Part 1

Learning the
fundamentals of Python
and geoprocessing

Exercise 1

Introducing Python
Install the exercise data
Exercise data is provided online on the Esri Press book resources website at http://esripress.esri.com/bookresources. Copy the exercise data
to a hard drive.. The default path is C:\EsriPress\Python, but you can
change this during installation.

Check ArcGIS settings

You will first determine the version of the ArcGIS for Desktop software
that is installed on your computer, including any available extensions.
1 Close any ArcGIS for Desktop programs you may have open (the
ArcMap application, the ArcCatalog application, and so on).
2 On the taskbar, click the Start button, and
then on the Start menu, click All Programs
> ArcGIS > ArcGIS Administrator. This brings
up the ArcGIS configuration information,
which should read something like the figure.
In this example, the version of ArcGIS for
Desktop is 10.1, which is the same version
used for the exercises in this book. If you are
using version 10.1 with a recent service pack,
there should be no noticeable difference in
how the Python code works. Most if not all
of the Python scripting in the book will also
work in ArcGIS 10.2. If you are using version
10.0, some of the Python code in the exercises

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 1: Introducing Python

Check ArcGIS settings

will not work correctly because additional Python functionality was

introduced in 10.1.
If you are using ArcGIS for Desktop 9.3.1 or earlier, the code in the
exercises will not work. The ArcPy site package was introduced in version 10.0, and this includes Python functionality that was not available
in earlier versions.
Next, you will determine the license level and any available licenses.
3 On the ArcGIS Administrator dialog box,
click Desktop > Availability. This brings up
a list of the available licenses, which should
look something like the figure.

The first entry shows the product

levelthat is, ArcGIS for Desktop Basic,
ArcGIS for Desktop Standard, or ArcGIS
for Desktop Advanced, formerly known as
ArcView, ArcEditor, and ArcInfo, respectively. Whatever your product level, the
code in the exercises will work correctly.
The following entries show the extensions that are installed and
licensed. The only required extension for these exercises is Spatial
Analyst, which is used in exercise 9. If you do not have ArcGIS Spatial
Analyst installed and licensed, the code in exercise 9 will not work.

Note: If you do not have

the ArcGIS Spatial Analyst
extension, you may want
to consider installing
the evaluation software

Next, you will select one of the options in ArcCatalog to make it easier
to recognize file types.

available at http://www.
esri.com/trydesktop because
it includes ArcGIS Spatial

4 Close ArcGIS Administrator.

5 On the taskbar, click the Start button, and then, on the Start menu,
click All Programs > ArcGIS > ArcCatalog 10.1.
6 On the ArcCatalog menu bar, click Customize > ArcCatalog Options.

Analyst.

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 1: Introducing Python

7 On the General tab, make sure the

Hide file extensions check box is
cleared.
8 Click OK to close the ArcCatalog
Options dialog box.

>>> TIP
To make it easier to work with the exercise
data in this book, you can create a connection
to the data folder. In the Catalog window,
click the Connect to Folder button, browse
to C:\EsriPress\Python\Data, and click OK.
The shortcut will now appear under Folder
Connections in the Catalog tree.

9 Browse to where the data for the

exercises is installedthat is,
C:\EsriPress\Python\Data. Then open
one of the folders that has data files
in itfor example, Exercise02.
Notice that the files are now shown
with their file extension, such as
basin.shp instead of just basin.
10 Close ArcCatalog.

Check the Python version

You will now determine what version of Python is installed on your
computer.
1 On the taskbar, click the Start button, and then, on the Start menu,
click All Programs > ArcGIS > Python 2.7 > IDLE (Python GUI). This
brings up the default Python editor, as shown in the figure.

Check the Python version

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 1: Introducing Python

ArcGIS 10.1 is designed to work with Python 2.7. At the final release
of ArcGIS 10.1, the most recent production version of Python 2.7 was
2.7.2, which is the version that is installed as part of a typical ArcGIS
10.1 installation. Versions of Python 2.7 will continue to evolve, but
the changes between these versions are so minor that ArcGIS 10.1
is expected to work with all versions of Python 2.7. The code in the
exercises will generally also work fine for other 2.x versions of Python,
including 2.6. However, when working with ArcGIS for Desktop, it
is recommended that you run the version of Python that is installed
with ArcGIS for Desktop. The code in the exercises will not work with
Python 3.x.
Note: It is possible to have multiple versions of Python on the same Windows computer.
If you already have a different version of Python installed in addition to the one that is
installed with ArcGIS for Desktop, be sure to use the version that is installed with ArcGIS
for Desktop to write and run the code in these exercises.

2 Close IDLE.

Install PythonWin
The exercises in the book use PythonWin as the editor application to
work with Python. The following steps walk you through the installation of PythonWin.
When you install PythonWin, it determines the version of Python that
is installed on your computer. The installation of ArcGIS 10.1 installs
Python version 2.7.2. The PythonWin installation then assumes you
have a program folder called Python 2.7however, the ArcGIS 10.1
installation creates a program folder called ArcGIS\Python 2.7. Therefore, you first need to create a program folder simply called Python 2.7.
1 For Windows XP: On the taskbar, right-click the Start button, and
then click Open All Users.

For Windows 7: On the taskbar, click the Start button, and then, on
the Start menu, right-click All Programs and click Open All Users.

2 Double-click the Programs folder.

3 Right-click in the Programs folder and click New > Folder. Name the
folder Python 2.7.
4 Close the Programs window.

Install PythonWin

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 1: Introducing Python

Now it is time to find the installation files for PythonWin.

Option 1: Download exercise data
Install the online exercise data that comes with the book. Start Windows, and then click the Start button. Then click My Computer and
browse to the drive where you have installed the data.
Browse to the C:\EsriPress\Python\Data\Exercise01 folder. This folder
contains the file pywin32-214.win32-py2.7.exe.
Option 2: Download ArcGIS software
Download trial software at http://www.esri.com/trydesktop . Start
Windows, and then click the Start button. Click My Computer and
browse to the drive where you have installed the data.
Browse to the folder Desktop > Python. This folder contains the file
pywin32-214.win32-py2.7.exe.
Option 3: Download from SourceForge
Navigate to the following URL: http://sourceforge.net/projects/
pywin32/files/pywin32/Build%20214.
Download the file pywin32-214.win32-py2.7.exe to a folder on your
computer.
Notice that SourceForge contains many different versions of PythonWin,
one for every version of Python. If you obtain the PythonWin installation files from SourceForge, be sure to select the same version as the
one that ships with ArcGIS.
Once you have found the correct installation file, you can proceed with
the installation.
5 Double-click pywin32-214.win32-py2.7.exe to launch the PythonWin
installation.

Install PythonWin

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 1: Introducing Python

6 Follow the on-screen instructions. On the first panel of the Setup

wizard, click Next.

7 On the second panel of the Setup wizard, notice that the installation
program found the Python version installed on your computer since
it is installed with ArcGIS. Accept the default directories and click
Next.

Install PythonWin

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 1: Introducing Python

8 On the third panel of the Setup wizard, click Next.

9 On the final panel of the Setup wizard, click Finish.

You are now ready to use PythonWin as your editor.

Note: If at this last step you get an error message that a shortcut for PythonWin could not
be created, retrace your steps and first create a program folder for Python 2.7.

Install PythonWin

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 1: Introducing Python

Work with different script editors

Work with different script editors

There are several ways to use Python to run scripts, but the most common is to use a script editor. The next set of steps shows how to use two
of these script editors: IDLE and PythonWin.
1 On the taskbar, click the Start button, and then, on the Start menu,
click All Programs > ArcGIS > Python 2.7 > IDLE (Python GUI). This
launches the standard interactive interpreter, the Interactive Window.

2 Make sure the pointer is placed directly following the prompt (>>>).
Type print "Hello World" and press Enter.

Notice that Python gives you the output of the line immediately. You
just entered a Python statement. The print statement is used to print the
value you supplied to the Interactive Window. The Interactive Window
has a prompt with three angle brackets (>>>). When you type a line
of code and press ENTER, that line is interpreted and run immediately. Notice that the interactive interpreter automatically recognizes
statements (such as print) and values (such as "Hello World") and
shows them in a different color. This is called syntax highlighting.
The IDLE interface is installed by default when Python 2.7 is installed.
Although it is a solid editor for working with Python, for the exercises
in this book you will use PythonWin because it has a number of advantages on the Microsoft Windows platform, in particular the integration
of the code debugger.
3 Close the IDLE editor by clicking File > Exit on the menu bar.

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 1: Introducing Python

Work with different script editors

4 On the taskbar, click the Start button, and then, on the Start menu,
click All Programs > Python 2.7 > PythonWin.

Now you can try the same "Hello World" statement.

5 Make sure the pointer is placed directly following >>>. Type print
"Hello World" and press Enter.

Notice that PythonWin uses a slightly different style for syntax

highlighting, but the concept is the same as in the IDLE editor. The
instructions for the exercises in this book use PythonWin, but the syntax would be the same in another editor like IDLE.
When you launch PythonWin, the Interactive Window opens by default.
You can quickly write and run code here, but the code itself is not saved.
The Interactive Window also shows the outputs from print statements
(as in the earlier example) and reports error messages from scripts. Typically, you keep the Interactive Window open, but you write scripts in a
script window that allows you to save them.

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 1: Introducing Python

6 Resize the Interactive Window so there is room for another window

within PythonWin.

>>> TIP
You want the Interactive Window to be open to see any messages that may appear
when you run a script. If you happen to close the Interactive Window, you can reopen
it by going to the PythonWin menu bar and clicking View > Interactive Window. There
is also a toggle button

on the PythonWin Standard toolbar to hide or show the

Interactive Window.

Now you can add a new window where you can write a script.
7 On the PythonWin menu bar, click File > New.
8 On the New dialog box that appears, click Python Script and click
OK.

Work with different script editors

10

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 1: Introducing Python

Work with different script editors

You now have two windows open within PythonWin. Code written in
the Script window can be saved, but code written in the Interactive
Window cannot be. Outputs from the Script window are printed to the
Interactive Window.

9 With the Script window active, on the PythonWin menu bar, click
File > Save As. On the Save As dialog box, navigate to the folder
C:\EsriPress\Python\Data\Exercise01 and save your file as hello.py.
The extension .py indicates the file is a Python script.
10 In the hello.py script window, type print "Hello World".

Note: There is no prompt

in a script. Contrary to the

Pressing Enter, in this case, moves the cursor to the second line but does
not actually run the code because this is a script, and not the Interactive
Window. This allows you to keep writing code until you are ready to
run the script.

Interactive Window, you

dont run a script line by
line, but in its entirety, as
you will see in the steps that
follow.

11 With the cursor still placed anywhere within the code in the hello.py
script window, click Run
. You can also click File > Run on the
PythonWin menu bar or press Ctrl+R.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 1: Introducing Python

12 This brings up the Run Script dialog box. For

now, leave the default settings and click OK.

This runs the script hello.py and prints the result

to the Interactive Window.

Note: Before you can run a script, you must save it as a file with a .py extension. Once
you save it, every time you run the script, it is saved again automatically. So remember that
running a script automatically overwrites any earlier versions of the script that have the
same name.

13 Close the hello.py script. You can do this by clicking the X symbol of
the script window or by clicking File > Close on the PythonWin menu
bar with the script window active.
14 Close PythonWin by clicking the X symbol of the PythonWin window
or by clicking File > Exit on the menu bar.

Use the ArcGIS Python window

Both the IDLE and PythonWin script editors provide robust environments for working with Python, but ArcGIS 10 introduced another way
to run Python code: the Python window. The Command Line from earlier versions was replaced in ArcGIS 10 with a fully interactive Python
interpreter. Next, you can take a look at how it works.

Use the ArcGIS Python window

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 1: Introducing Python

1 Start ArcMap. On the Standard toolbar, click the Python window

button
. This opens the Python window. On the left side is the
Python interpreter, and on the right is the
Help and syntax panel. Notice that you
can use the F1 and F2 keys to access more
help. The divider between the two sides
can be moved by dragging it.
By default, the cursor is placed on the first
line, just after the prompt (>>>). Visually, it may appear as if there is a blank
space between the prompt and the cursor,
but there is actually no space to delete.
2 Following the prompt, type print "Hello World"
and press Enter. Notice that the Python window
works very similarly to the Interactive Window in
PythonWin and IDLE.
There are a number of useful features when using the Python window.
3 Right-click next to the prompt (>>>) and click Clear All.
4 Start typing the letter p. Notice that this results in the suggestions shown in the figure.
Only two statements in Python start with the letter p, and these
are provided as a list of autocompletion prompts. You can continue typing your statement or select
from the prompts.
5 To select from the prompts, use
the UP ARROW and DOWN
ARROW keys to navigate or click a
prompt to highlight it, and then use
the Tab key to enter the prompt
into the line of code.
The use of prompts is a fast way to write code and prevent typos. It is
also an effective way to learn Python commands, because it provides
you with a list of the possible choices.
6 Close ArcMap. There is no need to save your map document.

Use the ArcGIS Python window

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 1: Introducing Python

ArcGIS for Desktop Help lists several key features that make the Python
window a valuable resource for running and experimenting with Python
commands and syntax. In ArcGIS 10.1 Desktop Help, on the Contents
tab, search for Using the Python window and youll find the following:
All Python functionality is exposed through the Python window.
Multiline commands that contain more than one geoprocessing tool
or geoprocessor method can be entered and executed.
Tools or functions that have already been entered and executed can
be recalled, edited, and re-executed.
Python commands or blocks of code can be loaded from existing
Python files.
Python commands or blocks of code can be saved to a Python or text
file to be reloaded later or used in a different environment.
Autocompletion functionality makes filling in geoprocessing tool
parameters quicker and easier than using tool dialog boxes.
Several of these features of the Python window will be explored in later
exercises.

Use the ArcGIS Python window

14

Exercise 2

Geoprocessing in ArcGIS
Examine toolboxes and tools
ArcGIS software contains hundreds of tools, organized in toolboxes and
toolsets. There are two main ways to find the tools you need: search and
browse. You will practice both.
1 Start ArcMap. On the Standard toolbar, click the ArcToolbox button
. You can also open the ArcToolbox window from the menu bar by
clicking Geoprocessing > ArcToolbox.

The ArcToolbox window shows a list of all the

system toolboxes in ArcGIS and allows you to
browse through an organized list of all the tools.
2 Expand the Analysis toolbox and then the
Extract toolset to see the list of tools inside
this toolset.

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 2: Geoprocessing in ArcGIS

Examine toolboxes and tools

Finding the tool you want can be a bit cumbersome if you are
not sure where to look, but with repetition you will start to
remember where the tools you use most are located. A similar approach to browsing can be accomplished in the Catalog
window.
3 Close the ArcToolbox window.
4 On the Standard toolbar, click the Catalog button

5 Expand the Toolboxes entry, and you can see two folders:
one for your custom toolboxes (My Toolboxes) and one for
system toolboxes. The organization of the system toolboxes
is the same as in the ArcToolbox window.
Now you can try using the Search window to find the geoprocessing tools.
6 Close the Catalog window.
7 On the Standard toolbar, click the Search window button
.
You can also open the Search window from the menu bar by
clicking Geoprocessing > Search For Tools.

8 In the Search window, click the Tools hyperlink and increase

the size of the Search window to see the complete list of
toolboxes. These are exactly the same toolboxes youve seen in
the ArcToolbox and Catalog windows. So you can browse to the
tools you need in a similar fashion.
In addition to browsing, you can also search for tools by name.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 2: Geoprocessing in ArcGIS

9 Place your pointer in the Search box, type clip, and

click the Search button
.
The results panel shows the tools that have the search
term clip in the name or in the description. In this
case, notice that there is a Clip tool for vector data
such as polylines and polygons in the Analysis toolbox
and a Clip tool for raster data in the Data Management
toolbox.
You can click the link to the Item description to get a
more complete description of how the tools workthis
is the same material as provided in the full ArcGIS for
Desktop Help files.
Following the link to the path, toolboxes\system toolboxes, opens the Catalog window. Double-clicking the
tool name opens the tool dialog box.
10 Close the Search window.

Run a tool
Next, you will add some data so you can
start using some of the geoprocessing tools.
1 With ArcMap open, on the Standard
toolbar, click the Add Data button
.
On the Add Data dialog box, browse to
the folder C:\EsriPress\Python\Data\
Exercise02. Hold down Ctrl and click
basin.shp and soils.shp. Click Add.
This adds two shapefiles to your current
data frame in ArcMap. Check to see that
the extent of the soils shapefile is much
larger than the basin shapefile. You will use the Clip tool to reduce the
extent of the soils shapefile to match the basin shapefile.
Prior to running geoprocessing tools, you should set your environments.
Environments are parameters that control how a tool is run, but these
settings do not appear on the tool dialog box.

Run a tool

17

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 2: Geoprocessing in ArcGIS

Run a tool

2 On the menu bar, click Geoprocessing > Environments. This brings up the Environment Settings
dialog box.
Notice the large number of categories, each with a
number of options under it. In this case, you will set
only the Workspace.
3 Click the Workspace entry to expand its options.
4 Click the Browse button next to Current Workspace.
Navigate to the C:\EsriPress\Python\Data\
Exercise02 folder and click Results. Click Add.
5 Repeat step 4 to set the Scratch Workspace.

By setting the workspace, the outputs of geoprocessing operations will

now be saved to the C:\EsriPress\Python\Data\Exercise02\Results folder.
Instead of specifying a folder, you can also specify an existing geodatabase. In this case, the current workspace and the scratch workspace
are set to the same folder, but they can be set to different onesthis
can be useful for separating intermediate results from final results in
geoprocessing workflows that might have many different steps generating dozens to hundreds of outputs. This is typically the case when using
models in ModelBuilder.
6 Click OK to close the Environment Settings dialog box.
There are many other environment settings, some of which are introduced in later exercises.
Now you are ready to run a tool.
7 Open the ArcToolbox window. Expand the Analysis toolbox and then
the Extract toolset and double-click the Clip tool.

Note: These instructions

primarily use the
ArcToolbox window to find

Next, specify the parameters of the Clip tool.

and run tools, but you can

also use the Catalog or
Search windows.

18

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 2: Geoprocessing in ArcGIS

8 For Input Features, select the soils shapefile from the drop-down list.
9 For Clip Features, select the basin shapefile from the drop-down list.
Notice that the Output Feature Class is automatically populated. The
path is determined by the environment settings (C:\EsriPress\Python\
Data\Exercise02\Results), and the file name is based on the inputs and
the name of the tool. You can use the Browse button to navigate to a different path. You can also change the path and output file name by typing in the text box.
10 Leave the XY Tolerance blank.

11 Click OK to run the tool. A progress bar that appears at the bottom of
the document on the ArcGIS for Desktop application status bar shows
that the tool is running. Once tool execution is complete, a small pop-up
notification briefly appears in the notification area, at the far right of the
taskbar.
The result of running the tool is a new shapefile called soils_Clip,
which is added to the ArcMap table of contents.

You can now explore the soils_Clip shapefile to confirm the result. You
can also review the execution of the tool by exploring the Results
window.
12 On the ArcMap menu bar, click Geoprocessing > Results.

Run a tool

19

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 2: Geoprocessing in ArcGIS

13 In the Results window, expand the Current Session entry as well as

the entries inside Current Session.

The Results window records a history of the geoprocessing operations,

including all the tool parameters and the environment settings. The
messages at the bottom demonstrate the steps that were part of running
the tool and show when the run was completed.
14 Close the Results window.
15 Right-click the soils_Clip layer in the ArcMap table of contents and
click Remove.

Run a tool

20

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 2: Geoprocessing in ArcGIS

Conduct batch processing

You will next use batch processing to clip the other layers.
1 Add all the other layers in the exercise 2 folder to the data frame:
floodzones, lakes, rivers, and roads.
2 Right-click the Clip tool and click Batch.

This brings up the batch grid for the Clip tool.

Conduct batch processing

21

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 2: Geoprocessing in ArcGIS

There are several ways to fill in the cells, as follows:

Double-clicking a row number brings up the Clip tool dialog box for
that row.
Double-clicking in a cell brings up a dialog box for just that cell.
Clicking on the right side of a cell opens a drop-down list of layers.
Right-clicking in a cell and clicking Open brings up a dialog box for
that cell.
Right-clicking in a cell and clicking Browse brings up a dialog box
for browsing.
Since the layers have already been added to the data frame, using the
drop-down option in this case is quite efficient.
3 In the column Input Features, click on the right side of
the cell in the first row to open the drop-down list and
select the floodzones layer.
4 Add a row to the batch grid by clicking the Add Row
button
.
5 In the second row, use the drop-down arrow to select
the lakes layer.
6 Keep adding rows for the remaining layers that need
to be clipped so that the grid matches the example in
the figure.
Now you can move on to the Clip Features column.
7 For Clip Features in the first row, use the drop-down
list to select the basin layer.
8 In the first Clip Features cell, right-click basin and
click Fill. It populates the cells in the remaining rows
with the same valuethat is, the basin layer.
The last set of parameters to fill in are for Output
Feature Class.

Conduct batch processing

22

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 2: Geoprocessing in ArcGIS

9 Click the Check Values button. It validates the cell values in the
batch grid, and in the case of Output Feature Class, populates the
file names with defaults based on the current workspace.

You can also enter the file names one by one, but for filling in a large
number of rows, the Check Values button provides a quick method.
You can make changes to these values by modifying a single cell (for
example, by double-clicking in the cell or right-clicking in the cell and
clicking Open).
The batch tool is now ready to run.
10 Click OK. Once the tool runs, the four output feature classes are added
to the ArcMap table of contents.

Set the geoprocessing options

Sometimes when you run geoprocessing operations, you encounter a situation where you might
want to overwrite the existing data. For example,
you may realize you made a mistake and want
to run a tool again, using the same name you
already used for an output feature class. This is
a common scenario when running models. By
default, geoprocessing tools do not overwrite
existing datasets, but this is a setting you can
change.
First, modify the geoprocessing option to prevent
overwriting files.
1 On the ArcMap menu bar, click Geoprocessing
> Geoprocessing Options.
2 Under the General heading, clear the Overwrite the outputs of geoprocessing operations
check box.

Set the geoprocessing options

23

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 2: Geoprocessing in ArcGIS

3 Click OK.
Next, take a look at the following example.
4 Open the Clip tool dialog box.
5 For Input Features, select soils and for Clip Features, select basin.

Notice that, by default, in the naming of the output feature class,

ArcMap recognizes that the soils_Clip feature class already exists and
therefore the name soils_Clip1 is entered.
6 Change the name of Output Feature Class to soils_Clip. Then click
outside the input box for this parameter. Since this name already
exists, an error icon appears indicating that the tool will not run.

Next, modify the geoprocessing option to allow for overwriting files.

7 On the ArcMap menu bar, click Geoprocessing > Geoprocessing
Options.

Set the geoprocessing options

24

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 2: Geoprocessing in ArcGIS

Explore models and ModelBuilder

8 Under the General heading, select the Overwrite the outputs of

geoprocessing operations check box.
9 Click OK. On the Clip tool dialog box, the error icon has become a
warning icon. The warning message says that the output feature class
soils_Clip already exists, but this will not prevent the tool from running.

>>> TIP
Although the changes to the
geoprocessing options take
effect immediately, you may
need to retype the name of
the output feature class on
the Clip tool dialog box for
the error icon to disappear.

10 Click Cancel to close the Clip tool.

Explore models and ModelBuilder

Models are one way to create a sequence of geoprocessing operations
in ArcGIS. Like tools, models are organized in toolboxes and toolsets
within ArcToolbox. Before creating a model then, you need to create a
toolbox to store it.
1 On the ArcMap Standard toolbar, open the Catalog window by clicking the Catalog button.

2 Expand Folder Connections and make a connection to the C drive if

this connection does not already exist.

25

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 2: Geoprocessing in ArcGIS

Explore models and ModelBuilder

3 Navigate to the exercise 2 folder.

4 Right-click this folder and click New > Toolbox.
5 Name the toolbox Exercise 2 Tools.tbx.
Note: You can create your toolbox in any folder or in a
geodatabase. The key is that a model needs to be saved
within a toolbox, so you must create a toolbox first before
creating the model.

