPrint( '  Skipping ' + tb + ' ' + f.name )
        if not fieldNameList == []:
            strListOfFields = ', '.join(str(x) for x in fieldNameList)
            guf.addMsgAndPrint( '    Deleting ' + strListOfFields + ' from ' + tb + '...' )
            arcpy.DeleteField_management(table, fieldNameList)
        else:
            guf.addMsgAndPrint( '    No editor tracking fields to delete from ' + tb + '...' )
        fieldNameList = []


### Checks for stand-alone feature classes
for fc in list_FeatureClasses:
    #guf.addMsgAndPrint( 'Workspace and feature class: ' + ws + '\\' + fc)
    guf.addMsgAndPrint( 'Checking stand-alone feature class ' + fc + ' for editor tracking fields...')
    featureClass = ws + '\\' + fc
    ### Describe the feature class to check if editor tracking is enabled
    desc = arcpy.Describe(featureClass)
    if not desc.editorTrackingEnabled:
        for f in arcpy.ListFields(fc):
            #guf.addMsgAndPrint( '  Non-required field name: ' + f.name)
            if (f.name == 'created_user' or f.name == 'created_date' or f.name == 'last_edited_user' or f.name == 'last_edited_date'):
                guf.addMsgAndPrint( '  Field ' + f.name + ' will be deleted from stand-alone fc ' + fc + '...' )
                fieldNameList.append(f.name)
            #else:
                #guf.addMsgAndPrint( '  Skipping ' + fc + ' ' + f.name )
        if not fieldNameList == []:
            strListOfFields = ', '.join(str(x) for x in fieldNameList)
            guf.addMsgAndPrint( '    Deleting ' + strListOfFields + ' from ' + fc + '...' )
            arcpy.DeleteField_management(featureClass, fieldNameList)
        else:
            guf.addMsgAndPrint( '    No editor tracking fields to delete from ' + fc + '...' )
        fieldNameList = []
    else:
        ### Editor Tracking IS enabled, disable it before attempting to delete fields
        arcpy.DisableEditorTracking_management(fc,"DISABLE_CREATOR","DISABLE_CREATION_DATE","DISABLE_LAST_EDITOR","DISABLE_LAST_EDIT_DATE")
        guf.addMsgAndPrint( '    WARNING: Editor tracking has been DISABLED in feature class ' + fc + '; tracking fields can now be deleted...',1)
        for f in arcpy.ListFields(fc):
            #guf.addMsgAndPrint( '  Non-required field name: ' + f.name)
            if (f.name == 'created_user' or f.name == 'created_date' or f.name == 'last_edited_user' or f.name == 'last_edited_date'):
                guf.addMsgAndPrint( '  Field ' + f.name + ' will be deleted from stand-alone fc ' + fc + '...' )
                fieldNameList.append(f.name)
            #else:
                #guf.addMsgAndPrint( '  Skipping ' + fc + ' ' + f.name )
        if not fieldNameList == []:
            strListOfFields = ', '.join(str(x) for x in fieldNameList)
            guf.addMsgAndPrint( '    Deleting ' + strListOfFields + ' from ' + fc + '...' )
            arcpy.DeleteField_management(featureClass, fieldNameList)
        else:
            guf.addMsgAndPrint( '    No editor tracking fields to delete from ' + fc + '...' )
        fieldNameList = []


### Checks for feature classes within feature datasets            
for ds in list_Datasets:
    for fc in arcpy.ListFeatureClasses(feature_dataset=ds):
        #guf.addMsgAndPrint( 'Workspace and feature class: ' + ws + '\\' + fc)
        guf.addMsgAndPrint( 'Checking feature class ' + fc + ' for editor tracking fields...')
        featureClass = ws + '\\' + fc
        ### Describe the feature class to check if editor tracking is enabled
        desc = arcpy.Describe(featureClass)
        if not desc.editorTrackingEnabled:
            for f in arcpy.ListFields(fc):
                #guf.addMsgAndPrint( '  Non-required field name: ' + f.name)
                if (f.name == 'created_user' or f.name == 'created_date' or f.name == 'last_edited_user' or f.name == 'last_edited_date'):
                    guf.addMsgAndPrint( '  Field ' + f.name + ' will be deleted from fc ' + fc + '...' )
                    fieldNameList.append(f.name)
                #else:
                    #guf.addMsgAndPrint( '  Skipping ' + fc + ' ' + f.name )
            if not fieldNameList == []:
                strListOfFields = ', '.join(str(x) for x in fieldNameList)
                guf.addMsgAndPrint( '    Deleting ' + strListOfFields + ' from ' + fc + '...' )
                arcpy.DeleteField_management(featureClass, fieldNameList)
            else:
                guf.addMsgAndPrint( '    No editor tracking fields to delete from ' + fc + '...' )
            fieldNameList = []
        else:
            ### Editor Tracking IS enabled, disable it before attempting to delete fields
            arcpy.DisableEditorTracking_management(fc,"DISABLE_CREATOR","DISABLE_CREATION_DATE","DISABLE_LAST_EDITOR","DISABLE_LAST_EDIT_DATE")
            guf.addMsgAndPrint( '    WARNING: Editor tracking has been DISABLED in feature class ' + fc + '; tracking fields can now be deleted...',1)
            for f in arcpy.ListFields(fc):
                #guf.addMsgAndPrint( '  Non-required field name: ' + f.name)
                if (f.name == 'created_user' or f.name == 'created_date' or f.name == 'last_edited_user' or f.name == 'last_edited_date'):
                    guf.addMsgAndPrint( '  Field ' + f.name + ' will be deleted from fc ' + fc + '...' )
                    fieldNameList.append(f.name)
                #else:
                    #guf.addMsgAndPrint( '  Skipping ' + fc + ' ' + f.name )
            if not fieldNameList == []:
                strListOfFields = ', '.join(str(x) for x in fieldNameList)
                guf.addMsgAndPrint( '    Deleting ' + strListOfFields + ' from ' + fc + '...' )
                arcpy.DeleteField_management(featureClass, fieldNameList)
            else:
                guf.addMsgAndPrint( '    No editor tracking fields to delete from ' + fc + '...' )
            fieldNameList = []