python import arcpy not initialized runtime error

Question

In my org we have issues of not having enough Arc licenses. I would like to be able to trap this, rather than have the python script blow up on me. My script bombs right at the import arcpy line when all licenses are in use. When there are licenses available, this works likes a charm.

here is the beginning of my script:

import os
import sys
import shutil
import arcpy

pathName = str(sys.argv[1])
print pathName

Here is the response:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:\Dropbox\Work\EclipseSrc\src\arcMapScripts\dluProc\arcPyNad27toNad83_Auto.py", line 4, in <module>
    import arcpy
  File "C:\Program Files (x86)\ArcGIS\Desktop10.0\arcpy\arcpy\__init__.py", line 17, in <module>
    from geoprocessing import gp
  File "C:\Program Files (x86)\ArcGIS\Desktop10.0\arcpy\arcpy\geoprocessing\__init__.py", line 14, in <module>
    from _base import *
  File "C:\Program Files (x86)\ArcGIS\Desktop10.0\arcpy\arcpy\geoprocessing\_base.py", line 568, in <module>
    env = GPEnvironments(gp)
  File "C:\Program Files (x86)\ArcGIS\Desktop10.0\arcpy\arcpy\geoprocessing\_base.py", line 565, in GPEnvironments
    return GPEnvironment(geoprocessor)
  File "C:\Program Files (x86)\ArcGIS\Desktop10.0\arcpy\arcpy\geoprocessing\_base.py", line 521, in __init__
    self._refresh()
  File "C:\Program Files (x86)\ArcGIS\Desktop10.0\arcpy\arcpy\geoprocessing\_base.py", line 523, in _refresh
    envset = (set(env for env in self._gp.listEnvironments()))
RuntimeError: NotInitialized

Answer 1

You can use the CheckProduct function to check if licences are available. See this example copy/pasted from the Help page:

import sys
import arcpy

arcpy.env.workspace = "c:/data/world.gdb"

if arcpy.CheckProduct("ArcInfo") == "Available":
    arcpy.PolygonToLine_management("Lakes", "LakeLines")
else:
    msg = 'ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced license not available'
    print(msg)
    sys.exit(msg)