Now you are ready to create a model.

6 In the Catalog window, right-click the Exercise 2 Tools toolbox and
click New > Model. This brings up the ModelBuilder interface and a
new blank model.

First, give the model a name.

7 On the ModelBuilder menu bar, click Model > Model
Properties.
8 For Name, type flooding. For Label, type Flooding
Analysis.
Note: The name indicates the actual name of the model. This name
is used when calling the model from other tools in ArcGIS. The
name cannot contain any spaces. The label indicates the label that
will appear next to the model tool in the toolbox. The label can
contain spaces.

9 On the General tab, select the Store relative path

names check box.
10 Click OK to close the Model Properties dialog box.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 2: Geoprocessing in ArcGIS

Explore models and ModelBuilder

11 On the ModelBuilder toolbar, click the Save button.

Notice that this updates the label of the model in the Exercise02 folder
and the heading of the model itself. You are now ready to start adding
elements to the model. There are several ways to add data and tools to
your model, as follows:
Use the Add Data or Tool button on the ModelBuilder toolbar.
Right-click in the model and click Add Data or Tool.
Drag layers from the table of contents and tools from ArcToolbox
into the model.
You will use the drag-and-drop method in the following steps, but the
other methods are just as good.
12 Drag the basin and floodzones layers from the ArcMap table of
contents into the model.

13 Drag the Clip tool from ArcToolbox into the model.

As the layers were added, their oval symbols were given a fill color
(blue) because the file name for these data variables is specified. When
the Clip tool was added, its rectangular symbol remained hollow
because the tools parameters have not been specified yet. Hollow symbols indicate that a model is not ready to run. In addition, by its very
nature, the Clip tool produces an Output Feature Class, so this data variable is automatically added to the model, even though it is not pointing
to an output feature class yet.

27

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 2: Geoprocessing in ArcGIS

Connectors also need to be added to make the model ready to run. In

this example, the layers basin and floodzones need to be connected to
the Clip tool. There are two ways to create the appropriate connectors:
1. Use the Connect tool
. On the toolbar, click this tool, and then
click one element and drag the connector to the second element.
2. Open the tool dialog box and specify the tools parameters.
In the following steps, you will use the tool dialog box option.
14 In the model (not in ArcToolbox!), double-click the Clip tool to open
the tool dialog box.
You can now specify the tools parameters as you normally would for a
tool.
15 For Input Features, click the drop-down arrow.
The drop-down list shows all the available layers
in the ArcMap table of contents as well as the data
variables already added to the model. This explains
why floodzones and basin occur twice on the list.
16 Click the floodzones data variable (the one with a blue symbol in
front of it) for Input Features.
17 Click the basin data variable for Clip Features.
18 Set Output Feature Class to C:\EsriPress\Python\Data\Exercise02\
Results\flood_Clip.shp.

Explore models and ModelBuilder

28

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 2: Geoprocessing in ArcGIS

Explore models and ModelBuilder

19 Click OK to close the tool dialog box. When you click OK to close
the tool dialog box, the tool does not run as it would if you were using
the tool in stand-alone modethat is, outside a model. Instead, with
the tool parameters specified, the appropriate connectors are created in
the model. As a result, the symbol for the Clip tool in the model is now
given a fill color (yellow), and so is the symbol for the output data variable (green). When all parameters are specified and all elements in the
model have a fill color, the model is ready to run.

Before proceeding, try cleaning up the look of the model a bit.

20 On the ModelBuilder toolbar, first click the Auto Layout button
and then the Full Extent button
. This organizes the model elements into a consistent pattern. Although this has no effect on running
the model, it makes it easier to follow the workflow in your model. As a
general rule, after every few modifications or additions to a model, it is
a good idea to use the Auto Layout and Full Extent buttons to reorganize
the model elements.

29

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 2: Geoprocessing in ArcGIS

Run your model

Now your model is ready to run. There are several ways to run a model:
You can click the Run button on the ModelBuilder toolbar to run the
entire model.
You can click Model > Run on the ModelBuilder menu bar to run
the entire model.
You can right-click a particular tool in the model and click Run to
run just the selected tool.
Since there is only one tool in the current model, there is no difference
between running the entire model or only a single tool, but this option
becomes more relevant when your models become more complex.
1 On the ModelBuilder toolbar, click the Run button to run the entire
model. A model progress dialog box appears that shows the progress
and time elapsed in running the tools in the model. The messages are
similar to those in the Results window when geoprocessing tools are
running.

Note: Since you are running the model from within ModelBuilder, the execution of the
model is not recorded in the geoprocessing Results window, but on the model progress
dialog box. If you were to save your model and close it, you could run it as a tool, and then
the tool execution would be recorded in the Results window.

Run your model

30

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 2: Geoprocessing in ArcGIS

2 Click Close to close the Flooding Analysis dialog box. When the
model run is completed, the model elements (other than the input datasets) have a drop shadow to indicate that the tool has been run and the
output datasets have been createdin this case, a shapefile.

Although the output shapefile flood_Clip.shp was created, it has not

been added to the ArcMap table of contents. By default, ModelBuilder
assumes the model outputs represent intermediate data.
3 Right-click the flood_Clip.shp element in the model and click Add
To Display. Then right-click the flood_Clip layer and click Zoom To
Layer. You can now confirm that the flood_Clip layer has been added to
the ArcMap table of contents and that it represents the clipped version
of the floodzones layer.

Run your model

31

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 2: Geoprocessing in ArcGIS

Run your model

4 On the ModelBuilder toolbar, click the Save button. Then on the

menu bar, click Model > Close.
Next, you will run the model.
5 In the Exercise 2 Tools toolbox, double-click the Flooding Analysis
model. This brings up the Flooding Analysis tool dialog box with the
rather discouraging message, This tool has no parameters. So what
happened? Where is the model?

Models are tools, so by creating a model, you automatically create a tool.

And tools have tool dialog boxes to specify parameters. However, in the
ModelBuilder interface, you only created the model elements without
indicating which elements should become parameters. In other words,
the model is not yet fully ready to be used as a tool in which the user
could specify the tool parameters.
So instead of running the model as a tool, you are going to go back into
the model itself.
6 Click Cancel to close the Flooding Analysis tool dialog box.
7 In the Exercise 2 Tools toolbox, right-click the Flooding Analysis tool
and click Edit. This brings you back into the ModelBuilder interface.
Notice that the Clip tool and the output feature class still have drop shadowsthe model has already been run and it remembers its processing state.

Next, you can add another step to the model. You may have noticed that
the polygons in the floodzones layer cover the entire study area. This
is how traditional flood maps are organized: polygons cover the entire
study area but are coded as being inside or outside particular flood
zone categories. You next must add a tool to select just the polygons of
interest.

Note: Creating tool

parameters is not covered
here but is covered in
chapter 13 on custom tools.

32

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 2: Geoprocessing in ArcGIS

8 In ArcToolbox, drag the Select tool from the Extract toolset in the
Analysis toolbox into the model.

9 In the model (not in ArcToolbox), double-click the Select tool.

10 For Input Features, select flood_Clip.shp from
the drop-down list.
11 Set the Output Feature Class to C:\EsriPress\
Python\Data\Exercise02\Results\flooding.shp.
12 To create the Expression, click the SQL
.
button
13 On the Query Builder dialog box, create the
following expression: "SFHA" = 'IN' (SFHA
stands for Special Flood Hazard Area).

14 Click OK to close the Query Builder dialog box.

The Select tool dialog box should now look like
the example in the figure.
15 Click OK to close the Select tool dialog box.

Run your model

33

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 2: Geoprocessing in ArcGIS

16 On the ModelBuilder toolbar, first click the Auto Layout button and
then the Full Extent button. Your model should look like the example
in the figure and is now ready to run.

17 Right-click the flood_Clip.shp element and turn off Add To Display.

18 Right-click the flooding.shp element and turn on Add To Display.
19 On the ModelBuilder toolbar, click the Run button to run the model.
Because the Clip tool was run previously, only the Select tool needs to
be run for the model run to be complete.
20 When the model run is complete, close the model progress dialog
box.
21 Save and close the model. The final result of the model is now added
to the data frame.

Run your model

34

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 2: Geoprocessing in ArcGIS

Use scripting for geoprocessing

Use scripting for geoprocessing

Scripting represents another way to carry out geoprocessing operations
in ArcGIS. A basic Python script is similar to a model, except that it
uses code instead of the visual programming language of ModelBuilder.
Python is the preferred scripting language for working with ArcGIS, and
Python code can be run directly in the Python window.
1 On the ArcMap Standard toolbar, click the Python window button
This opens the Python window. The prompt (>>>) indicates that the
Python window is ready to accept code.

To be able to run geoprocessing tools from Python, you first need to

import the ArcPy site package, which youll do next. Importing the
ArcPy site package makes all the tools in the geoprocessing framework
in ArcGIS available for Python scripting.
2 Following the prompt, type the following:
>>> import arcpy
Within the Python window, ArcPy is automatically referenced, so the
import arcpy statement is in fact not necessary to use the geoprocessing tools from within that window. However, code in the Python
window can be converted to a script file (.py), and stand-alone scripts
do need the import arcpy statement.
Note: Do not type the greater-than (>>>) symbols. They are shown here to indicate

that Python code should be typed following the prompt. When a Python script is being
written (which is discussed later in this section), the prompt is no longer used. In many
programming environments, the prompt is referred to as a command prompt, so you may
see either term used in the documentation.

Notice that the Python window provides prompts to assist in writing

proper syntax. For example, when you start typing the letter i, a list of
the code elements that start with this letter is provided. You can select
the option you want by using the arrow keys to point to it, and then
press the Tab key.

>>> TIP
Instead of using the
prompts, you can also just
keep typing. Even if you
dont use the prompts,
they can be very useful as
reminders of the proper
syntax.

35

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 2: Geoprocessing in ArcGIS

Use scripting for geoprocessing

3 After your first line of code (import arcpy), press Enter. Pressing
Enter brings up a new prompt at the next line. Remember that Python is
an interpreted language, which means that in the Python window, a single line of code is run as soon as you press Enter.
Now you are ready to run a geoprocessing tool.
4 On the next line of code, enter the following, but do not press Enter
yet:
arcpy.Clip_analysis
This code calls the Clip tool. Python is case sensitive (for the most part),
so be sure to type Clip, not clip. Calling the Clip tool is equivalent to
opening the tool dialog box. The next step is to specify the tools parameters, as if you were filling out the tool dialog box. As you start typing,
the prompts will be helpful to ensure that you use the proper syntax.
When you type an opening left paren [(] after the Clip tool, a drop-down
list appears, containing all the layers from the ArcMap table of contents.

5 Complete the following line of code:

arcpy.Clip_analysis("soils", "basin", "soils_Clip")
The required tool parameters are listed inside the parens. The optional
XY Tolerance is not included, which means that, just as with a tool dialog box, the default value will be used.

36

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 2: Geoprocessing in ArcGIS

6 Press Enter to run the line of code. Similar to when a tool is run from
ArcToolbox, when background processing is enabled a progress bar
appears on the ArcMap status bar to show that the tool is running. Once
the tool execution is complete, a small pop-up notification appears in the
notification area, at the far right of the taskbar. The output feature class is
added to the data frame, and the result is printed in the Python window.

The use of Python code in the Python window is covered in more detail
in chapter 3. For now, it is important to remember that you can run
geoprocessing tools directly from the Python window. Lines of code are
run immediately, and the Python window is highly integrated with the
ArcGIS interface.
In addition to working with Python code in the Python window, you
can write and run code in a Python editor. You will use the PythonWin
editor in the next set of steps to create a simple script.
7 On the taskbar, click the Start button, and then, on the Start
menu, click Programs > Python 2.7 > PythonWin. This brings up the
PythonWin application.
8 On the PythonWin menu bar, click File > New. On the New dialog box,
click Python Script and click OK.

This brings up a new script window.

Use scripting for geoprocessing

37

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 2: Geoprocessing in ArcGIS

Use scripting for geoprocessing

9 On the menu bar, click File > Save As and save the script as my_clip.py
to the Results folder for exercise 2 (C:\EsriPress\Python\Data\
Exercise02\Results\my_clip.py). Python script files are simply text
files that have the .py extension. There is no prompt (>>>) in the
script window. Python code in a script is not run until the script is run.
So you can enter multiple lines of code before you run the script.
10 Enter the following code in the my_clip script window:
import arcpy
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise02"
arcpy.Clip_analysis("lakes.shp","basin.shp", "results/lakes_myClip.
shp")
Note: This book uses an arrow symbol to indicate long lines of code that appear all on
one line in Python.

The line of code that starts with arcpy.env.workspace is equivalent

to setting the workspace on the Environment Settings dialog box. This
syntax is covered in more detail in the following chapters.
Note: The workspace needs to be set in the Python script, even though the environment
settings have been set in the geoprocessing framework in ArcMap (that is, in ArcToolbox).
A stand-alone Python script does not inherit the environment settings of ArcGIS for
Desktop applications.

Your script window should now look like the example in the figure.

11 On the PythonWin menu bar, click File > Save to save the script.

>>> TIP
After subsequent edits, click the Run button to save the script automatically.

12 On the toolbar, click the Run

button.
13 On the Run Script dialog box,
leave the default settings (No
debugging). Click OK.

38

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 2: Geoprocessing in ArcGIS

The script now runs. Upon execution of the script, it does not initially
appear as if much has happened. Because you are running a stand-alone
script, the output is not automatically added to a data frame in ArcMap.
In fact, ArcMap doesnt need to be open for a script to run.
14 In ArcMap, open the Catalog window, navigate to the Results folder
for exercise 2, and confirm that the lakes_myClip shapefile was
created.

The Python script accomplishes the same task as the Python code in the
Python window: in both places, the Clip tool runs and creates a new
datasetin this case, a shapefile. However, there are a few differences:
The Python window inherits the environments of the geoprocessing framework in ArcMap, but in the stand-alone Python script, the
environments need to be set.
The Python script can run without having any ArcGIS for Desktop
applications open, whereas the Python window is an integral part of
ArcGIS for Desktop applications.
Code in the Python window is run line by line, whereas the standalone Python script is run in its entirety.
These differences between running Python scripts and running code in
the Python window are revisited in later chapters.

Use scripts as tools

The Python window provides a flexible environment for testing snippets
of Python code, but more complex code is typically saved to a script.
Python scripts can be integrated into the ArcGIS environment by adding
them as tools.
1 In ArcMap, in the Catalog window, right-click the Exercise 2 Tools
toolbox in the Exercise02 folder and click Add > Script.
2 On the Add Script dialog box, type MyClip for Name and My Clip Tool
for Label.

Use scripts as tools

39

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 2: Geoprocessing in ArcGIS

3 Select the Store relative path names and Always run in

foreground check boxes.

4 Click Next.
On the next dialog box, you can select the script file that will be
attached to the tool.
5 Click the Browse button and navigate to the Results folder for
exercise 2. Select the my_clip.py script file.

6 Click Next.
The next dialog box allows you to specify tool parameters to be displayed in the tool dialog box. You can skip this for now because the
simple script you are using contains hard-coded parameters, with the

Use scripts as tools

40

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 2: Geoprocessing in ArcGIS

values already in place, instead of user-specified inputs. Creating script

parameters for use on a tool dialog box is covered in chapter 13.
7 Leave the list of parameters blank and click Finish.
This adds a script tool to the toolbox. You can now run the script as a
tool.

8 To test the script, in the Catalog window, navigate to the Results

folder for exercise 2 and delete the lakes_myClip shapefile.
9 Double-click the My Clip Tool. The tool has no parameters because
none were created when the script tool was set up. However, the script
will run fine with the hard-coded parameters.

10 Click OK to run the tool. When the tool execution is complete, close
the My Clip Tool progress dialog box.
11 In the Catalog window, right-click the Results folder for exercise 2
and click Refresh.
12 Confirm that the lakes_myClip shapefile was created.
Note: Because the script now runs as a tool, it inherits the environment settings and
geoprocessing options of the current ArcMap document. For example, if you were to run
the script tool again without first deleting the lakes_myClip shapefile, the tool would run
fine and overwrite the existing dataset. This is because the Overwrite the outputs of
geoprocessing operations check box was selected under Geoprocessing Options.

As you have just seen, creating a script tool is fairly easy. However,
there is much more to creating robust script tools, including setting
tool parameters to obtain user input, validating input parameters, and
error handling, to name a few. These topics are covered in chapter 13,
after you have had more exposure to Python syntax and writing Python
scripts.

Use scripts as tools

41

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 2: Geoprocessing in ArcGIS

Convert a model to a script

Another way to learn about Python scripting is to export a model to a
script. This allows you to see what a logical sequence of geoprocessing
operations looks like in Python.
For starters, you can revisit the Flooding Analysis model created earlier,
as shown in the example in the figure.

Next, convert this model to a script.

1 In the Catalog window, right-click the Flooding Analysis model in the
Exercise 2 Tools toolbox in the Exercise02 folder and click Edit.
2 On the ModelBuilder menu bar, click Model > Export > To Python
Script.
3 On the Save As dialog box, save the script file as flooding.py to the
Results folder for exercise 2.
4 Close the model.
5 Return to the PythonWin application. On the Standard toolbar, click
.
the Open button
6 On the Open dialog box, browse to the Results folder for exercise 2,
click the flooding.py script, and click Open.

Convert a model to a script

42

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 2: Geoprocessing in ArcGIS

7 Review the contents of the script.

Dont worry for now about being able to understand everything in the
script. However, you should be able to recognize each of the model elements, including the data variables floodzones and basin, as well as the
Clip and Select tools.
8 Close PythonWin.
9 Close ArcMap. There is no need to save your map document.
In this exercise, you have learned how to run geoprocessing tools and
control how they are run by using tool parameters and environment
settings. You have created a model using the ModelBuilder interface.
You have also run Python code in the Python window as well as running
stand-alone Python scripts and script tools from within an ArcGIS for
Desktop application.

Convert a model to a script

43

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 2: Geoprocessing in ArcGIS

Challenge exercise
Challenge 1
Create a new model called Soil Analysis that accomplishes the
following:
1. Clips the soils layer using the basin layer
2. From the clipped version of the soils layer, selects the features that
are Not prime farmland (field FARMLNDCL)
Convert the model to a script called soil.py.

Challenge exercise

44

Exercise 3

Using the Python window

Open the Python window
The Python window is an interactive Python interpreter and allows
you to run Python code directly from within an ArcGIS for Desktop
application.
1 Start ArcMap. On the
Standard toolbar, click the
Python button to open the
Python window.
As with other windows in
ArcMap, you can leave the
Python window floating or
dock it on any side of the
ArcMap interface. Because
you will be typing horizontal lines of code, it makes
sense to dock the window
at either the top or the bottom of the interface.
2 To dock the Python
window, drag the top bar
of the Python window. This
brings up eight arrows
(four of which are visible
here), indicating the various locations where you
can dock the Python
window.

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 3: Using the Python window

Open the Python window

3 Drop the Python window on the bottom arrow, so that the window is
at the bottom of the interface.

4 To undock the Python window, drag the top bar again.

>>> TIP
Docking the window makes

The Python window itself can be resized, and the divider between the
code section and the Help and syntax panel can be moved. Placement of
the Help and syntax panel can also be controlled.

it a bit easier to keep

working with your code and
manage your layers in the
ArcMap table of contents at

5 Right-click in the Python window and click Help Placement >

Bottom.

6 Drag the divider between the code section and the Help and syntax
panel to adjust their sizing the way you like it.

the same time.

46

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 3: Using the Python window

Write and run code

As in any interactive interpreter, Python code is run one line at a time,
and the results are printed immediately.
1 Type the following code and press Enter at the end of each line:
>>> a = 12
>>> b = 26
>>> a * b
Note: Whether you use spaces here or not does not influence the execution of the
codethat is, a = 12 is the same as a=12. Spaces are commonly used in Python to make
code easier to read but are often not required.

After you press Enter, the line of code is executed,

and the next line automatically starts with a new
command prompt. The result of the preceding code
is shown in the figure.
Now you can try something different.
2 At the command prompt, type the following code:
>>> if a < b:
3 Press Enter to run the line of code. The result is
a secondary prompt at the next line, consisting of
three dots (...).
It means that the interactive Python interpreter recognized the start of
the multiline construct. The if statement is the first line of a block of
code, and at least one more line of code is needed for the code to run
successfully. The Python window automatically indents the next line
of code.
4 At the secondary prompt (...), enter the following code. Because
this is the block of code following the if statement, the code has
been indented. (This indentation was not automatic in ArcGIS 10.0
and had to be added manually by typing four spaces.)
... print "a is less than b"

Write and run code

47

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 3: Using the Python window

5 At the end of the line of code, press Enter. Notice

the result. The line of code is not executed, and the
next line starts with another secondary prompt.

6 With the pointer at the start of the next line of code,

and without entering any code, press Enter.
When you are working with the secondary prompt,
code is executed only when you press Enter twice.
This runs all lines of code following the last primary
prompt.
The Python window provides the secondary prompt
automatically when it recognizes a multiline construct. However, you can also force the secondary prompt by pressing
Ctrl+Enter.
7 Right-click in the Python window and click Clear All. This removes all
lines of code from the Python window.
8 At the primary prompt, enter the following code:
>>> x = 1
9 At the end of the line of code, press Ctrl+Enter.
This brings up the secondary prompt. You can keep entering lines of
code and pressing Enter at the end of each linethe secondary prompt
continues to appear, and the code is not executed until you press Enter
twice.
10 At the secondary prompt, enter the following code:
... y = 4
... z = 3
... print x * y * z
Note: There is no need to enter spaces here following the secondary prompt. In an earlier
example using the secondary prompt, spaces were needed to create a block of indented
code, but this is not the case here.

Write and run code

48

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 3: Using the Python window

11 At the end of the last line of code, press Enter twice.

The use of Ctrl+Enter makes it possible to complete several lines
of code before running them.
As you were typing the print and if statements, you probably
already noticed the code autocompletion prompts. Next, you will
take a closer look at how these prompts work.
12 Right-click in the Python window and click Clear All.
13 At the primary prompt, enter the following code and press Enter:
>>> text = "GIS"
14 At the next line, start typing the print statement.
As soon as you start typing the letter p, you are prompted by a list
of suggestions. These code autocompletion prompts include any
text that would be logical based on Python syntax. In this case,
there are two Python statements that start with the letter p. You
can select the option you want using your pointer or by using the
Up Arrow and Down Arrow keys.
15 Select the print statement and press the Tab key.
For a statement as short as print, using the prompts does not
save much typing, but autocompletion prompts can be very helpful as reminders of the proper syntax, and they can help you avoid
making typos.
16 After the print statement, type a space, followed by the
letter t.
Notice that the list of suggestions is not limited to built-in Python terms
but also includes text since this was used earlier in the code.
Note: The term text is a variable here, a term that is covered in chapter 4.

17 Select the text variable and press the Tab key. Then press
Enter to run the code.
It is worthwhile to note that you do not have to use the code
autocompletion prompts. Instead of selecting one of the suggested
terms, you can simply continue typing. You can also turn off the
prompts by right-clicking in the Python window and selecting or clearing
the Show Default Choices option. However, you can benefit from code

Write and run code

49

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 3: Using the Python window

autocompletion prompts, because using them reduces typos, makes writing code faster, and shows all your options in the drop-down list.
You have already seen how to clear code: right-click in the Python
window and click Clear All. However, you can also continue to run
lines of code, and the window will start to scroll downward if the lines
of code do not fit in the window. Also, clearing the lines of code does
not refresh the interactive Python interpreterrather, the code executed
earlier is still in memory.
18 Right-click in the Python window and click Clear All.
19 At the command prompt, type the following code and press Enter:
>>> print text
Notice that the code printed the correct text, as shown in the figure,
even though the lines of code are no longer visible.
Closing and opening the Python window does not remove the code, nor
does it remove the code from the interactive Python interpreter. However, closing ArcMap removes the code from memory, and you can
never use it again.
20 Close ArcMap and click No if asked to save any changes to the
map document. Start ArcMap again. Open the Python window if
necessary.
21 At the command prompt, type the following code and press Enter:
>>> print text
Notice the result, as shown in the figure.
The variable text is not defined, and therefore the Python window produces an error
message. Code in the Python window is
removed from memory when the ArcGIS
for Desktop application is closed. Later in
this exercise, you will see that there is an
option for saving the Python code.

