ArcGIS Pro Python Toolbox (.pyt) to export selected feature count to Excel (.xlsx) — built for fast reporting and validation of AI/deep learning detections (e.g., Mask R-CNN).
When preparing reports from AI/deep learning feature detection, it’s often necessary to export key statistics (like the number of detected objects) into Excel for calculations and field reporting.
This toolbox solves a common ArcGIS Pro workflow problem: quickly logging selection-based feature counts to an Excel .xlsx file.
✅ Counts currently selected features from a layer in ArcGIS Pro
✅ Works with shapefiles and geodatabase feature classes (feature layers)
✅ Writes results to Excel as:
- Column A:
Row1,Row2,Row3… - Column B: selection count
✅ Output Folder parameter (no need to type a full .xlsx path every time)
✅ Auto Excel filename based on the layer name (you can override it)
✅ Append / Overwrite mode
✅ Optional Notes field per log entry
✅ Optional Include Details mode (adds Layer name + Timestamp columns)
✅ Auto-detect selected layer if Input Layer is left empty (finds the first layer with a selection)
✅ If Excel is open/locked, the tool saves a safe copy:
*_LOCKED_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.xlsx (instead of failing)
-
Germination rate calculations
Germination % = (Detected plants) / (Total planting pits) × 100 -
Tracking planting success across farms
-
Validating deep learning outputs
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Exporting field statistics for scientific documentation
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Afforestation / revegetation / restoration project metrics
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Add the toolbox to ArcGIS Pro:
CountSelectedToExcelToolbox_v2.pyt -
Select features in your layer (using Select tools).
-
Run the tool: Count Selected Features to Excel
-
Choose:
- Input Layer (or leave empty to auto-detect)
- Output Folder
- (Optional) Output Excel Name
- Write Mode: Append / Overwrite
- (Optional) Notes
- (Optional) Include Details
-
Click Run ✅
-
Input Layer (optional): Feature layer with selected features
If empty → tool auto-detects the first layer with a selection. -
Output Folder (required): Folder where the
.xlsxwill be saved. -
Output Excel Name (optional): Excel filename (default is the layer name).
-
Write Mode:
- Append → adds a new row each run
- Overwrite → starts fresh (recreates/clears output sheet)
-
Notes (optional): Any text saved with the selection event (plot ID, field name, etc.)
-
Include Details (True/False):
If enabled, Excel will include extra columns:- Notes
- Layer name
- Timestamp
| A (Row Label) | B (Count) |
|---|---|
| Row1 | 6931 |
| Row2 | 6025 |
| Row3 | 4469 |
| Row Label | Count | Notes | Layer | Timestamp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Row1 | 6931 | Plot A | f13-ug6-A-plants | 2025-12-14 10:31:04 |
- ArcGIS Pro (Python 3 / ArcPy)
openpyxlfor Excel writing
If missing: install via ArcGIS Pro → Package Manager
Excel file is open and tool can’t write:
✅ Tool automatically saves a new safe-copy file with:
_LOCKED_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.xlsx
Count is always 0:
- Ensure the selection exists on the chosen layer
- If using auto-detect, ensure only one layer has a selection (or select the correct layer explicitly)
If you use CountSelectedToExcel in a report, publication, or academic work, please cite it:
Suggested citation (APA-style):
MassiveDynamics SD. (2025). CountSelectedToExcel: ArcGIS Pro Python Toolbox to export selected feature count to Excel [Software]. GitHub.
https://github.com/massivedynamics-sd/CountSelectedToExcel
@software{CountSelectedToExcel_2025, author = {MassiveDynamics SD}, title = {CountSelectedToExcel: ArcGIS Pro Python Toolbox to export selected feature count to Excel}, year = {2025}, url = {https://github.com/massivedynamics-sd/CountSelectedToExcel}, note = {Accessed: YYYY-MM-DD} }