Internal Python ID for first field in database
<p>The following is part of my python script:</p>

<pre><code>gp.CalculateField_management("parcs", "Apn", "[oldApnfield]")
</code></pre>

<p>The problem is that the field I am calculating from is going to be named something different in each shapefile, so I can't use the field name in the calculation.  Is there an internal ID that python uses to identify fields ?  What is the python language for saying "the first field in the database" instead of using the field name ?</p>

<p>Thanks for the help. I am very close, but now the calculation results with each row in the new field being PIDNUM instead of the value of PIDNUM.....   </p>

<pre><code>import arcgisscripting

# Create the geoprocessor object
gp = arcgisscripting.create(9.3)
gp.OverWriteOutput = True

# Set the workspace. List all of the folders within
gp.Workspace = "C:\ZP44"
fcs = gp.ListWorkspaces("*","Folder")

#
for fc in fcs:
    print fc
    gp.MakeFeatureLayer(fc + "\\Parcels.shp", "parcs") 
    fieldList = gp.ListFields("parcs")
    print fieldList[2].Name
    field1 = fieldList[2].Name
    print field1
    gp.CalculateField_management("parcs", "Apn", "[field1]")
</code></pre>