Write and run code

50

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 3: Using the Python window

Run a geoprocessing tool

Next, run a geoprocessing tool from the Python window that works
with a layer in ArcMap. Dont worry too much about the syntax of the
code for now.
1 On the ArcMap Standard toolbar, click Add Data and browse to the
C:\EsriPress\Python\Data\Exercise03 folder.
2 Select the zipcodes.shp file and click Add.

3 At the prompt, start typing the following:

>>> count = arcpy.G
The code prompts you by providing a list of options.
4 Select the GetCount_management option from the list and press the
Tab key.

Run a geoprocessing tool

51

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 3: Using the Python window

Get help in the Python window

5 Type an opening, left paren [(]:

>>> count = arcpy.GetCount_management(
The code prompts you by providing the name of the only layer in
ArcMap.

6 Select this layer, press the Tab key, and type a closing, right paren [)]:
>>> count = arcpy.GetCount_management("zipcodes")
7 Press Enter to run the line of code. The code runs the Get Count tool.
Once it is finished running, a pop-up notification appears in the notification area, at the far right of the taskbar. Geoprocessing messages also
appear in the Help and syntax panel of the Python window.

Note: If you have disabled

background processing
under Geoprocessing
Options, no pop-up
notification will appear and

8 At the prompt, enter the following code and press Enter:

messages appear only in the

Help and syntax panel of the

>>> print count

The code prints the result of the Get Count tool: 80.
The specific syntax used in this example is covered in detail in chapter 5.
For now, the important thing to remember is that you can run code in the
Python window that interacts with spatial data in the map document as
well as on disk.

Get help in the Python window

You have already seen several examples of code autocompletion
prompts, which can be of great help. These prompts are context sensitive, meaning that the suggestions only include terms that are logical
based on Python syntax.
There are several other ways to get assistance.
1 Right-click in the Python window and click Clear All.
2 Make sure the Help and syntax panel is visible.

Python window.

52

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 3: Using the Python window

3 At the command prompt, type the print statement.

What is shown in the Help and syntax panel is the syntax for the print
statement. When you are just getting started in Python, the wording
may appear a little cryptic.
4 Continue the line of code with the following:
>>> print "GIS
5 With the pointer at the end of the line of code, press F2.

This brings up syntax checking for the current line of code. In this case,
an end-of-line (EOL) error is detected. Pressing F2 effectively prints any
syntax errors that will occur when the line of code is executed.
6 Without fixing the syntax error, press Enter to run the line of code.

Notice that this is the same error as reported using syntax checking.
The F2 key does only syntax checkingother types of errors are discovered only when a tool is actually run.
If you make an error, you may be tempted to correct prior lines of code
that have already been run. However, you can only run code at the current command prompt, so fixing prior lines of code is not an option. To
save on typing, you can copy the line of code, paste it after the current

Get help in the Python window

53

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 3: Using the Python window

command prompt, and fix the error. Since this is such a common task,
there are built-in shortcuts to make it easier.
7 At the command prompt, press the Up Arrow key to bring up the
previous line of code.

Now you can copy and paste the line of code, fix it, and then run it. The
Up Arrow and Down Arrow keys can be used to scroll up or down to
any previous line of code in the current session.

Save your work

Code in the Python window is not saved with a map document. If you
want to reuse your code later, you can save the code to a script.
1 Right-click in the Python window and click Clear All.
2 At the command prompt, enter and run the following lines of code.
>>> count = arcpy.GetCount_management("zipcodes")
>>> print count
80
You can copy and paste lines of code from
the Python window to a text editor or to a
script window of a Python editor to save
and reuse. However, this also copies text
that is not code, such as prompts, results,
and messages.
3 Right-click in the Python window and
click Save As.
4 On the Save As dialog box, browse to
the C:\EsriPress\Python\Data\Exercise03\Results folder and save your file
as count.py.

Save your work

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 3: Using the Python window

Next, you can open the script file in a Python editor.

5 Start PythonWin.
6 On the Standard toolbar, click the Open button, browse to the
Results folder for exercise 3, select the count.py script, and click
Open.

Notice that the resulting script file contains code only.

7 Close PythonWin.

Load existing code

You can also load existing code into the Python window.
1 Return to ArcMap.
2 Right-click in the Python window and click Clear All.
3 Right-click in the Python window and click Load.
4 On the Open dialog box, browse to the Results folder for exercise 3,
select the count.py script, and click Open.

The Python script loads into the Python window. Notice that the lines
of code are preceded by the secondary prompt, meaning that the code
is not run line by line. You can now make changes to the code prior to
running it.
5 Close ArcMap. There is no need to save your map document.

Load existing code

55

Exercise 4

Learning Python language

fundamentals

Work with numbers

Python can be used as a powerful calculator. Practicing math calculations in Python will help you not only perform these tasks, but also
show you how Python works with different types of numbers.
1 Start ArcMap. On the Standard toolbar, click the Python button.
2 In the Python window, type the following code and press Enter:
>>> 12 + 17
This code should give you the result 29. All basic calculator functions
work just as you would expect, with one exception, which follows.

Note: Do not type the

prompt (>>>), since it
is already provided by

the Interactive Window.

Whenever sample code in
this exercise is preceded by
the prompt, it means the

3 Run the following code:

code should be entered in

the Interactive Window.

>>> 10 / 3
And the result is 3? What went wrong? The inputs to the calculation
(10 and 3) are both integers, and therefore the result is, by default, also
an integer. This results in rounding. If you want ordinary division, the
solution is to use real numbers or floatsthat is, numbers that are decimals. If either one of the inputs in a division is a float, the result will
also be a float.

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 4: Learning Python language fundamentals

Work with strings

4 Run the following code:

>>> 10.0 / 3.0
The result is 3.3333333333333335notice that the very last number
does not make sense because it has reached the limit of the number of
decimal places Python uses.

Note: The exact number of

decimal places depends on
the version of Python you
are using.

Is there a similar upper limit to the size of integers? Yes, ordinary integers cannot be larger than 2147483647 or smaller than -2147483647.
However, if you want larger values, you can use a long integer, commonly referred to as long.
5 Run the following code:
>>> 12345678901
The result is 12345678901L, with the letter L indicating that Python
converted the input value to a long integer.
Basic arithmetic operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication,
and division are relatively straightforward. Many more operations are
possible, but take a look at just one more for now: the exponentiation,
or power, operator (**).
6 Run the following code:
>>> 2 ** 5
And the result is 32.
Although you are not very likely to use Python directly as a calculator,
the examples here show how Python handles numbers, which will be
useful as you start writing scripts.

Work with strings

Now take a look at strings. You have already seen a very simple example, which follows.
1 Run the following code:
>>> print "Hello World"

57

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 4: Learning Python language fundamentals

Work with strings

The code prints Hello World to the next line. This is called a string, as
in a string of characters. Strings are values, just as numbers are.
Python considers single and double quotation marks to be the same
thing, making it possible to use quotation marks within a string.
2 Run the following code:
>>> print 'Let's go!'
The code results in a syntax error because Python does not know how
to distinguish the quotation marks that mark the beginning and end of
the string from the quotation marks that are part of the stringin this
case, in the word Lets. The solution is to mix the type of quotation
marks used, with both single and double quotation marks.
3 Run the following code:
>>> print "Let's go!"
The code prints Let's go! to the next line.
Strings are often used in geoprocessing scripts to indicate path and file
names, so you will see more examples of working with strings throughout the exercise.

Note: Quotation marks in

Python are straight up,
and there is no difference
between opening quotation

Strings can be manipulated in a number of ways, as you will see next.

marks and closing quotation

marks, as is common in

4 Run the following code:

word processors. When

you type quotation marks

>>> z = "Alphabet Soup"

>>> print z[7]
The code returns the letter t, the seventh letter in the string where
the letter A is located at index number 0. This system of numbering a
sequence of characters in a string is called indexing and can be used to
fetch any element within the string. The index number of the first element is 0.

directly in Python, they are

automatically formatted
properly, but be careful
when copying and pasting
from other documents.
Quotation marks in Python
have to look like this (' ') or
this (" "), not like this ( )
or this ( ).

5 Run the following code:

>>> print z[0]
The code returns the letter A. The index number of the last element
depends on the length of the string itself. Instead of determining the
length, negative index numbers can be used to count from the end
backward.

58

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 4: Learning Python language fundamentals

6 Run the following code:

>>> print z[-1]
The code returns the letter p.
To fetch more than one element, you can use multiple index numbers.
This is known as slicing.
7 Run the following code:
>>> print z[0:8]
The reference z[0:8] returns the characters with index numbers from
0 up to, but not including, 8, and therefore the result is Alphabet.
As you have seen, you can use an index to fetch an element. You can
also search for an element to obtain its index.
8 Run the following code:
>>> name = "Geographic Information Systems"
>>> name.find ("Info")
The result is 11, the index of the letter I. In this example, find is a
method that you can use on any string. Methods are explored later in
this exercise.

Work with variables

All scripting and programming languages work with variables. A variable is basically a name that represents or refers to a value. Variables
store temporary information that can be manipulated and changed
throughout a script. Many programming languages require that variables be declared before they can be used. Declaring means that you
first create a variable and specify what type of variable it isand only
then can you actually assign a value to that variable. In Python, you
immediately assign a value to a variable (without declaring it), and from
this value, Python then determines the nature of the variable. This typically saves a lot of code and is one reason why Python scripts are often
much shorter than code in other programming languages.
Next, try a simple example using a numeric value.

Work with variables

59

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 4: Learning Python language fundamentals

Work with lists

1 Run the following code:

>>> x = 12
>>> print x
The value of 12 is now printed to the next line. The code line x = 12 is
called an assignment. The value of 12 is assigned to the variable x. Another
way of putting this is to say that the variable x is bound to the value of 12.
Implicitly, this particular line of code results in variable x being an integer,
but there is no need to explicitly state this with extra code.
Once a value is assigned to a variable, you can use the variable in
expressions, which youll do next.
2 Run the following code:
>>> x = 12
>>> y = x / 4
>>> print y
The result is 3.
Variables can store many different types of data, including numbers
(integers, longs, and floats), strings, lists, tuples, dictionaries, files, and
many more. So far, you have seen only integers. Next, you can continue
with strings.
3 Run the following code:

Note: Variable names can

consist of letters, digits, and

>>> k = 'This is a string'

>>> print k

underscores (_). However, a

variable name cannot begin
with a digit.

Work with lists

Lists are a versatile Python data type used to store a sequence of values.
The values themselves can be numbers or strings.
1 Run the following code:
>>> w = ["Apple", "Banana", "Cantaloupe", "Durian", "Elderberry"]
>>> print w
This prints the contents of the list.

60

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 4: Learning Python language fundamentals

Lists can be manipulated using indexing and slicing techniques, very

much like strings.
2 Run the following code:
>>> print w[0]
This returns Apple because the index number of the first element in
the list is 0. You can use negative numbers for index positions on the
right side of the list.
3 Run the following code:
>>> print w[-1]
This returns Elderberry.
Slicing methods using two index numbers can also be applied to lists,
which you'll try next.
4 Run the following code:
>>> print w[2:-1]
The reference w[2:-1] returns the elements from index number 2 up
to, but not including, -1, and therefore the result is ['Cantaloupe',
'Durian'].
Notice the difference here between indexing and slicing. Indexing
returns the value of the element, and slicing returns a new list. This is a
subtle but important difference.

Use functions
A function is like a little program you can use to perform a specific
action. Although you can create your own functions, Python has functions already built in, referred to as standard functions.
1 Run the following code:
>>> d = pow (2, 3)
>>> print d
So instead of using the exponentiation operator (**), you can use a
power function called pow. Using a function this way is referred to as

Use functions

61

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 4: Learning Python language fundamentals

Use functions

calling the function. You supply the function with parameters, or

arguments (in this case, 2 and 3), and it returns a value.
Numerous standard functions are available in Python. You can view the
complete list by using the dir(__builtins__) statement.
2 Run the following code:
>>> print dir(__builtins__)

It may not be immediately intuitive as to what many of these functions are used for, although some are straightforward. For example, abs
returns the absolute value of the numeric value.
3 Run the following code:
>>> e = abs(-12.729)
>>> print e
This returns the value of 12.729.
Since it may not be immediately clear how many of these functions
work and what the parameters are, it should be helpful to take a look at
the Help function next.

Note: There are two

underscores on either side
of the word builtins, not
just one.

62

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 4: Learning Python language fundamentals

4 First, clean up the Python window by removing all the code so far.
Right-click in the Python section of the window and click Clear All.
5 Make sure the Help and syntax panel is visible by dragging the
divider in place.
6 Type the function type and dont press Enter
yet. Notice that the syntax appears in the adjacent
panel.
You can find similar descriptions in the Python manuals, but having it
right where you are coding in the Python window is convenient. Notice
that a section of the syntax is highlighted. It specifies the parameters
of the function. When you call the function, you need to supply these
parameters for the function to work, although some parameters are
optional.
Next, you can try out this function.
7 Run the following code:
>>> type(123)
The result is <type 'int'>that is, the input value is an integer.
8 Run the following code:
>>> type(1.23)
The result is <type 'float'>that is, the input value is a float, or
floating point.
9 Run the following code:
>>> type("GIS")
The result is <type 'str'>that is, the input value is a string.
Multiple parameters are separated by commas. Optional parameters are
shown between square brackets ([ ]). For example, take a look at the
function range.

Use functions

63

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 4: Learning Python language fundamentals

10 In the Python window, type the function range and notice that the
syntax Help appears in the adjacent panel.

Notice the syntax: range([start,] stop[, step]). The function

range has three parameters: start, stop, and step.
11 Run the following code:
>>> range(10, 21, 2)
The result is [10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20].
The function returns a list of integers from 10 to 20, with an increment
of 2. However, the only required parameter is the endpoint (stop).
12 Run the following code:
>>> range(5)
The result is [0, 1, 2, 3, 4].
The function returns a list of integers using the default values of 0 for
the start parameter and 1 for the increment (step) parameter.

Use functions

64

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 4: Learning Python language fundamentals

Use methods
Methods are similar to functions. A method is a function that is closely
tied with an objectfor example, a number, a string, or a list. In general,
a method is called as follows:
<object>.<method>(<arguments>)
Calling a method looks just like calling a function, but now the object is
placed before the method, with a dot (.) separating them. Next, take a
look at a simple example.
1 Run the following code:
>>> topic = "Geographic Information Systems"
>>> topic.count("i")
The code returns the value of 2 because that is how often the letter i
occurs in the input string.
A number of different methods are available for strings. Notice that
when you start calling methods by typing a dot after the variable, a list
of methods is provided for you to choose from. The syntax Help is also
context sensitive.

Next, try this out by using the split method.

2 Run the following code:
>>> topic.split(" ")
The result is a list of the individual words in the string:
['Geographic', 'Information', 'Systems']

Use methods

65

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 4: Learning Python language fundamentals

Next, you can see how to apply the split method to work with paths.
Say, for example, the path to a shapefile is c:\data\part1\final. How
would you obtain just the last part of the path?
3 Run the following code:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>

path = "c:/data/part1/final"
pathlist = path.split("/")
lastpath = pathlist[-1]
print lastpath

The result is final.

So what happened exactly? In the first line of code, the path is assigned
as a string to the variable path. In the second line of code, the string is
split into four strings, which are assigned to the list variable pathlist.
And in the third line of code, the last string in the list with index -1 is
assigned to the string variable lastpath.
Methods are also available for other objects, such as lists.
4 Run the following code:
>>> mylist = ["A", "B", "C"]
>>> mylist.append("D")
>>> print mylist
The result is ['A', 'B', 'C', 'D'].
Very few built-in methods are available for numbers, so in general, you
can use the built-in functions of Python or import the math module (see
next section) to work with numeric variables.

Use modules
Hundreds of additional functions are stored in modules. Before you can
use a function, you must import its module using the import function.
The functions you used in the preceding sections are part of Pythons
built-in functions and dont need to be imported. One of the most common modules to import is the math module, so start with that one.

Use modules

66

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 4: Learning Python language fundamentals

1 Run the following code:

>>> import math
>>> h = math.floor (7.89)
>>> print h
The result is 7.0.
Notice how the math module works: you import a module using
import, and then use the functions from that module by writing
<module>.<function>. Hence, you use math.floor. The math.
floor function always rounds down, whereas the built-in round function rounds to the nearest integer.
You can obtain a list of all the functions in the math module using the
dir statement.
2 Run the following code:
>>> print dir(math)

You can learn about each function in the Python manuals, but remember that you can also see the syntax in the Python windows Help and
syntax panel.
3 Type the following code and do not press Enter:
>>> math.floor

Use modules

67

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 4: Learning Python language fundamentals

Use modules

Another way to see the documentation is to use the __doc__ statement

directly in Python.
4 Run the following code:
>>> print math.floor.__doc__
The result is a printout of the same syntax Help but now directly within
the interactive Python interpreter.

The syntax is floor(x), which means the only parameter of this

function is a single value. The function returns a float (such as 7.0),
not an integer (such as 7). This information allows you to determine
whether the function is really what you are looking for and how to use
it correctly.
There are numerous modules available in Python. A complete list can
be found in the Python manuals, which youll look at next.

Note: Remember that you

need to add a prefix to any
non-built-in functions using
the name of the module, as
in math.floor(x), not

just floor(x). If you do

not use a prefix, you will

get an error stating that the

name floor is not defined.

68

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 4: Learning Python language fundamentals

5 To access the Help documentation, on the taskbar, click the Start

button, and then, on the Start menu, click All Programs > ArcGIS >
Python 2.7 > Python Manuals.

6 In the documentation
table of contents, under
Indices and tables, click
Global Module Index.
The index provides an
alphabetical list of all the
available modules.

Use modules

69

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 4: Learning Python language fundamentals

There are many specialized modules, and in a typical Python script, you
may use several. Try taking a look at just one more. For example, scroll
down to the random module and click the link. Scroll down to the
uniform function and read the description.

Notice that the uniform function has two required parameters, a and b.
You will try this function next in Python.
7 Close the documentation and return to the Python window.
8 Run the following code:
>>> import random
>>> j = random.uniform(0, 100)
>>> print j
The result is a float from 0 to 100.
9 Close ArcMap. There is no need to save your map document.

Save Python code as scripts

So far in this exercise, you have only worked from within the Python
window, or interactive Python interpreter. This works great to practice
writing Python code and to run relatively simple code. However, once
code gets a bit more complex, youll typically want to save your work to
a Python script. Although you can save your code from the Python window to a script file, you will first practice creating, writing, and saving
scripts using the PythonWin editor.
1 On the taskbar, click the Start button, and then, on the Start menu,
click Python 2.7 > PythonWin. Notice that, by default, PythonWin
opens with an Interactive Window, which works very much like the
Python window in ArcMap.
Next, you will create a new script window.

Save Python code as scripts

70

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 4: Learning Python language fundamentals

Save Python code as scripts

2 On the PythonWin Standard toolbar, click the New button

New dialog box, click Python Script and click OK.

Note: Using the New button

. On the

in PythonWin is the same as

using File > New from the
menu bar.

3 Rearrange the windows so that both the Interactive Window and the
new script window are visible.

Next, you will enter the same code you worked with in the Python
window.
4 In the script window, type the following code:
path = "c:/data/part1/final"
pathlist = path.split("/")
lastpath = pathlist[-1]
print lastpath
Notice that the lines of code in the script window are not preceded by
the prompts (>>>) found in the Interactive Window. Also notice that
nothing is printed when you press Enterthe cursor simply jumps to
the next line as in a text editor. What this means is that in the script
window, the Python code is not actually executed until you run it.

71

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 4: Learning Python language fundamentals

Write conditional statements

5 First, save the script. On the PythonWin Standard toolbar, click

the Save button
. On the Save As dialog box, navigate to the
C:\EsriPress\Python\Data\Exercise04\Results folder and save your
file as path.py. The extension .py indicates the file is a Python script.

Note: Using the Save button

6 With your cursor still placed anywhere within the code in the path.
py script window, click the Run button on the PythonWin Standard
toolbar.

>>> TIP

in PythonWin is the same as

using File > Save from the
menu bar.

To run a script, you can also

click File > Run on the menu
bar or press CTRL+R.

7 This brings up the Run Script dialog box. For now, leave the default
settings and click OK.

The result final is printed to the Interactive Window. Notice that

the syntax for Python code in the script window is the same as in the
interactive interpreter. The main difference is that the script window
allows you to write and save scripts without the code being run. In a
typical workflow, you may use both the interactive interpreter, such as
the Python window in ArcGIS or the Interactive Window in PythonWin,
and the script window in a Python editor, such as PythonWin. Later
exercises show examples of using both in a single workflow.
8 Close the path.py script and leave PythonWin open.

Write conditional statements

The scripts you have worked with so far use a sequential flow. In many
cases, youll want to selectively run certain portions of your code
instead. Thats where branching and looping statements come in.
1 On the PythonWin Standard toolbar, click the New button and confirm that you want a new script. Then save as branching.py to the
Results folder for exercise 4.

72

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 4: Learning Python language fundamentals

Write conditional statements

2 Write the following code to generate a random number between 1

and 6:
import random
p = random.randint(1, 6)
print p
3 Run the script to confirm that it works correctly.
Next, you will add an if structure to run code based on the value of p.
4 Replace the line print p with the following:
if p == 6:
The code p == 6 is an example of a conditionthe answer is either
True or False. If the answer is true, the code following the if statement runs. If the answer is false, there is no code left to run, and the
script simply ends.
A few things to remember about the if structure: First, the if statement ends with a colon (:). Second, the lines following the if statement
are indented. When you indent a line, the code becomes a block. A
block consists of one or more consecutive lines of code that have the
same indentation.
PythonWin assists with automatic indentation. When you press Enter
following the if statement colon, PythonWin automatically indents the
next line of code.
5 Write the following line of code following the if statement:
print "You win!"
Your script should now look like the example in the figure.

Note: Indentation is
required in Python. You can
use tabs or spaces to create
indentationthe style you
pick is partly a matter of
preference, but you should
be consistent. Using either
two spaces or four spaces is
most common. By default,

6 Run the script. Running the script may result in a print statement in
the Interactive Window, or nothing at all, depending on your value for p.

Python uses four spaces for

indentation and also converts
a tab to four spaces.

73

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 4: Learning Python language fundamentals

Write conditional statements

Notice that the if structure, in this case, is not followed by anything

else. If you are familiar with other programming languages, you may
have expected something to follow, such as else or end. In Python,
the if structure can be used on its own or expanded by follow-up
statements.
7 In the branching.py script, place your pointer at the end of the line
of code that reads print "You win!" and press Enter. Notice that
the next line of code is automatically indented under the assumption
you are continuing your block of code. However, in this case, you want
to continue with an else statement, and the indentation needs to be
removed.
8 Press Backspace to remove the indentation.
9 For the next lines of code, enter the following:

>>> TIP
Correct indentation is key

else:

print "You lose!"
Notice again the automatic indentation following the else statement.
Now, your code is ready to handle both a true and a false condition.
10 Save and run the script. By using the if-else structure, you account
for all possible outcomes and the script prints a value to the screen
every time you run it, not just when the if statement is True.
One more variant on this is the if-elif-else structure, which youll
use next.
11 Insert a line above the else statement and enter the following code:
elif p == 5:

print "Try again!"
Your code should now look like the example in the figure.

here. In this example, the if

and the else statements

should line up, and the two

print statements should

also line up.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 4: Learning Python language fundamentals

Use loop structures

12 Run the script a few times until the results include all three conditions. The elif statement is evaluated only if the if statement is
False. You can use elif multiple times, so in principle you could specify an action for every unique possible value of the variable p. Like the
if statement, the elif statement does not need an else statement to
follow. You do, however, need to start this type of branching structure
with an if statementthat is, you cant use elif or else without first
using an if statement. Also notice that all three statements end with
a colon (:) and that there is no end statement as there is in some programming languages.
13 Save your branching.py script and close it.

