Introduction to Geoprocessing Scripts Using Python (10.0)

GIS specialists, analysts, data processors, and other experienced ArcGIS Desktop users who want to automate GIS workflows.

Prerequisites

• Completion of ArcGIS Desktop II: Tools and Functionality or Learning ArcGIS Desktop and ArcGIS Desktop III: GIS Workflows and Analysis or equivalent knowledge are required.
• Basic programming skills, including using loops and conditional statements, are required.
• Completion of Basics of Python (for ArcGIS 10) is recommended.

After completing this course, you will be able to

• Write Python scripts using proper syntax.
• Incorporate cursors, describe objects, and list objects into scripts to manage and update data.
• Understand commonly used ArcPy classes and functions.
• Access geoprocessing tools and specify environment settings in scripts.
• Debug scripts and write code to handle errors.
• Attach a script to a custom tool.
• Use ArcPy classes and geometry objects to create and update features and perform geoprocessing operations.
• Automate the production and exporting of a map series using the ArcPy mapping module.

Download table of contents [PDF 110kb]

Python basics

• Understanding Python terminology and data types
• Exploring built-in functions
• Python modules
• Working with variables, loops, and functions
• Python resources

Introducing ArcPy

• ArcPy functions, classes, and modules
• Accessing ArcPy in ArcMap
• Accessing ArcPy in PythonWin
• Creating the geoprocessor

Debugging scripts

• Debugging workflow
• Handling syntax errors

Using describe objects

• Describe function
• Describing a feature class
• Describing and clipping a raster dataset

Automating scripts with Python lists

• List functions
• Iterating through lists

Creating and updating data with cursor objects

• Cursor objects and functions
• The row object
• Accessing geometry object properties
• Using the SearchCursor and UpdateCursor functions

Running scripts in ArcToolbox

• Making scripts dynamic
• Running scripts with arguments
• Attaching a script to a custom tool

Handling Python and ArcPy exceptions

• Using try...except
• Using Exception as e
• Using arcpy.ExecuteError
• Using the traceback module

Creating and updating geometry objects

• Working with a geometry list
• Using geometry objects to populate a feature class
• Using geometry objects in script tools and geoprocessing services

Manipulating data schema and working with subsets of data

• Creating a FeatureLayer object
• Using the FieldInfo object
• Using field delimiters in a SQL query
• Creating a subset of features
• Performing analysis on FeatureLayer

Automating map production with the ArcPy mapping module

• Grid index map series
• Strip map index series
• Creating a reference map book
• Creating a map series book

Esri will provide the following software to use during class:

• ArcGIS 10.0 for Desktop (ArcEditor or ArcInfo)
• PythonWin 2.6