FeatureClassToShapefile column issue

[chrisdonnelly3]

Im using arcpy.FeatureClassToShapefile_conversion to create a shapefile from two joined layers.  The resulting Shapefile has columns named "Input_FC, Input_FC1, Input_FC2, etc." Is there a way to retain the original column names?

[RebeccaStrauch__GISP]

Most likely this is because your FC field names are too long and the names are being truncated.  Shapes still use .dbf format to they have to comply with the fieldname restrictions allowed there.  I'm sure someone has a quick link to when the specs are and will be supplying that soon. 

[DanPatterson_Retired]

but if the names aren't too long look at Feature Class to Feature Class—Help | ArcGIS for Desktop because as it says in Feature Class To Shapefile—Help | ArcGIS for Desktop the FC2FC allows greater control over field names because of field mapping options