Use loop structures

There are other structures to control workflow, including the while
loop and for loop structures.
1 On the PythonWin Standard toolbar, click the New button and confirm that you want a new script. Then save as whileloop.py to the
Results folder for exercise 4.
2 Write the following code:

Note: The syntax uses the

plus-equal symbol (+=),

i = 0
while i <= 10:

print i

i += 1
3 Run the script. The result is a print of the numbers 0 to 10. With each
iteration over the while loop, the value of the variable i is increased by
1. The variable i is referred to as a counter. The while loop keeps going
until the condition becomes falsethat is, when the counter reaches the
value of 11.
The while loop structure uses a syntax similar to the if structure:
the while statement ends with a colon (:), and the next line of code is
indented to create a block.
4 Save and close your whileloop.py script.
Next, you can try a for loop.
5 Create a new Python script and save as forloop.py to the Results
folder for exercise 4.

which adds a specified

amount to the input value.
This could also be written
as i = i + 1.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 4: Learning Python language fundamentals

6 Write the following code:

numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
for number in numbers:

print number
7 Run the script. The block of code is run for each element in the list.
8 Save and close your forloop.py script.
Looping, or iterating, over a range of numbers is a common task, and
Python has a built-in function to create ranges. The range function
has three arguments: start, stop, and step. The range function
generates a list of integers, beginning with start and up to, but not
including, stop, using an increment of size step. For example, the next
code prints the numbers 0 to 100, with a step of 10.
9 Create a new Python script and save as range.py to the Results
folder for exercise 4.
10 Write the following code:
for number in range(0, 101, 10):

print number
11 Run the script. Iterating using a for loop is much more compact than
using the while loop.
12 Save and close your range.py script.
Usually, iterating over a loop simply runs a block of code until it has
used up all the sequence elements. Sometimes, however, you may want
to interrupt a loop to start a new iteration or to end the loop. You can
use the break statement to accomplish this, which youll do next.
13 Create a new Python script and save as breakloop.py to the Results
folder for exercise 4.
14 Write the following code:
from math import sqrt
for i in range(1001, 0, -1):

root = sqrt(i)

if root == int(root):
print i
break

Use loop structures

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 4: Learning Python language fundamentals

15 Run the script. The code determines the largest square below 1,000. A
range of integers is created, starting at 1,000 and counting down to zero
(0). The negative step is used to iterate downward. When the square
root of the integer is identical to the integer of the square root, you have
the solution, and there is no need to continue. The solution is printed,
and the loop ends.

Comment scripts
Well-developed scripts include comments that provide documentation
about the script. Typically, the first few lines of a script consist of comments, but comments also occur throughout a script to explain how the
script works. Comments are not executed when the script is run. In
Python, a comment is preceded by the number sign (#). Any text that
comes after the number sign is ignored during the execution of the script.
Next, you will add some comments that could prove useful in almost
any script you write.
1 In the breakloop.py script, place your pointer at the very beginning
of the code and press Enter. At the top of the script, type the following code:
# Name: <your name>
# Date: <current date>
# Description: This script demonstrates how to break a loop
Your script window should now look like the example in the figure.
Notice that the PythonWin editor recognizes comments and shows them
in green italics.

Comment scripts

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 4: Learning Python language fundamentals

Adding a comment just before a particular line or block of code can help
other users understand it, as well as serve as a personal reminder about
the codes meaning.

>>> TIP
Adding a line of space in your code is optional and has no effect on running the script.
Typically, lines of space are added for readability. For example, it is common to add a line
before or after comments or to keep lines of related code separate from other sections.
This becomes more important as your scripts get longer.

2 After the if root == int(root) code, enter a few tabs and then
the code:
# This evaluates when the root is an integer
Inserting comments allows you to enter specific comments to explain
very specific parts of your code.

A related technique is commenting out several lines of code all at once.

Say, for example, you have written some code and youve tested it. Now
you want to try another approach without having to delete the code you
already have.
3 In the breakloop.py script, highlight the last three lines of code.

Comment scripts

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 4: Learning Python language fundamentals

4 Right-click the highlighted section of code and click Source code

> Comment out region. Notice that this places double number signs
(##) in front of the lines of code (you could do this manually as well,
but it is much faster to comment out all lines of code at one time). Now
these lines of code are skipped when the script is run. To make the
code active again, highlight the commented lines, right-click, and click
Source code > Uncomment region.

5 Save your script and close PythonWin.

Check for errors

It is relatively easy to make small mistakes in your Python code as a
result of spelling and other syntax errors. Next, take a look at some
simple ways to identify and correct errors. More advanced techniques
are covered in chapter 11.
Start with some simple syntax errors.
1 Start ArcMap and open the Python window. Run the following code,
in which print is intentionally misspelled:
>>> pint "Hello World!"
There is a typo in the print statement, and the result is a syntax error:
Parsing error SyntaxError: invalid syntax
(line 1)
Notice that the error message indicates both the type of error (parsing
error) and where it occurred (line 1). You can try to minimize typos by
using the prompts provided as you start typing.

Check for errors

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 4: Learning Python language fundamentals

2 Try a small variation of your print statement by running the following

code:
>>> print "Hello World!
There are no closing quotation marks at the end of the line of code,
resulting in a syntax error:
Parsing error SyntaxError: EOL while scanning
string literal (line 1)
Notice that the error message provides specific details on the nature
of the error. EOL stands for End of Line, so you know where to look
to correct the error. There are a lot of different types of error messagestoo many to worry about at this point, but the basic idea is that
error messages provide information on both the nature of the error and
where the error occurs. Next, look at how this works for scripts consisting of multiple lines of code.
3 Close ArcMap. There is no need to save your map document.
4 Start PythonWin and open your branching.py script from earlier in
the exercise. It should look like the example in the figure.

Next, try adding a small error.

5 Place your pointer at the end of the third line of code and remove the
colon (:) at the end of the if statement:
if p == 6

Check for errors

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 4: Learning Python language fundamentals

6 Place your pointer anywhere in the first line of code and click the
Check button
. This checks the syntax of the code without running it. Notice that the cursor is placed at the end of the third line of
code where the syntax error is located, and the status bar at the
bottom of the PythonWin interface reads, Failed to check syntax
error invalid syntax. The Check option provides a quick way to test
the syntax prior to running your script.
7 Now try running the script. In this case, running the script returns the
same result: the cursor is placed at the end of the third line of code, and
the status bar at the bottom indicates a syntax error. For more complicated scripts, it is useful to first identify and remove syntax errors using
the Check option, and then run the script to see if there are other errors.
8 Correct the syntax error by placing a colon (:) at the end of the if
statement:
if p == 6:
9 Now introduce a different error by placing a typo in the randint
function:
p = random.randinr(1, 6)
10 Check the syntax of your script by clicking the Check button.
Clicking Check confirms that there are no syntax errors in your script.
Syntax checking examines the statements and expressions in your code
but does not check for other errors, such as naming a function incorrectly. Only when you run the code will you discover that the function
randinr does not exist.
11 Try running your script. Notice a fairly lengthy error message that is
printed to the Interactive Window. The last three lines read as follows:
File "......\branching.py", line 2, in <module>
p = random.randinr(1,6)
AttributeError: 'module' object has no attribute 'randinr'
The error message provides a clear indication of where the error is
located (line 2 of the code in which you are working with a module) and
what the error is (randinr is not a function of this module).
12 Close PythonWin. There is no need to save the changes to your
script.

Check for errors

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 4: Learning Python language fundamentals

Challenge exercises

Challenge exercises
Challenge 1
Create a script that examines a string for the occurrence of a particular
letter, as you did previously in this exercise for Geographic Information
Systems. If the letter occurs in the text (for example, the letter Z), the
string Yes should be printed to the Interactive Window. If the letter
does not occur in the text, the string No should be printed.
Challenge 2
Create a script that examines a list of numbers without duplicates (for
example, 2, 8, 64, 16, 32, 4) and determines the second-largest number.
Challenge 3
Create a script that examines a list of numbers (for example, 2, 8, 64,
16, 32, 4, 16, 8) to determine whether it contains duplicates. The script
should print a meaningful result, such as The list provided contains
duplicate values or The list provided does not contain duplicate values.
An optional addition is to remove the duplicates from the list.
Challenge 4
Consider the following list:
mylist = ["Athens", "Barcelona", "Cairo", "Florence", "Helsinki"]
Determine the results of the following:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)

len(mylist)
mylist[2]
mylist[1:]
mylist[-1]
mylist.index("Cairo")
mylist.pop(1)
mylist.sort(reverse = True)
mylist.append("Berlin")

These operations are all to be performed on the original listthat is, not
as a sequence of operations. Try to determine the answer manually first,
and then check your result by running the code.

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Part 2

Writing scripts

Exercise 5

Geoprocessing using Python

Use tools
Before starting to work with the exercise data, you will preview the data
in ArcMap.
1 Start ArcMap with a new empty map document. On the standard
toolbar, click the Catalog button to open the Catalog window.
2 Browse to the exercise 5 folder.

Notice that there are five shapefiles in this folder, including point, polyline,
and polygon shapefiles.
3 Drag the parks.shp and zip.shp files to the ArcMap Table Of Contents
window.

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 5: Geoprocessing using Python

4 Dock the Catalog window at the bottom of the Table Of Contents

window.

5 On the Standard toolbar, click the Python button to open the Python
window.

Use tools

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 5: Geoprocessing using Python

6 Dock the Python window below the map display area.

Note: Docking the Catalog and Python windows is not required, but it can help to
organize your available desktop space. Typically, it is helpful if the Python window is fairly
wide to make it easier to see longer lines of code.

You are almost ready to run some geoprocessing tools in the Python
window. Before doing so, you must first confirm some geoprocessing
options.
7 On the ArcMap menu bar, click Geoprocessing > Geoprocessing
Options.

Use tools

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 5: Geoprocessing using Python

Use tools

8 On the Geoprocessing Options dialog box, make sure the Overwrite

the outputs of geoprocessing operations and Add results of
geoprocessing operations to the display check boxes are selected.

9 Click OK to close the Geoprocessing Options dialog box.

10 In the Python window, at the command prompt, enter the following
code and press Enter:
>>> arcpy.Clip_analysis("parks", "zip", "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/
Exercise05/Results/parks_Clip.shp")
In the Python window, it is not necessary to start your code with the
import ArcPy statement because the Python window is automatically
aware of ArcPy. In a stand-alone script, however, the import ArcPy
statement is needed to import the ArcPy site package, including all its
modules and functions.
Note: If the exercise data was installed on a different drive or in a different folder, the
path in the preceding code needs to be replaced by the correct path to the Results folder for
exercise 5.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 5: Geoprocessing using Python

When you press Enter after the last line of code, the Clip tool is run.
Upon completion, the newly created shapefile parks_Clip.shp is added
as a layer to the data frame, and the result is printed to the Python
window.

A few things to notice about the syntax:

When your line of code exceeds the width of the Python window,
simply keep typing and the line of code will wrap. It does not affect
code execution.
Using arcpy.Clip_analysis is the same as arcpy.analysis.
Clip.
When layers are added to the map document, they can be referenced
by their layer namein this case, parks. When datasets are referenced on disk, the file extension .shp is requiredin this case, parks.
shp. Unless the correct workspace is set, you need to reference datasets using the full path, such as C:\EsriPress\Python\Data\Exercise05\
parks.shp. If the correct workspace is set and the dataset is in the
workspace, it is not necessary to use a full path, and you need to use
only the name of the datasetthat is, parks.shp.
When referencing data on disk, you can limit the need to write
the full path by setting the workspace as part of the environment
properties.
11 Run the following code:
>>> from arcpy import env
The env class is now imported, making it possible to set environment
properties.
12 Run the following code:
>>> env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise05"
Running the code sets the current workspace to the folder containing
the exercise data. You can now reference data on disk without having to
type the full path each time.

Use tools

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 5: Geoprocessing using Python

Use tools

Note: Instead of first importing the env class and then setting the current workspace, you
can use a single line of code to do this: arcpy.env.workspace = ....

Next, you will use another geoprocessing tool.

13 Run the following code:
>>> arcpy.Buffer_analysis("facilities.shp", "Results/facilities_
buffer.shp", "500 METERS")
The Buffer tool is run, and the resulting shapefile is added to the data
frame. By default, the Buffer tool creates a new feature around each
input feature, and the resulting buffers are allowed to overlap, as shown
in the figure.

If you want these overlapping features to be dissolved, you need to set

the Dissolve parameter. The syntax of the Buffer tool is as follows:
Buffer_analysis(in_features, out_feature_class,buffer_distance_
or_field, {line_side}, {line_end_type},{dissolve_option},
{dissolve_field})
Note: You can find this syntax by pressing F1 in the Python window or on the Help page
for the Buffer tool.

The dissolve_option is an optional parameter for the Buffer tool.

Because it is preceded by two optional parameters, you need to skip
them using two empty strings ("", "").

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 5: Geoprocessing using Python

Use tools

14 At the prompt, use the Up Arrow key to bring up the previous line of
code:
>>> arcpy.Buffer_analysis("facilities.shp", "Results/facilities_
buffer.shp", "500 METERS")
15 Next, modify this code to include the optional parameters:
>>> arcpy.Buffer_analysis("facilities.shp", "Results/facilities_
buffer.shp", "500 METERS", "", "", "ALL")
16 Press Enter to run the code. All the buffer features are dissolved into a
single multipart feature, as shown in the figure.

So far, the tool parameters have been hard-codedthat is, the actual
values have been used. Alternatively, you can first assign the value of a
parameter to a variable, and then use the variables in the code that calls
the tool.
17 Run the following code:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>

in_features = "bike_routes.shp"
clip_features = "zip.shp"
out_features = "bike_Clip.shp"
xy_tolerance = ""

This creates a variable for each of the tools parameters. Next, you are
ready to run the tool.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 5: Geoprocessing using Python

Get help with tool syntax

18 Run the following code:

>>> arcpy.Clip_analysis(in_features, clip_features, out_features,
xy_tolerance)
When you press Enter, the Clip tool runs. The use of variables is not
required, but it gives your code more flexibility.

Get help with tool syntax

Working with geoprocessing tools in Python requires a good understanding of the syntax of the tools. The proper syntax can be reviewed in a
number of ways.
1 Make sure the Help and syntax panel is visible within the Python
window.
2 At the command prompt, enter the following code (without pressing
Enter):
>>> arcpy.Buffer_analysis(
Entering the code brings up the syntax for the tool.

You can also find the syntax and tool explanation in the Item Description and Help files for each tool.
3 On the ArcMap Standard toolbar, click the Search button
the Search window.

to open

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 5: Geoprocessing using Python

4 In the Search window, click Tools to filter the results. In the text box,
type Buffer and press the Search button
.

5 In the list of results, click the definition of the Buffer (Analysis) entry,
starting with Creates buffer polygons .... This opens the Item
Description of the Buffer tool. It contains the same information as in the
ArcGIS for Desktop Help files.

Get help with tool syntax

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 5: Geoprocessing using Python

6 Scroll down in the Item Description window to see the syntax of the
tool.

Get help with tool syntax

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 5: Geoprocessing using Python

7 Scroll farther down in the Item Description window to see code

examples under Code Samples.

Finally, code autocompletion prompts can help you write the proper
syntax. For example, when you start typing the parameters for the
Buffer tool, the Python window recognizes which parameters you are
currently working on. In the case of the dissolve_option parameter,
the options are "ALL", "LIST", and "NONE".

8 Close the Item Description window.

Get help with tool syntax

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 5: Geoprocessing using Python

Explore ArcPy functions and classes

Explore ArcPy functions and classes

All the geoprocessing tools in ArcGIS are functions of ArcPy. There are
also a number of ArcPy functions that are not tools.
Note: The instructions in this exercise assume you are completing all the steps in sequence
without closing ArcMap. When ArcMap is closed, any code entered in the Python window
is removed from memory. As a result, when restarting ArcMap, you may need to reenter
portions of earlier code. In this case, the necessary code would consist of the following:

1 Run the following code:

>>> arcpy.Exists("hospitals.shp")
The result is True.
>>> from arcpy import env
>>> env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise05"
Note: Unlike with ArcMap, closing the Python window does not eliminate the code.
Moreover, using Clear or Clear All removes the code from the Python window, but the code
that has already been run is still in memory. For example, once you import ArcPy and set
the workspace, you do not have to do it again in the same ArcMap session, even if these
lines of code are no longer visible.

The Exists function returns a Boolean value. There are several other
ArcPy functions that are not geoprocessing tools, and some of them are
used later in this exercise and other exercises.
One function, in particular, is a useful shortcut for getting the syntax of
ArcPy functions. It is the Usage function, which youll use next.
2 Run the following code:
>>> arcpy.Usage("Clip_analysis")
The result is 'Clip_analysis(in_features, clip_features,
out_feature_class, {cluster_tolerance})\nExtracts
input features that overlay clip features.'
Remember to call geoprocessing tools using a toolbox alias. Calling a
tool only by name will produce an error.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 5: Geoprocessing using Python

Explore ArcPy functions and classes

3 Run the following code:

>>> arcpy.Usage("Clip")
The result is u'Method Clip not found. Choices: Method
Clip not unique, please use ToolboxName_ToolName.'
The Usage function applies to all ArcPy functions, and not just geoprocessing tools.
4 Run the following code:
>>> arcpy.Usage("Exists")
The result is 'exists(<dataset>, {datatype}) -> boolean\
nCheck if a data element exists.'
Exists is a function and not a tool, so it doesnt require a toolbox alias
name as the Clip tool does.
In addition to functions, ArcPy also contains a number of classes.
Classes are often used as shortcuts to complete tool parameters.
You have already become familiar with using the env class to
set environment properties. Another commonly used class is the
SpatialReference class.
5 In ArcMap, drag the hospitals.shp layer into the current map document. The spatial reference of this shapefile is missing.

You will next use the Define Projection tool to fix it. The syntax of the
Define Projection tool is
DefineProjection_management(in_dataset, coor_system)

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 5: Geoprocessing using Python

Explore ArcPy functions and classes

6 Run the following code:

>>> prjFile = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise05/facilities.prj"
>>> spatial_ref = arcpy.SpatialReference(prjFile)
This spatial reference object can now be used for other purposes.
7 Run the following code:
>>> arcpy.DefineProjection_management("hospitals", spatial_ref)
The result is <Result 'hospitals'>.
The spatial reference object is used in the Define Projection tool to
specify the coordinate system of the hospitals.shp file. In this example,
the coordinate system parameter could also be specified by directly referencing the .prj file. However, creating a spatial reference object also
gives you access to its many properties.
8 Run the following code:
>>> print spatial_ref.name
The result is
NAD_1983_StatePlane_Texas_Central_FIPS_4203_Feet
>>> print spatial_ref.linearUnitName
The result is Foot_US.
>>> print spatial_ref.XYResolution
The result is 0.000328083333333.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 5: Geoprocessing using Python

Control the environment settings

Control the environment settings

You have already seen how to set the current workspace using the env
class. This class contains many different environment settings that can
be controlled using Python.
1 On the ArcMap menu bar, click Help > ArcGIS for Desktop Help. On
the Search tab, type env and press Enter. From the list of results,
click env (arcpy) to view the Help page for this class.

In most cases, you do not have to worry about all these properties, just a
few selected ones.
2 Close ArcGIS for Desktop Help and return to the Python window.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 5: Geoprocessing using Python

Control the environment settings

3 Run the following code:

>>> env.overwriteOutput = True
Running the code enables overwriting the outputs of geoprocessing
operations. So even if this property has not been set on the Geoprocessing
Options dialog box in ArcMap, you can control it within a script.
4 Run the following code:
>>> env.outputCoordinateSystem = spatial_ref
The output coordinate system is set based on the spatial reference
object defined earlier.
Note: As before, if for whatever reason you have to close ArcMap, none of the earlier lines
of code will be kept in memory. When you start a new ArcMap session, your code would
have to look like this:
>>> from arcpy import env

>>> prj_file = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise05/facilities.prj"

>>> spatial_ref = arcpy.SpatialReference(prjFile)
>>> env.overwriteOutput = True

>>> env.outputCoordinateSystem = spatial_ref

The complete list of current environment settings can be obtained using

the ListEnvironments function.
5 Run the following code:
>>>
>>>
...
...
...

environments = arcpy.ListEnvironments()
for environment in environments:

env_setting = eval("env." + environment)

print "{0}: {1}".format(environment, env_setting)

This example code uses the built-in Python eval function. The argument of the function is a Python expression. The eval function
evaluates the expression and returns it as a value. In this case, the function returns a value that represents the particular environment setting.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 5: Geoprocessing using Python

Work with tool messages

The for loop iterates over the list of environment settings, and they are
printed in the Python window:
newPrecision: SINGLE
autoCommit: 1000
XYResolution: None
XYDomain: None
...
workspace: C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise05
...
You can also clear specific environment settings or reset all values to
their default.
6 Run the following code:
>>> arcpy.ClearEnvironment("workspace")
>>> print env.workspace
The result is
C:\Documents and Settings\<User>\My Documents\ArcGIS\Default.gdb
7 Run the following code:
>>> arcpy.ResetEnvironments()
>>> print env.outputCoordinateSystem
The result is None.
8 Close ArcMap. There is no need to save your map document.

Work with tool messages

Messages are automatically written to the Results window when tools
are run. You can also access these messages from within Python.
In the next set of steps, run a script from PythonWin. You can enter
the same code in the Python window, but as code gets a bit longer, it is
often easier to work with script files.
1 Start PythonWin.
2 On the PythonWin Standard toolbar, click the New button. Select
Python Script and click OK.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 5: Geoprocessing using Python

Work with tool messages

3 In the script window, enter the following code:

import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise05"
env.overwriteOutput = True
arcpy.Clip_analysis("parks.shp", "zip.shp", "Results/parks_Clip.shp")
print arcpy.GetMessages()
4 On the PythonWin Standard toolbar, click the Save button and save
as my_clip.py to the C:\EsriPress\Python\Data\Exercise05\Results
folder.
5 Click the Run button. On the Run Script dialog box, do not select
a Debugging option and click OK. The Clip tool runs. At the bottom
of the PythonWin interface, a message should appear on the status bar,
like the example in the figure.

Exit code 0 means no errors were encountered.

6 Examine the contents of the Interactive Window in PythonWin. The
Interactive Window should look something like the example in the figure. These are the same messages that are normally sent to the Results
window.

Instead of printing all the messages, you can specify one in particular, as
youll do next.
7 Replace the last line of the code in your my_clip.py script with the
following:
msgCount = arcpy.GetMessageCount()
print arcpy.GetMessage(msgCount-1)

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 5: Geoprocessing using Python

Work with licenses

8 Save and run your my_clip.py script. This code runs the Clip tool,
determines the number of messages, and returns only the last message:
Succeeded at Wed Feb 01 13:01:41 2012 (Elapsed Time: 1.00 seconds)
Only the messages from the last tool executed are kept by ArcPy. To
obtain messages after multiple tools are run, you can use a result object.
9 Modify your my_clip.py script as follows:
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPrss/Python/Data/Exercise05"
env.overwriteOutput = True
newclip = arcpy.Clip_analysis("bike_routes.shp", "parks.shp",
"Results/bike_Clip.shp")
fCount = arcpy.GetCount_management("Results/bike_Clip.shp")
msgCount = newclip.messageCount
print newclip.getMessage(msgCount-1)
10 Save and run your my_clip.py script. The script returns the last message from running the Clip tool, even though another tool was run after
the Clip tool.

Work with licenses

When you import the ArcPy site package, you get access to all the
geoprocessing tools in ArcGIS for Desktop. The tools that are included
depend on the product level and the extensions that are installed and
licensed.
1 Start ArcMap with a new blank document. Open the Python window.
2 At the command prompt, enter and run the following line of code:
>>> print arcpy.ProductInfo()
Running the code prints the current product licensefor example,
arcview or arcinfo (for ArcGIS for Desktop Basic or ArcGIS for
Desktop Advanced, respectively). Alternatively, you can check to see
whether a specific license is available.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 5: Geoprocessing using Python

3 At the command prompt, enter and run the following code:

>>> arcpy.CheckProduct("arcinfo")
If you are running ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced (arcinfo), the code
returns AlreadyInitialized or Available. If you are running a
lower license level, it returns Unavailable.
The same approach can be used to determine the availability of licenses
for extensions.
4 On the ArcMap menu bar, click Customize >
Extensions. The Extensions dialog box allows you to
select the extensions you want to use.
5 Select the check boxes for the extensions on the
list to see which ones have licenses available. You
may get a warning message for some of them, like the
example in the figure.

A warning means the extension has been installed but

not licensed. If you are able to turn on an extension
without getting a warning message, it means a license
was obtained.
For the purpose of the following steps, assume the
list of available licenses looks like the example in the
figure.
Your list of available licenses may look somewhat
different, and so you may get different results when
running the code in the next set of steps.
6 Click Close to close the Extensions window.
7 Return to the Python window
8 Run the following code:
>>> arcpy.CheckExtension("tracking")

Work with licenses

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 5: Geoprocessing using Python

Work with licenses

If a license is available, the resulting code is u'Available'. If no

license is available, the resulting code is u'NotLicensed'.
9 Run the following code:
>>> arcpy.CheckExtension("spatial")
When working with geoprocessing tools, it is good practice to anticipate
the licenses you will need. In the next set of steps, create a script that
uses an ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced license.
10 Start PythonWin. Create a new Python script and save as centroid.py
to the Results folder for exercise 5.
11 Enter the following lines of code:
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise05"
in_features = "parks.shp"
out_featureclass = "Results/parks_centroid.shp"
if arcpy.ProductInfo() == "ArcInfo":

arcpy.FeatureToPoint_management(in_features, out_featureclass)
else:

print "An ArcInfo license is not available."
12 Save and run the script. If you have an ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced
license, the script runs the Feature to Point tool and creates a centroid
for each feature in the input feature class. If you do not have an ArcGIS
for Desktop Advanced license, the script generates a custom error
message.
A similar approach can be used when working with tools from the
extensions. Licenses for extensions, however, need to be checked out
and are not imported automatically with the import arcpy statement.
13 In PythonWin, create a new Python script and save as distance.py to
the Results folder for exercise 5.

Note: When you import

ArcPy, it automatically
initializes the license based
on the highest available
license level.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 5: Geoprocessing using Python

Challenge exercises

14 Enter the following lines of code:

import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise05"
if arcpy.CheckExtension("spatial") == "Available":
arcpy.CheckOutExtension("spatial")

out_distance = arcpy.sa.EucDistance("bike_routes.shp", cell_size =
100)
out_distance.save("C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise05/Results/
bike_dist")
arcpy.CheckInExtension("spatial")
else:

print "Spatial Analyst license is not available."
15 Save and run the script. If you have an ArcGIS for Spatial Analyst
license, the script runs the Euclidean Distance tool and creates a new
distance grid. If you do not have an ArcGIS for Spatial Analyst license,
the script generates a custom error message.
It is good practice to use the CheckInExtension function to return the
license to the license manager when finished, so other applications can
use it. However, all licenses are automatically returned to the license
manager when a script is finished running.

Challenge exercises
Challenge 1
For each of the following tools, look up the syntax in ArcGIS for
Desktop Help and answer the following questions.
Tools:
Add XY Coordinates
Dissolve
Questions:
What are the required parameters?
What are the optional parameters, and what are their defaults?
Challenge 2
Write a script that runs the Add XY Features tool on the hospitals.shp
feature class.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 5: Geoprocessing using Python

Challenge 3
Write a script that runs the Dissolve tool on the parks.shp feature class
using the PARK_TYPE field as the field for aggregating features. Specify
that multipart features are not allowed.
Challenge 4
Write a script that determines whether the following extensions are available: ArcGIS 3D Analyst, ArcGIS Network Analyst, and ArcGIS Spatial
Analyst. The script should print an informative message with the results,
such as "The following extensions are available: ...".

Challenge exercises

105

Exercise 6

Exploring spatial data

Check for the existence of data
Before starting to work with the exercise data, you will
preview the data.
1 Start ArcMap with a new empty map document. On the
Standard toolbar, click the Catalog button to open the
Catalog window.
2 Browse to the C:\EsriPress\Python\Data\Exercise06 folder.
Notice that there are five shapefiles in this folder, including
point, polyline, and polygon shapefiles.
3 Start PythonWin. Create a new Python script and save
as shape_exists.py to the C:\EsriPress\Python\Data\
Exercise06\Results folder.
4 Enter the following lines of code:
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise06"
shape_exists = arcpy.Exists("cities.shp")
print shape_exists
5 Save and run the script. Running the script returns a value of True.
6 Modify the script by replacing "cities.shp" with "CITIES.SHP".

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 6: Exploring spatial data 

Describe the data

7 Save and run the script. Running the script returns the value of True.
Python, for the most part, is case sensitive, and it applies to strings as
well. One of the exceptions is path and file names, so "cities.shp"
is the same as "CITIES.SHP" and "C:/EsriPress/PYTHON/DATA/
EXERCISE06" is the same as "c:/EsriPress/python/data/
exercise06".
Checking for the existence of data is a function that is commonly used
in stand-alone scripts.
8 Modify the script as follows:
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise06"
if arcpy.Exists("cities.shp"):

arcpy.CopyFeatures_management("cities.shp", "results/cities_copy.
shp")
9 Save and run the script. The script determines whether the particular input feature class exists and runs the geoprocessing operation
accordingly.
10 Close PythonWin.

Describe the data

The Describe function can be used to determine properties of datasets
and other inputs into geoprocessing tools.
1 In ArcMap, open the Catalog and Python windows.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 6: Exploring spatial data 

Describe the data

2 Drag the five feature classes from the Exercise06 folder into the map
document.

3 Run the following code:

>>> myshape = arcpy.Describe("C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise06/
cities.shp")
You can now access the properties of the object.
4 Run the following code:
>>> myshape.dataType
Running the code returns u'Shapefile' as the data type of the object.
You can also work with the layers in the current map document.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 6: Exploring spatial data 

5 Run the following code:

>>> mylayer = arcpy.Describe("cities")
>>> mylayer.dataType
Running the code returns u'FeatureLayer'. This is the same shapefile but now accessed as a layer from the current map. You will examine
a few more properties in steps 68.
6 Run the following code:
>>> mylayer.datasetType
The result is u'FeatureClass'.
>>> mylayer.catalogPath
The result is as follows:
u'C:\\EsriPress\\Python\\Data\\Exercise06\\cities.shp'
>>> mylayer.basename
The result is u'cities'.
>>> mylayer.file
The result is u'cities.shp'.
>>> mylayer.isVersioned
The result is False.
>>> mylayer.shapeType
The result is u'Point'.
Most properties consist of strings or Boolean values, and simply accessing the property prints its value. Some properties, however, consist of
objects, and these can have many properties, which need to be accessed
separately.

Describe the data

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 6: Exploring spatial data 

List the data

For example, accessing the spatialReference property of the feature

class returns a SpatialReference object.
7 Run the following code:
>>> mylayer.spatialReference
The result is as follows:
<geoprocessing spatial reference object object at 0x101CF3E0>
Notice that the code returns a reference to an object. The reference
value will vary with every session, and in itself is not very useful.
However, the object has many properties, which can each be accessed
individually.
8 Run the following code:
>>> mylayer.spatialReference.name
The result is u'GCS_North_American_1983'.

Note: A regular string

preceded by the letter u is
called a Unicode string.

>>> mylayer.spatialReference.type
The result is u'Geographic'.

Unicode strings work just

like regular strings but are
more robust when working
with different international
sets of characters.

>>> mylayer.spatialReference.domain
The result is u'-400 -400 400 400'.
9 Close ArcMap. There is no need to save your map document.

List the data

Describing data typically works on a single element, such as a feature
class. List functions can be used to work with many types of elements,
including feature classes, rasters, tables, and fields.
1 Start PythonWin. Create a new Python script and save as list.py to
the Results folder for exercise 6.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 6: Exploring spatial data 

List the data

2 Enter the following lines of code:

import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise06"
fclist = arcpy.ListFeatureClasses()
print fclist
Note: The preceding lines of code could just as easily be run using the Python window in
ArcMap. In general, switching between the Python window and PythonWin is a matter
of preference. However, writing scripts in an editor like PythonWin is typically preferable
as your scripts get longer and so you can make changes to your scripts in the future.

3 Save and run the script.

The list of feature classes is printed to the Interactive Window, as
follows:
>>> [u'amtrak_stations.shp', u'cities.shp', u'counties.shp', u'new_
mexico.shp', u'railroads.shp']
Once a list of elements is obtained, a for loop can be used to iterate
over the elements of the list and carry out a specific task. For example,
the Describe function can be used to access properties of each of the
feature classes in a workspace.
4 Modify the script as follows:
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise06"
fclist = arcpy.ListFeatureClasses()
for fc in fclist:

fcdescribe = arcpy.Describe(fc)

print "Name: " + fcdescribe.name

print "Data type: " + fcdescribe.dataType
5 Save and run the script.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 6: Exploring spatial data 

List the data

Running the script prints the name and data type of each feature class
to the Interactive Window, as follows:
Name: amtrak_stations.shp
Data type: ShapeFile
Name: cities.shp
Data type: ShapeFile
Name: counties.shp
Data type: ShapeFile
Name: new_mexico.shp
Data type: ShapeFile
Name: railroads.shp
Data type: ShapeFile
The same approach can be used to work with geoprocessing tools.
6 Save your list.py script as listcopy.py to the Results folder for
exercise 6.
7 Modify the script as follows:
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise06"
fclist = arcpy.ListFeatureClasses()
for fc in fclist:

arcpy.CopyFeatures_management(fc, "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/
Exercise06/Results/" + fc)
8 Save and run the script.
9 In ArcMap, examine the result in the Catalog window. Confirm that
the shapefiles have been copied to the Results folder.

>>> TIP
To see the result in the
Catalog window, right-click

Running the script copies the shapefiles without modifying their names.
In some cases, the names need to be modifiedfor example, when copying shapefiles to a geodatabase. The script you will write next creates
a new empty file geodatabase called NM.gdb and copies the shapefiles
from the workspace to this new geodatabase. However, the name of a
shapefile, by default, includes the file extension .shp, which needs to
be removed. The script therefore uses the basename property of the
feature class rather than the default name for the name of the shapefile.

a folder (in this case, the

Results folder for exercise 6)
and click Refresh. This
makes any newly added
datasets visible.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 6: Exploring spatial data 

List the data

10 Modify the script as follows:

import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.overwriteOutput = True
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise06"
arcpy.CreateFileGDB_management("C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise06/
Results", "NM.gdb")
fclist = arcpy.ListFeatureClasses()
for fc in fclist:

fcdesc = arcpy.Describe(fc)
arcpy.CopyFeatures_management(fc, "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/
Exercise06/Results/NM.gdb/" + fcdesc.basename)

>>> TIP
Some scripts use a statement such as rstrip(".shp") to remove the file extension,

but this can inadvertently remove additional letters from the name. Using the basename

property is therefore recommended.

11 Save and run the script.

12 Examine the result in the Catalog window. It should look like the
example in the figure.
13 Close ArcMap. There is no need to save your map document.
List functions exist for several different types of elements, including
fields. Next, you will create a script for listing the fields of the cities
shapefile.
14 In PythonWin, create a new Python script. Save as listfields.py to the
Results folder for exercise 6.
15 Enter the following lines of code:
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.overwriteOutput = True
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise06"
fieldlist = arcpy.ListFields("cities.shp")
for field in fieldlist:

print field.name + " " + field.type
16 Save and run the script. The ListFields function returns a list of
field objects. The name property of these objects is used to print the
names of the fields.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 6: Exploring spatial data 

List the data

Running the script prints a list of the names of the fields in the feature
followed by their type. The result is as follows:
FID OID
Shape Geometry
CITIESX020 Double
FEATURE String
NAME String
POP_RANGE String
POP_2000 Integer
FIPS55 String
COUNTY String
FIPS String
STATE String
STATE_FIPS String
DISPLAY SmallInteger
17 Close PythonWin. There is no need to save the results in the Interactive
Window.
As you have been working through the exercises in this book, you have
probably encountered some unexpected errors. A simple typo can cause
a script not to run properly. Even when all typos are fixed, you may
continue to run into errors. One of the most common error messages is
as follows:
ExecuteError: ERROR 000258: Output C:\<folder>\<file> already exists.
What happens quite often is that you run a script, and then modify it
and try running it again. The script then tries to overwrite existing files
that resulted from the earlier execution of the script, and the script fails.
To overcome these types of errors, you can add the following line to
your script:
env.overwriteOutput = True
This line of code makes it possible for the script to overwrite existing
files. Even with this statement, however, error messages of this type
may continue. If you are running a stand-alone script from PythonWin
and are also using ArcMap or ArcCatalog to examine the results, ArcGIS
for Desktop may have placed a shared lock on the data, preventing it
from being overwritten. This is a common error when working with
geodatabases in particular.

>>> TIP
To overcome error messages
related to a shared lock on
the data, close all ArcGIS for
Desktop applications and
run the script again. When
the script is finished running,
you can open ArcMap or
ArcCatalog to examine the
results.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 6: Exploring spatial data 

Manipulate lists

Manipulate lists
Lists are widely used in batch geoprocessing. Lists can be manipulated
in a number of ways.
1 Start ArcMap and open the Python window.
2 Run the following code:
>>> arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise06"
>>> fclist = arcpy.ListFeatureClasses()
>>> print fclist
Running the code prints a list of feature classes as follows:
[u'amtrak_stations.shp', u'cities.shp', u'counties.shp', u'new_mexico.
shp', u'railroads.shp']
Any list in Python can be manipulated using the built-in Python functions and methods. Python lists are indexed starting with the number
zero (0). This makes it possible to obtain specific elements in the list
or to use slicing functions to create smaller lists that contain just the
desired elements. Use indexing next.
3 Run the following code:
>>> fclist[0]
The result is u'amtrak_stations.shp'.
>>> fclist[3]
The result is u'new_mexico.shp'.
>>> fclist[-1]
The result is u'railroads.shp'.
>>> fclist[1:3]
The result is [u'cities.shp', u'counties.shp'].

115

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 6: Exploring spatial data 

>>> fclist[2:]
The result is as follows:
[u'counties.shp', u'new_mexico.shp', u'railroads.shp']
You can also create a list by typing the elements of the list, which youll
do next.
4 Run the following code:
>>> cities = ["Alameda", "Brazos", "Chimayo", "Dulce"]
The number of features can be determined using the len function,
which will be used next.
5 Run the following code:
>>> len(cities)
The result is 4.
The del statement removes one or more elements from the list.
Because this code does not automatically return the list, a print statement is used to view the current list.
6 Run the following code:
>>> del cities[2]
>>> print cities
The result is ['Alameda', 'Brazos', 'Dulce'].
The sort method can be used to sort the elements in a list, and it can
also be reversed. Try both methods next.
7 Run the following code:
>>> cities.sort(reverse = True)
>>> print cities
The result is ['Dulce', 'Brazos', 'Alameda'].

Manipulate lists

116

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 6: Exploring spatial data 

Work with dictionaries

>>> cities.sort()
>>> print cities
The result is ['Alameda', 'Brazos', 'Dulce'].
Determining list membership is accomplished using the in operator,
which youll use next.
8 Run the following code:
>>> "Zuni" in cities
The result is False.
The append method can be used to add a new element to the end of the
list, and the insert method makes it possible to add a new element at
a given location, which youll try next.
9 Run the following code:
>>> cities.append("Zuni")
>>> print cities
The result is ['Alameda', 'Brazos', 'Dulce', 'Zuni'].
>>> cities.insert(0,"Espanola")
>>> print cities
The result is as follows:
['Espanola', 'Alameda', 'Brazos', 'Dulce', 'Zuni']

Work with dictionaries

Dictionaries are like lookup tables: they consist of pairs of keys and
their corresponding values. Keys are unique within a dictionary
although values may not be. Keys must be of an immutable data type,
such as strings, numbers, or tuples, although values can be of any type.
1 Run the following code:
>>> countylookup = {"Alameda": "Bernalillo County", "Brazos": "Rio
Arriba County", "Chimayo": "Santa Fe County"}

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 6: Exploring spatial data 

This dictionary consists of pairs of cities (the keys) and their corresponding counties. Cities as the keys are unique, whereas the county
values are notthat is, unique cities may be located in the same county.
Notice the syntax, as follows:
The entire dictionary is contained by curly brackets ({ }).
Keys are separated from their values by a colon (:).
Pairs of keys and values are separated from each other by a comma
(,).
Strings are enclosed in double quotation marks (" ").
Once created, the dictionary can be used as a lookup table, which youll
try next.
2 Run the following code:
>>> countylookup["Brazos"]
The result is 'Rio Arriba County'.
Notice that the syntax for dictionaries is similar to working with elements in a list. The name of the dictionary is followed by square
brackets ([ ]), but instead of an index number inside the brackets, one of
the keys is used.
The dictionary is designed to work one way only, which youll see next.
You can only search a dictionary by its keys to get the corresponding
values. You cannot do the reverse and search for a value to get a key.
3 Run the following code:
>>> countylookup["Santa Fe County"]
The code results in an error, as follows:
Runtime error
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
KeyError: 'Santa Fe County'
In this case, "Santa Fe County" is not one of the keys, and running
the code thus returns an error.

Work with dictionaries

118

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 6: Exploring spatial data 

Challenge exercises

Several additional operations can be performed on dictionaries. For

example, the number of pairs can be obtained using the len function,
as follows:
>>> len(countylookup)
The result is 3.
The pairs in the dictionaries can also be split using the key and value
methods. The key method returns the keys of the dictionaries as a list,
and the value method returns the corresponding values as a list, which
youll see next.
>>> countylookup.keys()
The result is ['Chimayo', 'Alameda', 'Brazos'].
>>> countylookup.values()
The result is as follows:
['Santa Fe County', 'Bernalillo County', 'Rio Arriba County']

Challenge exercises
Challenge 1
Write a script that reads all the feature classes in a workspace and prints
the name of each feature class and the geometry type of that feature
class in the following format:
streams is a point feature class
Challenge 2
Write a script that reads all the feature classes in a personal or file
geodatabase and copies only the polygon feature classes to a new file
geodatabase. You can assume there are no feature datasets in the existing data, and the feature classes can keep the same name.

119

Exercise 7

Manipulating spatial data

Work with search cursors
Cursors are used to iterate over the rows in a table. Cursor functions
create cursor objects, which can be used to access the row objects. Several methods exist to manipulate these row objects.
Search cursors are used to search records and to carry out SQL expressions in Python.
1 Start ArcMap and open a new blank map document. Open the
Catalog window. Navigate to the Exercise07 folder and drag the
shapefile airports.shp to the map document.
2 In the ArcMap table of contents, right-click the airports layer and
click Open Attribute Table. Review the fields of the airports. Notice
that there is a field called NAME and that the table contains 221 records.
3 Close ArcMap. There is no need to save your map document.
4 Start PythonWin. Create a new Python script and save as printvalues.py
to your C:\EsriPress\Python\Data\Exercise07\Results folder.
5 Enter the following code:
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise07"
fc = "airports.shp"
cursor = arcpy.da.SearchCursor(fc, ["NAME"])
for row in cursor:

print "Airport name = {0}".format(row[0])

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 7: Manipulating spatial data 

Use search cursors with SQL in Python

Notice that the script creates a search cursor on the feature class and
uses a for loop to iterate over all the rows of the attribute table.
6 Save and run the script.
The result is a list of the names of all the airports, as follows:

Note: Be careful printing

results to the Interactive

Airport
Airport
Airport
Airport
Airport
Airport
Airport
...

name
name
name
name
name
name
name

=
=
=
=
=
=
=

Hyder
Chignik Lagoon
Koyuk
Kivalina
Ketchikan Harbor
Metlakatla
Waterfall

Window because a feature

class or table could contain
millions of records. In the
preceding example, it was
confirmed in advance that
the number of records was
relatively limited.

Use search cursors with SQL in Python

Search cursors can be used to carry out SQL expressions in Python.
1 In PythonWin, create a new Python script and save as SQL.py to the
Results folder for exercise 7.
2 Enter the following code:
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise07"
fc = "airports.shp"
cursor = arcpy.da.SearchCursor(fc, ["NAME"], '"TOT_ENP" > 100000')
for row in cursor:

print row[0]
del row
del cursor
3 Save and run the script. The result is a list of the names of the airports
for which the SQL expression is true. The field TOT_ENP is a measure
of the number of passengers. The list is as follows:
Ketchikan
Juneau International
Kenai Municipal
Fairbanks International
Bethel
Ted Stevens Anchorage International

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 7: Manipulating spatial data 

Use search cursors with SQL in Python

Take another look at the SQL expression used: "TOT_ENP" > 100000.
Field delimiters for shapefiles consist of double quotation marksfor
example, "TOT_ENP"but there are no quotation marks around the
value of 100000 because TOT_ENP is a numeric field. The entire SQL
expression needs to be in quotation marks, because the WHERE clause
in the syntax of the search cursor is a string. This results in the SQL
expression, '"TOT_ENP" > 100000'.
This syntax can create complications. For example, for text fields in SQL
expressions, the values require single quotation marksfor example,
"NAME" = 'Ketchikan'. The statement in the WHERE clause needs to
be in quotation marks, but whether you use double quotation marks
(" ") or single quotation marks (' '), the statement will produce a syntax
error. The solution is to use the escape character (\), which would otherwise cause a syntax error, in front of the quotation marks. In Python,
a backslash within a string is interpreted as an escape character, which
is a signal that the next character is to be given a special interpretation.
So instead of '"NAME" = 'Ketchikan'', the expression becomes
'"NAME" = \'Ketchikan\''.
4 Modify the SQL expression in the script as follows:
cursor = arcpy.da.SearchCursor(fc, ["NAME"], '"FEATURE" =
\'Seaplane Base\'')
5 Save and run the script.
The result is a list of the names of the airports for which the SQL
expression is true, as follows:
Hyder
Ketchikan Harbor
Metlakatla
Waterfall
Kasaan
Hollis
Craig
...

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 7: Manipulating spatial data 

Use search cursors with SQL in Python

There are other complications when working with SQL expressions.

Specifically, the field delimiters vary with the format of the feature class,
as follows:
Shapefiles and file geodatabase feature classes use double quotation
marks (" ")for example, "NAME".
Personal geodatabase feature classes use square brackets ([ ])for
example, [NAME].
ArcSDE geodatabase feature classes do not use any delimitersfor
example, NAME.
When a tool like Select By Attributes or other dialog-driven queries is
used, this syntax is automatically applied, but in scripting, this can be
handled using the AddFieldDelimiters function.
6 Modify the script as follows:
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise07"
fc = "airports.shp"
delimitedField = arcpy.AddFieldDelimiters(fc, "COUNTY")
cursor = arcpy.da.SearchCursor(fc, ["NAME"], delimitedField + " =
'Anchorage Borough'")
for row in cursor:

print row[0]
del row
del cursor
7 Save and run the script.
The result is a list of the names of the airports for which the SQL
expression is true, as follows:
Girdwood
Merrill Field
Lake Hood
Elmendorf Air Force Base
Ted Stevens Anchorage International
SQL is also used in a number of geoprocessing tools, and a similar
approach can be used to create valid SQL expressions in general.
8 Save the existing SQL.py script as Select.py to the Exercise07 folder.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 7: Manipulating spatial data 

Work with update cursors

9 Modify the script as follows:

import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise07"
infc = "airports.shp"
outfc = "Results/airports_anchorage.shp"
delimitedfield = arcpy.AddFieldDelimiters(infc, "COUNTY")
arcpy.Select_analysis(infc, outfc, delimitedfield + " =
'Anchorage Borough'")
10 Save and run the script.
11 Start ArcMap and open the Catalog window.
12 In the Catalog window, navigate to the Results folder for exercise
7 and confirm that the new shapefile was created with five point
features.

Work with update cursors

Two other cursor types can be used to work with row objects. Update
cursors are used to make changes to existing records, and insert cursors
are used to add new records. First, use an update cursor to update attribute values and delete records. Because this will permanently modify
the data, it is a good idea to copy the data first.
1 In the Catalog window, navigate to the Exercise07 folder.
2 Drag the shapefile airports.shp to the map document.
3 In the ArcMap table of contents, right-click the airports layer and
click Open Attribute Table.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 7: Manipulating spatial data 

Work with update cursors

4 Scroll over to the field STATE. Notice that some of the values in this
field are blank.

5 Close the attribute table.

6 In the Catalog window, navigate to the Exercise07 folder and copy
the airports.shp feature class to the Results folder so you can make
edits without having to worry about keeping the original intact.
7 Close ArcMap. There is no need to save your map document.
Note: Working with insert and update cursors is just like editing, and having the feature
class you want to work with in a script be open at the same time in ArcMap may result in
errors because of a shared lock ArcMap places on the feature class.

8 In PythonWin, create a new Python script and save as Update.py to

the Results folder for exercise 7.
9 Enter the following code:
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise07"
fc = "Results/airports.shp"
delimfield = arcpy.AddFieldDelimiters(fc, "STATE")
cursor = arcpy.da.UpdateCursor(fc, ["STATE"], delimfield + " <> 'AK'")
for row in cursor:

row[0] = "AK"
cursor.updateRow(row)
del row
del cursor

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 7: Manipulating spatial data 

10 Save and run the script.

11 Start ArcMap, open the Catalog window, navigate to the Exercise07
folder, and drag the airports.shp file to the data frame. Confirm that
the values in the STATE field have been updated.

12 Close ArcMap. There is no need to save your map document.

In addition to updating attributes using the updateRow method, search
cursors can also be used to delete records, which youll do next.
13 In PythonWin, create a new Python script and save as Delete.py to
the Results folder for exercise 7.
14 Enter the following code:
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise07"
fc = "Results/airports.shp"
cursor = arcpy.da.UpdateCursor(fc, ["TOT_ENP"])
for row in cursor:

if row[0] < 100000:
cursor.deleteRow()
del row
del cursor
15 Save and run the script.

Work with update cursors

126

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 7: Manipulating spatial data 

16 Start ArcMap, open the Catalog window, navigate to the Results

folder for exercise 7, and drag the airports.shp file to the data frame.
Confirm that all the records with fewer than 100,000 passengers
have been deleted.

17 Close ArcMap. There is no need to save your map document.

Work with insert cursors

Insert cursors are used to create new records.
1 In PythonWin, create a new Python script and save as insert.py to the
Results folder for exercise 7.
2 Enter the following code:
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise07"
fc = "Results/airports.shp"
cursor = arcpy.da.InsertCursor(fc, "NAME")
cursor.insertRow(["New Airport"])
del cursor
3 Save and run the script.

Work with insert cursors

127

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 7: Manipulating spatial data 

Validate table and field names

4 Start ArcMap, open the Catalog window, navigate to the Results

folder for exercise 7, and drag the airports.shp file to the data frame.
Confirm that a new record has been added with the name New Airportthe other fields are blank.

Note: Although a new record has been added and the attributes can be given values using
the insert cursor, the new record does not have a geometry yet. This is covered in chapter 8.

5 Close ArcMap. There is no need to save your map document.

Validate table and field names

ArcPy contains functions to validate the names of tables and fields. This
prevents attempts to create invalid names, such as those with spaces or
invalid characters.
1 In PythonWin, create a new Python script and save as validatefield.py
to the Results folder for exercise 7.
2 Enter the following code:
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise07"
fc = "Results/airports.shp"
newfield = "NEW CODE"
fieldtype = "TEXT"
fieldname = arcpy.ValidateFieldName(newfield)
arcpy.AddField_management(fc, fieldname, fieldtype, "", "", 12)
3 Save and run the script.

128

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 7: Manipulating spatial data 

4 Start ArcMap, open the Catalog window, navigate to the Results

folder for exercise 7, and drag the airports.shp file to the data frame.
Confirm that a new field has been added with the name
NEW_CODE. The space has been replaced by an underscore (_).

5 Close ArcMap. There is no need to save your map document.

6 In PythonWin, modify the script as follows:
newfield = "NEW?*&$"
The characters ?, *, &, and $ are all invalid as field names.
7 Save and run the script.
8 Start ArcMap, open the Catalog window, navigate to the Results
folder for exercise 7, and drag the airports.shp file to the data
frame. Confirm that the name of the new field has been modified
to NEW____. Each of the invalid characters has been replaced by an
underscore.

>>> TIP
Validating table and field names does not determine whether the field name already
exists. This requires checking the new name against the names of the existing fields.

9 Close ArcMap. There is no need to save your map document.

Validate table and field names

129

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 7: Manipulating spatial data 

Validate table and field names

10 Modify the script as follows:

import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise07"
fc = "Results/airports.shp"
newfield = "NEW CODE"
fieldtype = "TEXT"
fieldname = arcpy.ValidateFieldName(newfield)
fieldlist = arcpy.ListFields(fc)
fieldnames = []
for field in fieldlist:
fieldnames.append(field.name)
if fieldname not in fieldnames:

arcpy.AddField_management(fc, fieldname, fieldtype, "", "", 12)

print "New field has been added."
else:

print "Field name already exists."
11 Save and run the script.
The preceding script creates a list of field objects using the ListFields
function. The names of these field objects are placed in a new empty list
using the append method. The validated name of the new field is compared to this list of field names using an if ( ) not in statement.
The CreateUniqueName function can also be used to ensure that a
name for a new feature class or a table is unique, but it is limited to
unique names in a workspace. It cannot be used to ensure that a field
name is unique.
12 In PythonWin, create a new Python script and save as unique_name.py
to the Results folder for exercise 7.
13 Enter the following code:
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise07"
fc = "airports.shp"
unique_name = arcpy.CreateUniqueName("Results/buffer.shp")
arcpy.Buffer_analysis(fc, unique_name, "5000 METERS")
14 Save and run the script.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 7: Manipulating spatial data 

Challenge exercises

15 Start ArcMap, open the Catalog window, navigate to the Results

folder for exercise 7, and confirm that a new feature class called
buffer.shp has been created.
16 Return to PythonWin and run the script again.
17 In ArcMap, in the Catalog window, confirm that a new feature class
called buffer0.shp has been created.

>>> TIP
If the feature class does
not appear, you may need

If you keep running the script again, the next output files will be called
buffer1.shp, buffer2.shp, and so on. Using the CreateUniqueName
function can prevent accidentally overwriting files.

to refresh the Catalog

view by right-clicking the
folder in the ArcMap table
of contents and clicking
Refresh.

Challenge exercises
Challenge 1
Write a script that creates a 15,000-meter buffer around features in the
airports.shp feature class classified as an airport (based on the FEATURE
field) and a 7,500-meter buffer around features classified as a seaplane
base. The results should be two separate feature classes, one for each
airport type.
Challenge 2
Write a script that adds a text field to the roads.shp feature class called
FERRY and populates this field with YES and NO values, depending on
the value of the FEATURE field.

131

Exercise 8

Working with geometries

Work with geometry objects
Working with full geometry objects can be costly in terms of time.
Geometry tokens provide shortcuts to specific geometry properties of
individual features in a feature class. In the next example, you will see
how to work with geometry tokens in scripting.
1 Start PythonWin. Create a new Python script and save as geometry.py
to your C:\EsriPress\Python\Data\Exercise08\Results folder.
2 Enter the following code:
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise08"
fc = "rivers.shp"
cursor = arcpy.da.SearchCursor(fc, ["SHAPE@LENGTH"])
length = 0
for row in cursor:

length = length + row[0]
print length
3 Save and run the script. This prints the total length of all the river segments to the Interactive Window. The spatial reference object can be
used to determine the units.
4 Replace the print length statement with the following lines of code:
units = arcpy.Describe(fc).spatialReference.linearUnitName
print str(length) + " " + units
5 Save and run the script.

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 8: Working with geometries

This prints the total length of all the features, followed by the units, to
the Interactive Window, as follows:
256937.409437 Meter
In the print statement, the length is converted to a string because
if it were a number followed by a plus sign (+), it would suggest a
calculation.

Read geometries
In addition to the geometry properties of a feature, a features individual vertices can also be accessed. Youll do that next.
1 In PythonWin, create a new Python script and save as points.py to
the Results folder for exercise 8.
2 Enter the following code:
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise08"
fc = "dams.shp"
cursor = arcpy.da.SearchCursor(fc, ["SHAPE@XY"])
for row in cursor:

x, y = row[0]

print("{0}, {1}".format(x, y))
3 Save and run the script.
This prints a pair of x,y coordinates for each point, as follows:
852911.336075 2220578.93538
792026.89767 2310863.76822
784830.427658 2315171.53882
741687.458878 2321601.76549
702480.327773 2340545.89511
623387.057118 2361903.92116
...

Read geometries

133

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 8: Working with geometries

Working with other geometry types, such as polylines and polygons,

requires some extra code because an array of point objects is returned
for each feature. As a result, an extra iteration is required to interact
with the array first before you can get to the points that make up the
array. Next, you will work with a polyline feature class.
4 In PythonWin, create a new Python script and save as vertices.py to
the Results folder for exercise 8.
5 Enter the following code:
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise08"
fc = "rivers.shp"
cursor = arcpy.da.SearchCursor(fc, (["OID@", "SHAPE@"]))
for row in cursor:

print("Feature {0}: ".format(row[0]))

for point in row[1].getPart(0):

print("{0}, {1}".format(point.X, point.Y))
6 Save and run the script.
This prints a pair of x,y coordinates for each vertex in each feature, as
follows:
Feature 0:
745054.499005 2324903.18355
745122.149446 2324835.9415
...
Feature 1:
747821.018772 2317111.87693
746909.057058 2317254.89224
...
Feature 2:
753597.862134 2315541.91647
753757.716791 2319122.62937
...
Feature 3:
751089.22614 2314030.50506
749458.383228 2315289.96843
...
This script works for polyline and polygon feature classes but does not
work for multipart features, which you will work with next.

Read geometries

134

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 8: Working with geometries

Work with multipart features

Work with multipart features

For multipart features, cursors return an array containing multiple
arrays of point objects. Working with multipart features therefore
requires an extra iteration over the parts of each feature.
The isMultipart property of the geometry object can be used to
determine whether a particular feature is multipart.
1 In PythonWin, create a new Python script and save as multipart.py to
the Results folder for exercise 8.
2 Enter the following code:
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise08"
fc = "dams.shp"
cursor = arcpy.da.SearchCursor(fc, ["OID@", "SHAPE@"])
for row in cursor:

if row[1].isMultipart:

print("Feature {0} is multipart.".format(row[0]))
else:

print("Feature {0} is single part.".format(row[0]))
3 Save and run the script.
This prints whether each feature in the features class is multipart or
single part, as follows:
Feature
Feature
Feature
Feature
Feature
...

0
1
2
3
4

is
is
is
is
is

single
single
single
single
single

part.
part.
part.
part.
part.

The results are single part for each feature, because each feature consists of a single pointthat is, a dam.
4 Modify the script as follows:
fc = "Hawaii.shp"

135

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 8: Working with geometries

Work with multipart features

5 Save and run the script.

This confirms that the feature class representing Hawaii is a multipart
polygon, as follows:
Feature 0 is multipart.
The partCount property can be used to determine the number of parts,
which youll do next.
6 Modify the first print statement following the if statement as
follows:
print("Feature {0} is multipart and has {1} parts.".format(row[0],
str(row[1].partCount)))
7 Save and run the script.
This prints the number of parts for every multipart feature, as follows:
Feature 0 is multipart and has 11 parts.
Because the geometry object for multipart features consists of an array
containing multiple arrays of point objects, it is necessary to iterate over
all parts of a feature to obtain its geometry. You need a loop to iterate
over the arrays in the array, and then you need a loop to iterate over
each point in the point array.
8 Modify the script as follows:
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise08"
fc = "Hawaii.shp"
cursor = arcpy.da.SearchCursor(fc, ["OID@", "SHAPE@"])
for row in cursor:

print("Feature {0}: ".format(row[0]))

partnum = 0

for part in row[1]:

print("Part {0}: ".format(partnum))

for point in part:
print("{0}, {1}".format(point.X, point.Y))

partnum += 1

136

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 8: Working with geometries

9 Save and run the script.

For each feature, this prints the part number, followed by pairs of x,y
coordinates of the vertices. In the case of the feature class Hawaii.shp,
there is one feature with 11 parts, as follows:
Feature 0:
Part 0:
829161.23775 2245088.48637
829562.014007 2244825.55006
...
Part 1:
757434.846245 2276341.38313
757032.135863 2276024.28579
...
Part 2:
710001.620203 2315999.27091
712130.145201 2315404.37626
...

Write geometries
Insert and update cursors can be used to create new features
and update existing features, respectively. Point objects can be
created to set the geometry of these new or updated features.
In the next example, use an insert cursor to create a new polyline feature from a list of coordinates.
1 Start Notepad. Typically, you can get there by clicking the
Start button and then, on the Start menu, click All Programs
> Accessories > Notepad.
2 On the Notepad menu bar, click File > Open and browse to
the Exercise08 folder. Select the coordinates.txt file and
click Open.
The file consists of 34 pairs of x,y coordinates, with each pair
preceded by an ID number and separated by a space. First,
create a new empty polyline feature class, and then use this
list of coordinates to create a new polyline.
3 Close Notepad.

Write geometries

137

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 8: Working with geometries

Write geometries

4 In PythonWin, create a new Python script and save as create.py to

the Results folder for exercise 8.
5 Enter the following code.
import arcpy
import fileinput
import string
import os
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise08"
env.overwriteOutput = True
outpath = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise08"
newfc = "Results/newpolyline.shp"
arcpy.CreateFeatureclass_management(outpath, newfc, "Polyline")
6 Save and run the script. This creates a new empty polyline feature
class.
7 Start ArcMap. Open the Catalog window. Navigate to the Results
folder for exercise 8 and confirm that the file newpolyline.shp has
been created.
8 Close ArcMap. There is no need to save your map document.
Next, read the text file.
9 In the create.py script, add the following line of code:
infile = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise08/coordinates.txt"
Note: The full path is needed here because the workspace applies to only ArcPy functions
and classes.

The coordinates in this text file will be used to create the vertices for a
polyline. This requires the use of an insert cursor to create new rows
and an array object to contain the point objects.
10 Add the following lines of code:
cursor = arcpy.da.InsertCursor(newfc, ["SHAPE@"])
array = arcpy.Array()
Next, the script needs to read through the text file, parse the text into
separate strings, and iterate over the text file to create a point object for
every line in the text file.

138

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 8: Working with geometries

11 Add the following lines of code:

for line in fileinput.input(infile):

ID, X, Y = string.split(line," ")

array.add(arcpy.Point(X, Y))
cursor.insertRow([arcpy.Polyline(array)])
fileinput.close()
del cursor
The completed script looks like the example in the figure.

12 Save and run the script.

13 Start ArcMap. Open the Catalog window and browse to the Results
folder for exercise 8. Drag newpolyline.shp to the map document.

When adding the shapefile to the map document, you may get an error
related to the spatial reference because this has not been set. This could
be added to the code using the Create Feature Classes tool or as a separate line of codefor example, by using the Define Projection tool.

Write geometries

139

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 8: Working with geometries

Challenge exercises
Challenge 1
Write a script that creates a new polygon feature class containing a
single (square) polygon with the following coordinates: (0, 0), (0, 1,000),
(1,000, 0), and (1,000, 1,000).
Challenge 2
Write a script that determines the perimeter (in meters) and area (in
square meters) of each of the individual islands of the Hawaii.shp feature class. Recall that this is a multipart feature class.
Challenge 3
Write a script that creates an envelope polygon feature class for the
Hawaii.shp feature class. There is actually a tool that accomplishes this
called Minimum Bounding Geometry. You can look at the tool to get
some ideas, but your script needs to work directly with the geometry
properties.

Challenge exercises

140

Exercise 9

Working with rasters

List the rasters
The ListRasters function can be used to list all the rasters in a
workspace.
1 Start PythonWin. Create a new Python script and save as listrasters.py
to the C:\EsriPress\Python\Data\Exercise09\Results folder.
2 Enter the following code:
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise09"
rasterlist = arcpy.ListRasters()
for raster in rasterlist:

print raster
3 Save and run the script.
Running the script prints a list of rasters to the current workspace, as
follows:
elevation
landcover.tif
tm.img
In this case, elevation is a raster in Esri GRID format and therefore has
no file extension.

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 9: Working with rasters

Describe the rasters

Describe the rasters

The Describe function can be used to describe raster properties.
1 In PythonWin, create a new Python script and save as describerasters.py
to the Results folder for exercise 9.
2 Enter the following code:
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise09"
raster = "tm.img"
desc = arcpy.Describe(raster)
print "Raster base name is: " + desc.basename
print "Raster data type is: " + desc.dataType
print "Raster file extension is: " + desc.extension
3 Save and run the script.
Running the script prints a number of general raster properties, as
follows:
Raster base name is: tm
Raster data type is: RasterDataset
Raster file extension is: img
More specific properties depend on whether the raster data element is
a raster dataset, raster band, or raster catalog. The tm.img raster is a
raster dataset, which makes it possible to access additional properties.
4 Add the following print statements to the script:
print
print
print
print

"Raster
"Raster
"Raster
"Raster

spatial reference is: " + desc.spatialReference.name

format is: " + desc.format
compression type is: " + desc.compressionType
number of bands is: " + str(desc.bandCount)

Notice that the band Count property which consists of a number and is
combined using the plus sign (+), needs to be converted into a string for
proper printing.
5 Save and run the script.

142

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 9: Working with rasters

Describe the rasters

Running the script prints additional properties that are unique to raster
datasets:
Raster
Raster
Raster
Raster
Raster
Raster
Raster

base name is: tm

data type is: RasterDataset
file extension is: img
spatial reference is: GCS_North_American_1983
format is: IMAGINE Image
compression type is: RLE
number of bands is: 3

6 Modify the script as follows:

raster = "landcover.tif"
7 Save and run the script. In contrast to the tm.img raster, landcover.tif
is a single-band raster. Additional raster properties can be accessed for
individual raster bands. For single-band rasters, this is implicit, and the
raster band does not need to be specified.
8 Modify the script as follows:
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise09"
raster = "landcover.tif"
desc = arcpy.Describe(raster)
x = desc.meanCellHeight
y = desc.meanCellWidth
spatialref = desc.spatialReference
units = spatialref.linearUnitName
print "The raster resolution is " + str(x) + " by " + str(y) + " " +
units + "."
9 Save and run the script.
Running the script prints the cell size in the units of the coordinate system of the raster, as follows:
The raster resolution is 30.0 by 30.0 Meter.
For multiband rasters, however, individual bands must be specified.

143

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 9: Working with rasters

Use raster objects in geoprocessing

10 Modify the script as follows:

import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise09"
rasterband = "tm.img/Layer_1"
desc = arcpy.Describe(rasterband)
x = desc.meanCellHeight
y = desc.meanCellWidth
spatialref = desc.spatialReference
units = spatialref.angularUnitName
print "The raster resolution of Band 1 is " + str(x) + " by " + str(y)
+ " " + units + "."
11 Save and run the script.
Running the script prints the raster resolution in the units of the coordinate system. Because the tm.img raster is in a geographic coordinate
system, the units are angular units, not linear units, as follows:
The raster resolution of Band 1 is 0.000277778 by 0.000277778 Degree.

Use raster objects in geoprocessing

To use the Spatial Analyst geoprocessing tools, you need an ArcGIS
Spatial Analyst license. When working in the Python window, you can
set this from within ArcMap.
1 Start ArcMap. On the menu bar, click Customize > Extensions.
2 On the Extensions dialog box, activate the ArcGIS
Spatial Analyst extension by selecting that check
box.
3 Click Close. In working with raster datasets in
Python scripting it is common to work with raster objects. Most raster geoprocessing tools return
raster objects, which can be saved as rasters when
necessary.
4 Open the Python window. This will allow you to see
immediate results from running each line of code.

144

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 9: Working with rasters

Use raster objects in geoprocessing

5 Run the following code:

>>> from arcpy import env
>>> env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise09"
>>> outraster = arcpy.sa.Slope("elevation")
The new raster outraster is added to the ArcMap table of contents. Next,
determine the permanent state of the raster.
6 Run the following code:
>>> desc = arcpy.Describe(outraster)
>>> print desc.permanent
The result is False.
The new raster is only temporary. You can also determine the rasters
status by examining the layer properties in ArcMap. When you exit
ArcMap without saving the map document, the temporary raster will be
deleted. The save method can be used to make the raster permanent.
7 Run the following code:
>>> outraster.save("slope")
8 Open the Catalog window in ArcMap. Navigate to the C:\EsriPress\
Python\Data\Exercise09 folder and confirm that the slope raster has
been saved.

>>> TIP
To see the result in the
Catalog window, rightclick a folder (in this case,
the Exercise09 folder) and
click Refresh. This makes
any newly added data files
visible.

In working with rasters, it is common to import all the functions of the

arcpy.sa module, which you will do next. This module shortens the
code to call geoprocessing tools.
9 Run the following code:
>>> from arcpy.sa import *
>>> outraster2 = Aspect("elevation")
>>> outraster2.save("aspect")

145

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 9: Working with rasters

Use map algebra operators

The arcpy.sa module contains a number of map algebra operators,
which youll use next. These operators make it easier to write map algebra expressions in Python.
1 Run the following code:
>>> elevraster = arcpy.Raster("elevation")
Running this code creates a raster object by referencing a raster on disk.
Using raster objects makes it easier to use raster datasets in code.
2 Run the following code:
>>> outraster3 = elevraster * 3.281
>>> outraster3.save("elev_ft")
Running this code converts the elevation values from meters to feet and
saves the raster object as a permanent raster. The map algebra operator (*) is used instead of the Times tool to make the code shorter. Map
algebra operators include arithmetic, bitwise, Boolean, and relational
operators.
3 Run the following code:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>

slope = Slope(elevraster)
goodslope = slope < 20
goodelev = elevraster < 2000
goodfinal = goodslope & goodelev
goodfinal.save("final")

Running this code creates a new raster indicating slope less than 20
degrees and elevation less than 2,000 meters.

Use map algebra operators

146

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 9: Working with rasters

Work with classes to define raster tool parameters

The result of the code, as shown in the figure, illustrates how map
algebra operators can be used to carry out a series of geoprocessing
operations. All the outputs are temporary raster objects, and only the
final result is saved.

Work with classes to define raster tool

parameters
Many raster tools have parameters that have a varying number of arguments. The arcpy.sa module has a number of classes to make it easier
to work with these parameters.
In working with a stand-alone script, the first task is to make sure a
license for the Spatial Analyst extension is available.
1 Start PythonWin. Create a new Python script and save as slope.py to
the Results folder for exercise 9.

147

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 9: Working with rasters

Work with classes to define raster tool parameters

2 Enter the following code:

import arcpy
from arcpy import env
from arcpy.sa import *
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise09"
if arcpy.CheckExtension("spatial") == "Available":
arcpy.CheckOutExtension("spatial")

outraster = arcpy.sa.Slope("elevation", "PERCENT_RISE")
outraster.save("slope_per")
arcpy.CheckInExtension("spatial")
else:

print "Spatial Analyst license is not available."
3 Save and run the script.
In the Catalog window in ArcMap, confirm that the slope_per raster
has been created. You now have a basic stand-alone script for working
with tools from the arcpy.sa module. Next, use the Reclassify tool
with the RemapRange class as one of the parameters.
4 Save your slope.py script as reclass.py.
5 In the reclass.py script, replace the two lines of code that pertained
to creating and saving the slope raster with the following, making
sure to maintain the indentation of these lines:
myremap = RemapRange([[1000,2000,1], [2000,3000,2], [3000,4000,3]])
outreclass = Reclassify("elevation", "VALUE", myremap)
outreclass.save("elev_recl")
6 Save and run the script.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 9: Working with rasters

Work with classes to define raster tool parameters

7 In the Catalog window in ArcMap, confirm that the elev_recl raster

has been created.

For discrete data, such as land cover, the RemapValue class is commonly used.
8 In the reclass.py script, replace the three lines of code that pertained
to the reclassification of the elevation raster with the following:
myremap = RemapValue([[41,1], [42,2], [43,3]])
outreclass = Reclassify("landcover.tif", "VALUE", myremap, "NODATA")
outreclass.save("lc_recl")
9 Save and run the script.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 9: Working with rasters

Work with classes to define raster tool parameters

10 In the Catalog window in ArcMap, confirm that the lc_recl raster has
been created.

Other commonly used classes in raster-based analysis are the neighborhood classes, which youll work with next.
11 Save your reclass.py script as neighborhood.py.
12 In the neighborhood.py script, replace the three lines of code that
pertained to the reclassification of the land cover raster with the
following:
mynbr = NbrCircle(3, "CELL")
outraster = FocalStatistics("landcover.tif", mynbr, "MAJORITY")
outraster.save("lc_nbr")
13 Save and run the script.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 9: Working with rasters

14 In the Catalog window in ArcMap, confirm that the lc_nbr raster has
been created.

Challenge exercises
Challenge 1
Create a script that determines what areas meet the following
conditions:
Moderate slopebetween 5 and 20 degrees
Southerly aspectbetween 150 and 270 degrees
Forestedland-cover types of 41, 42, or 43
Be sure to use the map algebra expressions of the arcpy.sa module.
Challenge 2
Write a script that copies all the rasters in a workspace to a new file geodatabase. You can use the rasters in the Exercise09 folder as an example.

Challenge exercises

151

Part 3

Carrying out
specialized tasks

Exercise 10
Map scripting

Open and save a map document

Map scripting can be used to open a map document and change any of
its properties.
1 Start ArcMap. Open the map document C:\EsriPress\Python\Data\
Exercise10\Georgia.mxd.
2 On the ArcMap menu bar, click File > Map
Document Properties. Notice that most of the
properties are blank, as shown in the figure.
3 Click OK to close the Map Document Properties
dialog box.
4 On the Standard toolbar, click the Python button to open the Python window.

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 10: Map scripting

Work with data frames

153

5 Enter and run the following code:

>>> mapdoc = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("CURRENT")
>>> mapdoc.title = "Housing vacancy rates for counties in the State of
Georgia, 2000"
>>> mapdoc.save()
>>> del mapdoc
6 On the ArcMap menu bar, click File > Map Document Properties.
Notice that the Title property has been modified, as shown in the figure.

7 Close ArcMap.

Work with data frames

Map scripting can be used to access and modify the properties of one
or more data frames in a map document. In the first example, read the
names of all the data frames.
1 Start PythonWin. Create a new Python script and save as dflist.py to
the C:\EsriPress\Python\Data\Exercise10\Results folder.
2 Enter the following code:
import arcpy
mxd = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise10/Austin_TX.mxd"
mapdoc = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(mxd)
listdf = arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(mapdoc)
for df in listdf:

print df.name
del mapdoc
del listdf
3 Save and run the script.

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 10: Map scripting

Work with data frames

Running the script prints the names of three data frames to the Interactive
Window:
Facilities
Street Trees
Parks
You can also modify the data frame properties. In the next example,
modify selected properties so they are identical for all data frames in
the map document.
4 Start ArcMap. Open the map document C:\EsriPress\Python\Data\
Exercise10\Austin_TX.mxd.
5 Briefly examine the layers and the properties of each data frame.
Notice that the extent is different for each one, and the coordinate system for the Parks data frame is different from the other two. Next, use
scripting to modify these properties and make them consistent.
6 Close ArcMap.
7 In PythonWin, create a new Python script and save as dfproperties.py
to the Results folder for exercise 10.
8 Enter the following code:
import arcpy
mxd = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise10/Austin_TX.mxd"
mapdoc = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(mxd)
dataset = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise10/Austin/base.shp"
spatialref = arcpy.Describe(dataset).spatialReference
extent = arcpy.Describe(dataset).extent
for df in arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(mapdoc):

df.spatialReference = spatialref
df.panToExtent(extent)

df.scale = 15000
mapdoc.save()
del mapdoc
9 Save and run the script. Running this script sets the spatial reference,
extent, and scale for all the data frames in the map document.
10 Start ArcMap. Open Austin_TX.mxd.
11 Confirm that the data frame properties have been modified.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 10: Map scripting

Work with map layers

Work with map layers

Map scripting can also be used to work with map layers. In the next
example, create a list of all the layers in the map document and modify
the properties of a specific layer.
1 In PythonWin, create a new Python script and save as maplayers.py
to the Results folder for exercise 10.
2 Enter the following code:
import arcpy
mxd = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise10/Austin_TX.mxd"
mapdoc = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(mxd)
for df in arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(mapdoc):

print "Data frame " + df.name + " contains the following layers:"

lyrlist = arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mapdoc, "", df)

for lyr in lyrlist:
print lyr.name
del mapdoc
3 Save and run the script.
This prints the name of each data frame followed by the layers in each
data frame:
Data frame Facilities contains the following layers:
addresses
facilities
sidewalks
base
Data frame Street Trees contains the following layers:
sidewalks
trees
buildings
base
Data frame Parks contains the following layers:
parks
base

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 10: Map scripting

Work with page layout elements

Next, modify the properties of a specific layer in the map document.

4 In ArcMap, make sure Austin_TX.mxd is still open. Activate the
Parks data frame, notice how the labels of the parks layer are turned
off, and turn off the parks layer.
5 Save Austin_TX.mxd.
6 Close ArcMap.
7 In PythonWin, create a new Python script and save as lyrproperties.py
to the Results folder for exercise 10.
8 Enter the following code:
import arcpy
mxd = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise10/Austin_TX.mxd"
mapdoc = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(mxd)
lyrlist = arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mapdoc)
for lyr in lyrlist:

if lyr.name == "parks":
print lyr.name

lyr.visible = True

lyr.showLabels = True
mapdoc.save()
del mapdoc
del lyrlist
9 Save and run the script.
10 Start ArcMap. Open Austin_TX.mxd.
11 Confirm that the properties of the parks layer have been modified.
12 Close ArcMap.

Work with page layout elements

Map scripting also makes it possible to work with page layout elements.
In the next examples, create a list of all the elements of a page layout
and modify one of the elements.
1 In PythonWin, create a new Python script and save as elemlist.py to
the Results folder for exercise 10.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 10: Map scripting

Work with page layout elements

2 Enter the following code:

import arcpy
mxd = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise10/Georgia.mxd"
mapdoc = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(mxd)
elemlist = arcpy.mapping.ListLayoutElements(mapdoc)
for elem in elemlist:

print elem.name + " " + elem.type
del mapdoc
3 Save and run the script.
This prints the name and type of each page layout element, as follows:
Title TEXT_ELEMENT
Stepped Scale Line MAPSURROUND_ELEMENT
North Arrow MAPSURROUND_ELEMENT
Legend LEGEND_ELEMENT
Vacancy DATAFRAME_ELEMENT
Next, modify one of the elements.
4 Start ArcMap. Open Georgia.mxd. Notice that there is a typo in the
title where the word vacancy is misspelled, as shown in the example
in the figure.

5 Close ArcMap.
6 In PythonWin, create a new Python script and save as elemproperties.py
to the Results folder for exercise 10.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 10: Map scripting

7 Enter the following code:

import arcpy
mxd = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise10/Georgia.mxd"
mapdoc = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(mxd)
elemlist = arcpy.mapping.ListLayoutElements(mapdoc)
title = elemlist[0]
title.text = "Housing Vacancy for Georgia Counties (2000)"
mapdoc.save()
del mapdoc
8 Save and run the script.
9 Start ArcMap. Open Georgia.mxd. Notice that the typo in the title has
been corrected, as shown in the example in the figure.

Challenge exercise
Challenge 1
In ArcGIS for Desktop Help, research the AddLayer function of the
ArcPy mapping module and use it to write a script that adds the parks
layer from the Parks data frame in Austin_TX.mxd to the other two data
frames in the same map document.

Challenge exercise

158

Exercise 11

Debugging and error handling

Examine syntax errors and exceptions
To start the exercise, first take a quick look at the data.
1 Start ArcMap. Open the Catalog window. Navigate to the
C:\EsriPress\Python\Data\Exercise11 folder.
Notice that there are four shapefiles in this folder, plus one
empty personal geodatabase in the Results folder.
There are also two scripts in the Exercise11 folder, which are
not visible in ArcCatalog by default. These scripts contain errors, which
you will fix in this exercise.
2 Close ArcMap. There is no need to save the map document.
Syntax errors prevent code from being executed. In the following
examples, identify some common syntax errors.
3 Start PythonWin. On the menu bar, click File > Open, navigate to the
Exercise11 folder, and open the script fclist.py.

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 11: Debugging and error handling

Examine syntax errors and exceptions

This script has a number of syntax errors. You may be able to identify
them directly, but even so, it is useful to see how they can be found.
4 With the cursor placed inside the script, click the Check button. This
displays an error message on the PythonWin status bar. The cursor is
placed at the end of the line where the syntax error occurred: line 5,
character position 17.

>>> TIP
Line numbering can be
made visible in PythonWin
by clicking View > Options
from the menu bar. On the
PythonWin Options dialog
box, click the Editor tab

The error message does not report what the error is, but rather where
it occursyou still must identify the exact nature of the syntax error. In
this case, the error is a missing colon (:) at the end of the line of code.

and under Margin Widths,

increase the size for Line
Numbersfor example,
to 30.

5 Correct the code on line 5 of the script as follows:

PythonWin also shows

for fc in fclist:
6 Save and run the script. The script runs but is interrupted, and an error
message appears on the PythonWin status bar, as shown in the figure.

the position of the cursor

within a script window by a
designation on the far right
of the status bar. The first
number is the line number,
and the second number is
the character position.

An error message is also printed to the Interactive Window, as shown in

the figure.

An AttributeError exception was raised at line 6 in the script. The

module arcpy does not have an attribute called describe. The correct
spelling of the function is Describe. Remember that Python is case
sensitive, for the most part.
7 Correct the code on line 6 of the script as follows:
desc = arcpy.Describe(fc)

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 11: Debugging and error handling

Examine syntax errors and exceptions

8 Save and run the script. Again, an error message appears on the
PythonWin status bar, and the details are printed to the Interactive
Window.
Note: For longer error messages, it is best to start reading them from the bottom up. For
example, the last line shows the information about the exact error. Above that, it shows the
line thats in error. And above that, it reports the line number as line 7.

A NameError exception was raised on line 7 in the script. The name

des is not defined. The correct spelling of the variable is desc.
9 Correct the code on line 7 of the script as follows:
print desc.basename + ": " + desc.shapeType
10 Save and run the script. This time the script runs correctly, and the
result is printed to the Interactive Window.

This example illustrates some of the most common errors in Python

scripts: punctuation, capitalization, and spelling.
11 Close the fclist.py script.

161

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 11: Debugging and error handling

Implement debugging procedures

Implement debugging procedures

Many errors can be identified simply by trying to run a script and investigating the error messages. An alternative is to step through your code
line by line using the Python debugger.
1 On the PythonWin Standard toolbar, click the Open button, navigate
to the Exercise11 folder, and open the script copyfcs.py.

Take a moment to examine the code. The script creates a list of all
the feature classes in a workspace and copies them to a personal
geodatabase.
2 With your pointer placed inside the script, click the Check button.
There are no syntax errors.
3 Click the Run button.
4 On the Run Script dialog box, under the
Debugging options, click Step-through in
the debugger.
5 Click OK. This brings up the Debugger toolbar, and in the script, a yellow arrow points to the first line of executable code.

162

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 11: Debugging and error handling

Implement debugging procedures

Using the Debugger tools, you can step through the code line by line. If
any errors occur, the error messages will be printed to the Interactive
Window.
6 On the Debugger toolbar, click the Step button. This runs the first
line of code, and the yellow arrow points to the second line of code.
7 Click the Step button again twice. The yellow arrow now points to the
fourth line of code.

8 Click the Step button again. This opens the _base.py module, with the
yellow arrow pointing to line 512 of the script, although the line number may change between different versions of Python. This is one of the
built-in ArcPy scripts. When the workspace is set as part of the environment settings, this module is called. You probably dont want to step
through this module, but let the code run and return to your script so
that you can then continue to step through your own script.
9 On the Debugger toolbar, click the Step Out button twice.
10 Close the _base.py script. This brings you back to your own script,
with the yellow arrow pointing to line 5 of the script.
To avoid opening other modules, use the Step Over button next, instead
of Step. The Step Over button runs the current line of code, and if it
includes any Python modules or functions, they will be run as well, and
the cursor will return to the script itself.
11 Click the Step Over button.
This prints an error message to the Interactive Window, which follows
in part:
AttributeError: 'module' object has no attribute 'ListFeatureclasses'

163

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 11: Debugging and error handling

12 On the Debugger toolbar, click the Close button.

Handle some exceptions

Note: You need to stop the

debugger so you can make

13 Correct line 5 of the script as follows:

changes to the script and

run it again.

fclist = arcpy.ListFeatureClasses()
14 Save the script.
15 Click the Run button.
16 On the Run Script dialog box, under the Debugging options, click
"No debugging". This runs the script, and no more errors are encountered. Successful execution is reported on the PythonWin status bar.

17 Start ArcMap. Open the Catalog window. Navigate to the Exercise11

folder. Confirm that the geodatabase study.mdb contains four feature
classes.
18 Close ArcMap.

Handle some exceptions

Many different types of errors can occur when running a script. Rather
than just letting a script cause a runtime error, you can gain more
control using certain error-handling procedures. The most widely used
error-handling technique uses a try-except statement.
Consider the script from the preceding set of steps. What if the geodatabase study.mdb did not exist?
1 In PythonWin, make sure the script copyfcs.py is still open.
2 On line 8, replace study.mdb with mydata.mdb.
3 Save and run the script. This produces an error message at the
PythonWin status bar, as shown in the figure.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 11: Debugging and error handling

Handle some exceptions

A more detailed error message is also printed to the Interactive Window,

as follows:
ExecuteError: ERROR 000210: Cannot create output
Results/mydata.mdb\bike_routes
Failed to execute (CopyFeatures).
Next, trap this error using a try-except statement.
4 Modify the code, as follows:
import arcpy, os
from arcpy import env
try:

env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise11"

fclist = arcpy.ListFeatureClasses()

for fc in fclist:

desc = arcpy.Describe(fc)
arcpy.CopyFeatures_management(fc, os.path.join("Results/
mydata.mdb", desc.basename))
except arcpy.ExecuteError:

print arcpy.GetMessages(2)
except:

print "There has been a nontool error."
5 Save and run the script. This time the script runs successfully.

However, an error message is printed to the Interactive Window, as

follows:
ExecuteError: ERROR 000210: Cannot create output
Results/mydata.mdb\bike_routes
Failed to execute (CopyFeatures).
Although the error message is the same as before, there is a very important difference: despite the error, the script ran successfully rather than
resulting in a runtime error. This is a very important distinction. Say,
for instance, that you called this script as a tool in ArcMap. If the script
results in a runtime error, you may not find out what happened because
the printed error message does not appear anywhere. With the use of
the try-except statement, the script runs successfully, and the error
message can be reported back to the tool that called the script.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 11: Debugging and error handling

Challenge exercises

Challenge exercises
Challenge 1
The following script contains a number of errors. Try to identify all four.
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise07"
FC = "airports.shp"
rows = arcpy.SearchCursor(fc)
fields = arcpy.ListFields(fc)
for field in fields:

if fields.name == "NAME"

for row in rows:

print "Name = {0}".format(row.getValue(field.name))
Challenge 2
The following script contains a number of errors. Try to identify all six.
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data\Exercise09"
raster = "landcover.tiff"
desc = arcpy.describe(raster)
x = desc.MeanCellHeight
y = desc.MeanCellWidth
spatialref = desc.spatialReference
units = spatialref.linearUnitName
print "Cells are" + str(x) + " by " + str(y) + " " + units + "."

166

Exercise 12

Creating Python functions and

classes

Create Python functions

In this exercise, create a custom function that can be called from within
the same script or from another script.
1 Start PythonWin. Create a new Python script and save as list.py to
the C:\EsriPress\Python\Data\Exercise12\Results folder.
2 Enter the following code:
import arcpy
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise12"
fields = arcpy.ListFields("streets.shp")
print fields
Running this code creates a list of fields.
3 Save and run the script.
Running the script prints the Python reference information for each
field object in the streets shapefile. The code does not print any field
names. The output prints as follows:
[<Field object at 0xfb9870[0xe021e90]>, <Field object at
0xe0d33f0[0xe021f38]>, <Field object at 0xe0d3570[0xe021f68]>,
<Field object at 0xe0d37b0[0xe104038]>, <Field object at
0xe0d3b90[0xe1040b0]>,...
To print the names of the field objects, use their name property. A for
loop can be used to iterate over the list of fields.

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 12: Creating Python functions and classes

Create Python functions

4 Modify the code as follows:

import arcpy
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise12"
fields = arcpy.ListFields("streets.shp")
namelist = []
for field in fields:
namelist.append(field.name)
print namelist
5 Save and run the script.
Running the script prints the field names, as follows:
[u'FID', u'Shape', u'OBJECTID', u'PRE_TYPE', u'ST_NAME', u'STREET_
NAM', u'STREET_TYP', u'SUF_DIR', u'FULLNAME', ...]
Once you have the script to create a list of field names, you may want to
use it again. You can do this by creating a custom function, which youll
do next.
6 Modify the code as follows:
import arcpy
def listfieldnames(table):

fields = arcpy.ListFields(table)

namelist = []

for field in fields:
namelist.append(field.name)

return namelist
It is common to skip a line in a script before a custom function. This
has no effect on running the script.
The block of code that creates the list of names is now defined as a
function called listfieldnames. This function can now be called, for
example, from within the same script. Youll do this next.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 12: Creating Python functions and classes

Call functions from other scripts

7 Add the following lines of code:

fieldnames = listfieldnames("C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise12/
streets.shp")
print fieldnames
The complete script now looks like the example in the figure.

8 Save and run the script. Running the script prints the list of field
names to the Interactive Window.
Initially, it does not appear to do anything different from the earlier version of the script that did not define a custom function. However, once
the function is created, it can also be called from another script. You
will do that next.

Call functions from other scripts

1 In PythonWin, create a new Python script and save as myscript.py to
the Results folder for exercise 12.
2 Enter the following code:
import arcpy
import list
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise12"
fields = list.listfieldnames("streets.shp")
print fields
Running this script imports the list module, calls the
listfieldnames function, and passes the name of a table as an argument to this function.

169

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 12: Creating Python functions and classes

Call functions from other scripts

3 Save and run the script. The result is that the list of field names is
printed twice to the Interactive Window.

What happened? When the myscript.py script called the

listfieldnames function, it ran the list.py script. This script creates
and then prints the list of field names. The function also returns the list
of field names, and it is printed by the myscript.py script.

Note: If PythonWin had

been left open with the
list.py script open from the
previous steps, the script
would not have been loaded

To avoid double printing, some additional code is needed, which youll

add next.
4 Open the list.py script and add the following line of code just before
the line that starts with fieldnames ...:
if __name__ == "__main__":
Note: There are two underscores in each spot.

again, and the result would

have printed only once.

170

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 12: Creating Python functions and classes

5 Indent the last two lines of code. The script should now look like the
example in the figure.

6 Save the list.py script.

7 Close PythonWin.
8 Start PythonWin and open the myscript.py script.
9 Without making any changes, run the script. Running the script prints
the list of field names only once to the Interactive Window.

When the myscript.py script runs and calls the listfieldnames

function, the if __name__ == "__main__": statement in the list.py
script ensures that the next block of code is run only if the list.py script
is run by itself.
The block of code following the if __name__ == "__main__":
statement can be considered a test. When the list.py script is run by
itself, this test code allows you to check whether the custom function
works correctly. However, it may not be necessary to keep this code if

Call functions from other scripts

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 12: Creating Python functions and classes

the script is being used to store a custom function to be called only from
other scripts.
10 Modify the list.py script by removing the last three lines of code. The
script should now look like the example in the figure.

11 Save and close the list.py and myscript.py scripts.

Work with classes

Classes allow you to group functions and variables together. Once they
are created, classes make it possible to create objects that have specific
properties as defined by these functions and variables.
Next, consider a script to calculate property taxes, and then create a
class to make this calculation more versatile.
1 In PythonWin, create a new Python script and save as assessment.py
to the Results folder for exercise 12.
2 Enter the following code:
import sys
landuse = sys.argv[1]
value = int(sys.argv[2])
if landuse == "SFR":

rate = 0.05
elif landuse == "MFR":

rate = 0.04
else:

rate = 0.02
assessment = value * rate
print assessment

Work with classes

172

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 12: Creating Python functions and classes

This script calculates the property tax assessment based on variables for
land use and the property value.
3 Save the script. The script requires two arguments.
4 Click the Run button. On the Run Script dialog box, enter the arguments as shown in the figure.

5 Click OK. Running the script prints the result of 6250.0 to the
Interactive Window.
To automate this calculation for numerous entries, you would read the
values from a file and iterate over them. Then you would have a few
options to carry out the tax calculation. First, you can place the code
within the iterationthat is, within the for loop or the while loop.
Second, you can create a custom function in a separate script that does
the calculation; when the function is called, the necessary arguments
are passed, and the function returns a value. Third, you can create a
class that contains the calculation as a method.
Next, take a look at the use of a custom function.
6 In PythonWin, create a new Python script and save as tax.py to the
Results folder for exercise 12.
7 Enter the following code:
def taxcalc(landuse, value):

if landuse == "SFR":

rate = 0.05

elif landuse == "MFR":

rate = 0.04
else:

rate = 0.02

assessment = value * rate

return assessment
8 Save your script.

Work with classes

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 12: Creating Python functions and classes

9 Create a new Python script and save as parcelCalc.py to the Results

folder for exercise 12.
10 Enter the following code:
import tax
mytax = tax.taxcalc("SFR", 125000)
print mytax
11 Save and run the script. Running the script prints the result of 6250.0
to the Interactive Window.
Next, look at the use of a class.
12 Create a new Python script and save as parcelclass.py to the Results
folder for exercise 12.
13 Enter the following code:
class Parcel:

def __init__(self, landuse, value):

self.landuse = landuse

self.value = value

def assessment(self):

if self.landuse == "SFR":
rate = 0.05

elif self.landuse == "MFR":
rate = 0.04
else:
rate = 0.02

assessment = self.value * rate
return assessment
14 Save your script.
15 Create a new Python script and save as parcelTax.py to the Results
folder for exercise 12.
16 Enter the following code:
import parcelclass
myparcel = parcelclass.Parcel("SFR", 125000)
print "Land use: ", myparcel.landuse
mytax = myparcel.assessment()
print "Tax assessment: ", mytax

Work with classes

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 12: Creating Python functions and classes

17 Save and run the script.

Running the script prints the following tax information to the Interactive Window:
Land use: SFR
Tax assessment: 6250.0
Although the use of the class accomplishes the same calculation as the
custom function, a class is more versatile because it allows you to combine properties and functions. It would be relatively easy, for example,
to expand the class with additional methods for different calculations,
which could all be part of the same class.

Challenge exercises
Challenge 1
Create a custom function called countstringfields that determines the
number of fields of type string in an input feature class. Create this
function in a separate script (for example, mycount.py) that you call
from another script (for example, callingscript.py). You can use the
streets.shp feature class in the Exercise12 folder.
Challenge 2
You are given a feature class called parcels.shp located in the Exercise12
folder that contains the following fields: FID, Shape, Landuse, and Value.
Modify the parceltax.py script so that it determines the property tax for
each parcel and stores these values in a list. You should use the class
created in the parcelclass.py scriptthe class can remain unchanged.
Print the values of the final list as follows:
FID: <property tax>

Challenge exercises

175

Part 4

Creating and using

script tools

Exercise 13

Creating custom tools

Examine the script
In this exercise, create a script tool that creates a random selection of
features from an existing feature class and saves the result as a new
feature class. First, examine the script.
1 Start PythonWin. On the menu bar, click the Open button and
browse to the script random_sample.py in your C:\EsriPress\Python\
Data\Exercise13 folder.
2 Click OK.

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 13: Creating custom tools

3 Examine the script.

Notice that the names of the input and output feature classes and the
count of random features to be selected are hard-coded into the script.
A few points to note about the script:
The script creates a new empty list, inlist, and this is populated
with the OID (object ID) values of all the features in the input feature class.
The script creates a new empty list, randomlist, and this is populated with 50 OID values randomly selected from inlist.
The output feature class is created by using the OID values in an
SQL expression to select features from the input feature class. The
SQL expression looks a bit complicated but essentially uses the
in operator to query each feature in the input feature class as to
whether its OID value is part of randomlist.
First, run the script to see what the output looks like.

Examine the script

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 13: Creating custom tools

4 Run the script.

5 Close PythonWin.
Next, examine the results.
6 Start ArcMap. Open the Catalog window. Navigate to the
C:\EsriPress\Python\Data\Exercise13\Results folder.
7 Drag the shapefiles points.shp (from the Exercise13 folder) and
random.shp (from the Results folder for exercise 13) to the data
frame. When you examine the contents of the two shapefiles, you will
notice that the points.shp file contains 1,314 features, and the random.
shp file contains only 50 features, both created through a random selection. If you were to run the script again, you would get a different random selection.

Examine the script

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 13: Creating custom tools

Next, instead of running the script from PythonWin, create a script tool
so that it can be run from within an ArcGIS for Desktop application.

Create a custom tool

Script tools are located inside a toolbox. First, create a new custom toolbox. Then within that toolbox, create a new tool that makes use of the
preceding script.
1 In ArcMap, make sure the Catalog window is open and browse to
the Exercise13 folder.
2 Right-click the Exercise13 folder and click New > Toolbox.
3 Name the new toolbox Random Tools.tbx.

4 Right-click the new toolbox and click Add > Script.

5 On the Add Script dialog box in the first panel, enter
the following information:
a. For Name, type RandomFeatures.
b. For Label, type Random Features.
c. Select the check box Store relative path names.
d. Select the check box Always run in foreground.
6 Click Next.

Create a custom tool

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 13: Creating custom tools

7 On the Add Script dialog box in the second panel, enter the following
information:
a. For Script File, click the Browse button, navigate to the Exercise13
folder, and double-click the script random_sample.py.
b. Leave the check box Show command window when executing
script unchecked. This check box typically appears shaded.
c. Select the check box Run Python script in process.

8 Click Next. On the Add Script dialog box in the third panel, you can add
the script parameters. For now, leave it blank and return to it later.

9 Click Finish. The script tool is now created but has no parameters yet,
because this step was skipped during the initial creation of the tool.

Create a custom tool

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 13: Creating custom tools

10 In the Catalog window, navigate to the Random Tools toolbox.

Notice that the Random Features script tool has been added to the
toolbox.

11 Double-click the Random Features tool. This opens the dialog box of
the newly created tool. The tool does not have any parameters so the
dialog box is not very informative.

The tool can be executed, howeverthat is, the script can be run from
the new tool dialog box.
12 Leave the tool dialog box open. In the ArcMap table of contents,
right-click the random layer and click Remove.
13 In the Catalog window, browse to the Results folder for exercise 13.
Right-click the feature class random.shp and click Delete.
14 On the Random Features tool dialog box, click OK. This runs the
script, and the progress dialog box appears.

15 Click Close to close the tool progress dialog box.

16 In the Catalog window, browse to the Results folder for exercise 13
and confirm that a new feature class, random.shp, has been created.

Create a custom tool

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 13: Creating custom tools

Running the script tool this way is possible, but the script still uses the
original hard-coded values. The next step is to add parameters to the
tool and pass them to the script so the user can choose the values.

Set the tool parameters

The new tool will have three parameters:
An input features class
An output feature class containing randomly selected features
The number of features to be selected
It is possible, of course, to select features based on other criteria, such
as a percentage of the input features, but using the number of features
will suffice for this exercise.
Start by setting the tool parameters of the script tool.
1 In the Catalog window, right-click the Random Features tool and
click Properties. This brings up the tool properties dialog box.

2 Click the Parameters tab.

Set the tool parameters

182

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 13: Creating custom tools

3 On the tabs uppermost panel, click in the first

empty row in the Display Name column and
type Input Features. For Data Type, select Feature Class.

4 In the Parameter Properties panel, click in the

cell to the right of the Filter parameter and
select Feature Class. On the Feature Class
dialog box, clear the Annotation and Dimension check boxes and click OK.

Set the tool parameters

183

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 13: Creating custom tools

This completes the first parameter.

5 Click in the second row in the Display Name
column and type Output Features. For Data
Type, select Feature Class.

6 In the Parameter Properties panel, click in

the cell to the right of the Direction property
and select Output. This completes the second
parameter.
7 Click in the third row in the Display Name
column and type Number of Features. For Data
Type, select Long.

Set the tool parameters

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 13: Creating custom tools

8 Leave the Parameter Properties at the defaults. This completes the

third parameter.

9 Click OK.
Next, view the parameters on the tool dialog box.
10 In the Catalog window, navigate to the Random Tools toolbox.
Double-click the Random Features tool. This opens the tool dialog box
with its newly created parameters.

11 Click Cancel to close the tool dialog box without running the tool.
Now that the parameters are specified, the script needs to be modified
to read these parameters.

Set the tool parameters

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 13: Creating custom tools

Select a script editor

To edit the code of the script, you can open a Python editor and browse
to the location of the script file. However, the script can also be opened
directly from the script tool. The default editor is IDLE. So, first change
the default script editor from IDLE to PythonWin.
1 On the ArcMap menu bar, click Geoprocessing > Geoprocessing
Options.

2 In the Script Tool Editor/Debugger panel, click the Browse button to

the right of the Editor box.
3 Browse to the location of the PythonWin application. Typically, the
path to this application is: C:\Python27\ArcGIS10.1\Lib\site-packages\
PythonWin\PythonWin.exe.

4 Click OK to close the Geoprocessing Options dialog box.

Select a script editor

186

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 13: Creating custom tools

Edit the tool code to read the parameters

5 In the Catalog window, navigate to the Random Tools toolbox.

Right-click the Random Features tool and click Edit. This opens the
random_sample.py script in PythonWin.

Next, make changes to the code, save the script, and run the tool to see
if it works correctly.

Edit the tool code to read the parameters

The random_sample.py script needs to be modified to read the parameters from the tool.
1 With the script open in PythonWin, modify lines 57 as follows:
inputfc = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(0)
outputfc = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(1)
outcount = int(arcpy.GetParameterAsText(2))
This effectively replaces the hard-coded values in the script with the
parameters passed by the tool. The third parameter is received as a
string but is converted to an integer.
2 Save the script.
3 Close PythonWin.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 13: Creating custom tools

4 Return to ArcMap. In the Catalog window, navigate to the Random

Tools toolbox. Double-click the Random Features tool.
5 Fill in the tool parameters as shown in the figure.

6 Click OK to run the tool. The tool runs, and a new feature class is
created with a random selection of 20 point features.

Challenge exercise
Challenge 1
Make a copy of the random_sample.py script and call it
random_percent.py. Modify the script so that the third parameter
is a percentage of the number of input records as an integer between
1 and 100. Modify the script tool settings so that the input for this
parameter is validated on the tool dialog box.

Challenge exercise

188

Exercise 14
Sharing tools

Prepare the files for sharing tools

In this exercise, work with the Random Tools toolbox created in exercise
13 and prepare it for distribution.
1 Start ArcCatalog. Navigate to the C:\EsriPress\Python\Data\
Exercise14 folder.

This folder contains the Random Tools toolbox, which contains the finished script tool, Random Features, but without any documentation.
Although by default you can see the toolbox and script tool, Python
scripts are not, by default, visible in ArcCatalog. Instead, you can use
Windows Explorer (My Computer) to view and manage your scripts.
However, you can modify the ArcCatalog options to make Python
scripts visible. Youll do that next.
2 On the menu bar, click Customize >
ArcCatalog Options.
3 On the ArcCatalog Options dialog box,
click the File Types tab.
Unless you have previously added file
types here, this panel should be empty.
4 Click New Type.

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 14: Sharing tools

Prepare the files for sharing tools

5 On the File Type dialog box, click Import File Type From Registry.

6 On the Registered File Types dialog box, browse to the Python File
entry (PY).

Note: File types are sorted

based on the file extension,
not the description.

7 Click the Python File entry (PY) and click OK. This brings up the File
Type dialog boxthis time populated with the details of Python script
files, including the icon.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 14: Sharing tools

Prepare the files for sharing tools

>>> TIP
When Windows 7 or Vista is used, depending on the system configuration, only a very limited
number of registered file types may be shown. If there is no entry called Python File, the File
extension box on the File Type dialog box can be filled in manually. When the File Type dialog
box is filled in manually, an icon is not automatically created. An icon can be chosen by
clicking the Change Icon button and browsing to an appropriate file. For a typical installation
of Python 2.7, the icon can be found at C:\Python27\ArcGIS10.1\DLLs\py.ico.

8 On the File Type dialog box, click OK. Python script files now appear
on the File Types tab.

9 On the ArcCatalog Options dialog box, click OK.

10 In the Catalog tree, right-click the Exercise14 folder and click
Refresh. The Python script file now appears in the Catalog tree.

Next, organize the files into the standard folder structure.

11 In the Catalog tree, right-click the Exercise14 folder and click New >
Folder. Name the folder Random.
12 Inside the Random folder, create two new folders called Scripts and
Doc.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 14: Sharing tools

13 Move the Random Tools toolbox file into the Random root folder and
move the random_sample.py script into the Scripts folder.

Moving the script relative to the .tbx file means that the relative path
needs to be updated, which youll do next.
14 Right-click the Random Features script tool and click Properties.
15 On the Random Features Properties dialog box, click the Source tab.
16 For Script File, browse to C:\EsriPress\Python\Data\Exercise14\
Random\Scripts\random_sample.py.

17 Click OK.
With the folder structure created, additional files can be added, such as
sample data or documentation, which youll add next.

Create tool documentation

When tools are shared, documentation makes them easier to use
correctly.
1 In ArcCatalog, in the Catalog tree, click the Random Features script
tool.

Create tool documentation

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 14: Sharing tools

Create tool documentation

2 In the panel to the right, click the Description tab.

3 On the panel toolbar under Description, click the Edit button

4 In the Item Description panel, for Summary, type: Creates a new feature class based on a random selection of features in the input feature
class.
5 For Usage, type the following as a bullet list:
The input feature class can be points, polylines, or polygons.
The output features consist of the same geometry type as the input
features.
The number of features can range from 0 to the number of features in
the input feature class.
6 For Syntax, click Input Features > Dialog Explanation and type: Input
feature class from which features are to be selected. Can be points, polylines, or polygons.

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Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 14: Sharing tools

Create tool documentation

7 For Syntax, click Output Features > Dialog Explanation and type:
Output feature class containing the randomly selected features.
8 For Syntax, click Number of Features > Dialog Explanation and type:
The number of features to be selected. Needs to be specified as an integer between 0 and the number of features in the input feature class.
Much more information can be entered on the Description page, but
these basic elements illustrate the concept.
9 On the panel toolbar, click the Save button

The tool description can now be viewed on the tool dialog box, as youll
see next.
10 In the Catalog tree, double-click the Random Features script tool.
11 On the Random Features dialog box, click the Show Help button.
The summary description appears in the Help panel to the right.

12 On the tool dialog box, click the Input Features parameter to see
the description in the Help panel. Also, try the other two parameters, Output Features and Number of Features, to see their Help
messages.

194

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 14: Sharing tools

13 Click the Tool Help button to open the Help file in a web browser.

14 Scroll down and see your inputs to the tool Description page. Notice
that some items may need to be filled in later: Code Samples, Tags,
and Credits.
15 Close the browser window.

Create tool documentation

195

Python Scripting for ArcGIS Exercise 14: Sharing tools

Challenge exercise
Challenge 1
Go to the Geoprocessing section of the online ArcGIS for Desktop
Resource Center at http://resources.ArcGIS.com/content/geoprocessing .
Click the Model and Script Tool Gallery and browse through some of
the recent postings. Preview the details of a tool that looks interesting to
you. Once you confirm that the tool uses Python, download the toolif
it does not, keep looking until you find a tool that does.
Once the tool is downloaded and extracted, review the contents of the
files and answer the following questions:
How is (are) the tool(s) made available to users? As a .tbx file with
one or more .py files? As stand-alone .py files?
What is the folder structure, if any, of the files that make up the tool?
What type of documentation is provided, separate from the script
itself? Is there a Help page on the tool dialog box?
Open the .py files in PythonWin and review the scripts documentation.
See if you can recognize the following elements of a script:
Importing modules, such as ArcPy and others
Receiving parameters from the tool dialog box, such as
GetParameterAsText
Error-handling techniques, such as the try-except statement
Custom functions, such as def
Message handling, such as the AddMessage and AddWarning
functions

Challenge exercise

196

Solutions
Exercise 1
No challenge exercises.

Exercise 2
Challenge 1
The ModelBuilder result is shown in the figure.

198

Python Scripting for ArcGISSolutions

Python script converted from ModelBuilder:

#
#
#
#
#
#
#

-*- coding: utf-8 -*-------------------------------------------------------------------soil.py

Created on: 2012-03-13 11:53:44.00000
(generated by ArcGIS/ModelBuilder)
Description:
--------------------------------------------------------------------

# Import arcpy module

import arcpy
# Local variables:
soils_shp = "C:\\EsriPress\\Python\\Data\\Exercise02\\soils.shp"
basin_shp = "C:\\EsriPress\\Python\\Data\\Exercise02\\basin.shp"
soil_clip_shp = "C:\\EsriPress\\Python\\Data\\Exercise02\\Results\\
soil_clip.shp"
soil_select_shp = "C:\\EsriPress\\Python\\Data\\Exercise02\\Results\\
soil_select.shp"
# Process: Clip
arcpy.Clip_analysis(soils_shp, basin_shp, soil_clip_shp, "")
# Process: Select
arcpy.Select_analysis(soil_clip_shp, soil_select_shp, "FARMLNDCL =
'Not prime farmland'")

Exercise 3
No challenge exercises.

Exercise 4
Challenge 1
mytext = "Geographic Information Systems"
result = mytext.find("Z")
if result == -1:

print "No"
else:

print "Yes"

Python Scripting for ArcGISSolutions

Challenge 2
mylist = [2, 8, 64, 16, 32, 4]
mylist.sort()
mylist[-2]
Challenge 3
mylist = [2, 8, 64, 16, 32, 4, 16, 8]
for number in mylist:

count = mylist.count(number)

if count <> 1:

result = "The list provided contains duplicate values."
break
else:

result = "The list provided does not contain duplicate
values."
print result
Optional addition to remove duplicates from the list:
mylist = [2, 8, 64, 16, 32, 4, 8, 16]
mylist.sort()
for number in mylist:

count = mylist.count(number)

if count <> 1:
mylist.remove(number)
print mylist
Challenge 4
a) 5
b) 'Cairo'
c) ['Barcelona', 'Cairo', 'Florence', 'Helsinki']
d) 'Helsinki'
e) 2
f) 'Barcelona'; new list: ['Athens', 'Cairo', 'Florence', 'Helsinki']
g) No result prints; new list: ['Helsinki', 'Florence', 'Cairo', 'Barcelona',
'Athens']
h) No result prints; new list: ['Athens', 'Barcelona', 'Cairo', 'Florence',
'Helsinki', 'Berlin']

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Python Scripting for ArcGISSolutions

Exercise 5
Challenge 1
For Add XY Coordinates tool:
Syntax: AddXY_management(in_features)
Required parameter: in_features (feature layer, geometry type
point)
Optional parameters: none
For Dissolve tool:
Syntax: Dissolve_management(in_features, out_feature_class,
{dissolve_field}, {statistics_fields}, {multi_part}, {unsplit_lines})
Required parameters:
in_features (feature layer)
out_feature_class (feature class)
Optional parameters:
dissolve_field (field or fields; default: no fields selected)
statistics_fields (field or fields; default: no fields selected)
multi_part (Boolean value; default: multipart features allowed)
unsplit_lines (Boolean value; default: lines dissolved)
Challenge 2
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/Data"
arcpy.AddXY_management("hospitals.shp")
Challenge 3
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/Data"
arcpy.Dissolve_management("parks.shp", "parks_dissolved.shp",
"PARK_TYPE",
"", "FALSE")

200

Python Scripting for ArcGISSolutions

Challenge 4
import arcpy
default = "no extensions are available"
if arcpy.CheckExtension("3D") == "Available":

ext_3D = "3D Analyst "
else:

ext_3D = ""
if arcpy.CheckExtension("Network") == "Available":

ext_network = "Network Analyst "
else:

ext_network = ""
if arcpy.CheckExtension("Spatial") == "Available":

ext_spatial = "Spatial Analyst "
else:

ext_spatial = ""
print "The following extensions are available: " + ext_3D + ext_
spatial + ext_network + default

Exercise 6
Challenge 1
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/Data"
fc_list = arcpy.ListFeatureClasses()
for fc in fc_list:

desc = arcpy.Describe(fc)

print "{0} is a {1} feature class".format(desc.basename,
desc.shapeType)

Challenge 2
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/Data/study.mdb"
fc_list = arcpy.ListFeatureClasses()
arcpy.CreateFileGDB_management("C:/Data", "newstudy.gdb")
for fc in fc_list:

desc = arcpy.Describe(fc)

if desc.shapeType == "Polygon":

arcpy.Copy_management (fc, "C:/Data/newstudy.gdb/" + fc)

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Python Scripting for ArcGISSolutions

Exercise 7
Challenge 1
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise07"
sql1 = " \"FEATURE\" = 'Airport'"
sql2 = " \"FEATURE\" = 'Seaplane Base'"
arcpy.Select_analysis ("airports.shp", "Results/airports_final.shp",
sql1)
arcpy.Select_analysis ("airports.shp", "Results/seaports.shp", sql2)
arcpy.Buffer_analysis("Results/airports_final.shp", "Results/aiports_
buffers.shp", "15000 METERS")
arcpy.Buffer_analysis("Results/seaports.shp", "Results/seaports_
buffers.shp", "7500 METERS")
Challenge 2
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise07"
fc = "roads.shp"
arcpy.AddField_management(fc, "FERRY", "TEXT", "", "", 20)
cursor = arcpy.da.UpdateCursor(fc, ["FEATURE", "FERRY"])
for row in cursor:

if row[0] == "Ferry Crossing":

row[1] = "YES"
else:
row[1]= "NO"
cursor.updateRow(row)

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Python Scripting for ArcGISSolutions

Exercise 8
Challenge 1
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/Data"
fc = "newpoly2.shp"
arcpy.CreateFeatureclass_management("C:/Data", fc, "Polygon")
cursor = arcpy.da.InsertCursor(fc, ["SHAPE@"])
array = arcpy.Array()
coordlist =[[0, 0], [0, 1000], [1000, 1000], [1000, 0]]
for x, y in coordlist:

point = arcpy.Point(x,y)
array.append(point)
polygon = arcpy.Polygon(array)
cursor.insertRow([polygon])
del cursor
Challenge 2
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise08"
fc = "Hawaii.shp"
newfc = "Results/Hawaii_single.shp"
arcpy.MultipartToSinglepart_management(fc, newfc)
spatialref = arcpy.Describe(newfc).spatialReference
unit = spatialref.linearUnitName
cursor = arcpy.da.SearchCursor(newfc, ["SHAPE@"])
for row in cursor:

print ("{0} square {1}".format(row[0].area, unit))

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Python Scripting for ArcGISSolutions

Challenge 3
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise08"
fc = "Hawaii.shp"
newfc = "envelope8.shp"
desc = arcpy.Describe(fc)
spatialref = desc.spatialReference
extent = desc.extent
arcpy.CreateFeatureclass_management("C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/
Exercise08", newfc, "Polygon", "", "", "", spatialref)
cursor = arcpy.da.InsertCursor(newfc, ["SHAPE@"])
array = arcpy.Array()
array.append(extent.upperLeft)
array.append(extent.upperRight)
array.append(extent.lowerRight)
array.append(extent.lowerLeft)
polygon = arcpy.Polygon(array)
cursor.insertRow([polygon])
del cursor

Exercise 9
Challenge 1
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
from arcpy.sa import *
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise09"
if arcpy.CheckExtension("Spatial") == "Available":
arcpy.CheckOutExtension("Spatial")
elev = arcpy.Raster("elevation")
lc = arcpy.Raster("landcover.tif")
slope = Slope(elev)
aspect = Aspect(elev)
goodslope = ((slope > 5) & (slope < 20))
goodaspect = ((aspect > 150) & (aspect < 270))
goodland = ((lc == 41) | (lc == 42) | (lc ==43))
outraster = (goodslope & goodaspect & goodland)
outraster.save("C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise09/Results/final")
arcpy.CheckInExtension("Spatial")

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Python Scripting for ArcGISSolutions

Challenge 2
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
out_path = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise09"
env.workspace = out_path
rasterlist = arcpy.ListRasters()
arcpy.CreatePersonalGDB_management(out_path + "/Results", "myrasters.
gdb")
for raster in rasterlist:

desc = arcpy.Describe(raster)

rname = desc.baseName

outraster = out_path + "/Results/myrasters.gdb/" + rname

arcpy.CopyRaster_management(raster, outraster)

Exercise 10
Challenge 1
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise10"
mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise10/
Austin_TX.mxd")
df = arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(mxd, "Parks")[0]
lyr = arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd, "parks", df)[0]
dflist = arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(mxd)
for dframe in dflist:

if dframe.name <> "Parks":
arcpy.mapping.AddLayer(dframe, lyr)
mxd.save()
del mxd

205

Python Scripting for ArcGISSolutions

Exercise 11
Challenge 1
The four coding errors are highlighted in yellow as follows:
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise07"
FC = "airports.shp"
rows = arcpy.SearchCursor(fc)
fields = arcpy.ListFields(fc)
for field in fields:

if fields.name == "NAME":

for row in rows:
____print "Name = {0}".format(row.getValue(field.name))
Challenge 2
The six coding errors are highlighted in yellow as follows:
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data\Exercise09"
raster = "landcover.tiff"
desc = arcpy.describe(raster)
x = desc.MeanCellHeight
y = desc.MeanCellWidth
spatialref = desc.spatialReference
units = spatialref.linearUnitName
print "Cells are" + str(x) + " by " + str(y) + " " + units + "."

206

Python Scripting for ArcGISSolutions

Exercise 12
Challenge 1
For callingscript.py:
import arcpy
import mycount
table = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise12/streets.shp"
print mycount.countstringfields(table)
For mycount.py:
import arcpy
import os
def countstringfields(table):

fields = arcpy.ListFields(table)

i = 0

for field in fields:

if field.type == "String":
i += 1

return i
Challenge 2
For parcelclass.py:
import arcpy
import parcelclass
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/EsriPress/Python/Data/Exercise12"
fc = "parcels.shp"
cursor = arcpy.da.SearchCursor(fc, ["FID", "Landuse", "Value"])
for row in cursor:

myparcel = parcelclass.Parcel(row[1], row[2])

mytax = myparcel.assessment()

print "{0}: {1}".format(row[0], mytax)

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Python Scripting for ArcGISSolutions

Exercise 13
Challenge 1
import arcpy
import random
from arcpy import env
env.overwriteOutput = True
inputfc = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(0)
outputfc = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(1)
percent = int(arcpy.GetParameterAsText(2))
desc = arcpy.Describe(inputfc)
input_count = int(arcpy.GetCount_management(inputfc)[0])
outcount = int(round(input_count * percent * 0.01))
inlist = []
randomlist = []
fldname = desc.OIDFieldName
rows = arcpy.SearchCursor(inputfc)
row = rows.next()
while row:

id = row.getValue(fldname)
inlist.append(id)

row = rows.next()
while len(randomlist) < outcount:

selitem = random.choice(inlist)
randomlist.append(selitem)
inlist.remove(selitem)
length = len(str(randomlist))
sqlexp = '"' + fldname + '"' + " in " + "(" + str(randomlist)
[1:length - 1] + ")"
arcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management(inputfc, "selection", sqlexp)
arcpy.CopyFeatures_management("selection", outputfc)
In the script tool, the parameter Number of Features is replaced by
Percent of Features of type Integer with a range filter from 0 to 100.

Exercise 14
Challenge 1
Results will vary with the tool selected.

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