Programming ArcGIS 10.1 with Python Cookbook

Eric Pimpler

• Publisher: Packt Publishing
• Year: 2013
• ISBN:
  9781849694445
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Computer Science
• Subtopic: Computer Science General
• Index: Computer Science

In Detail

ArcGIS is an industry standard geographic information system from ESRI.

This book will show you how to use the Python programming language to create geoprocessing scripts, tools, and shortcuts for the ArcGIS Desktop environment.

This book will make you a more effective and efficient GIS professional by showing you how to use the Python programming language with ArcGIS Desktop to automate geoprocessing tasks, manage map documents and layers, find and fix broken data links, edit data in feature classes and tables, and much more.

"Programming ArcGIS 10.1 with Python Cookbook" starts by covering fundamental Python programming concepts in an ArcGIS Desktop context. Using a how-to instruction style you'll then learn how to use Python to automate common important ArcGIS geoprocessing tasks.

In this book you will also cover specific ArcGIS scripting topics which will help save you time and effort when working with ArcGIS. Topics include managing map document files, automating map production and printing, finding and fixing broken data sources, creating custom geoprocessing tools, and working with feature classes and tables, among others.

In "Python ArcGIS 10.1 Programming Cookbook" you'll learn how to write geoprocessing scripts using a pragmatic approach designed around an approach of accomplishing specific tasks in a Cookbook style format.

Approach

This book is written in a helpful, practical style with numerous hands-on recipes and chapters to help you save time and effort by using Python to power ArcGIS to create shortcuts, scripts, tools, and customizations.

Who this book is for

"Programming ArcGIS 10.1 with Python Cookbook" is written for GIS professionals who wish to revolutionize their ArcGIS workflow with Python. Basic Python or programming knowledge is essential(?).

Programming ArcGIS 10.1 with Python Cookbook

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Table of Contents

Programming ArcGIS 10.1 with Python Cookbook

Credits

About the Author

About the Reviewers

www.PacktPub.com

Support files, eBooks, discount offers and more

Why Subscribe?

Free Access for Packt account holders

Preface

What this book covers

What you need for this book

Who this book is for

Conventions

Reader feedback

Customer support

Downloading the example code

Errata

Piracy

Questions

1. Fundamentals of the Python Language for ArcGIS

Using IDLE for Python script development

The Python shell window

The Python script window

Editing existing Python scripts

Executing scripts from IDLE

Python language fundamentals

Commenting code

Importing modules

Variables

Built-in datatypes

Strings

String manipulation

Numbers

Lists

Tuples

Dictionaries

Classes and objects

Statements

Decision support statements

Looping statements

Try statements

with statements

File I/O

Summary

2. Writing Basic Geoprocessing Scripts with ArcPy

Introduction

Using the ArcGIS Python window

Getting ready

How to do it…

Accessing ArcPy with Python

Getting ready

How to do it…

How it works…

Executing tools from a script

How to do it…

How it works…

There's more…

Using ArcGIS Desktop help

Getting ready

How to do it...

How it works...

Using variables to store data

Getting ready

How to do it...

How it works...

Accessing ArcPy modules with Python

Getting ready

How to do it…

How it works…

3. Managing Map Documents and Layers

Introduction

Referencing the current map document

Getting ready

How to do it…

How it works

Referencing map documents on a disk

Getting ready

How to do it…

How it works…

Accessing a data frame

Getting ready

How to do it...

How it works...

Getting a list of layers in a map document

Getting ready

How to do it…

How it works…

There's more…

Restricting the list of layers

Getting ready

How to do it…

How it works…

Changing the map extent

Getting ready

How to do it...

How it works...

Getting a list of tables

Getting ready

How to do it…

How it works…

Adding layers to a map document

Getting ready

How to do it…

How it works…

There's more…

Inserting layers into a map document

Getting ready

How to do it…

How it works…

There's more…

Updating layer symbology

Getting ready

How to do it…

How it works…

There's more...

Updating layer properties

Getting ready

How to do it…

4. Finding and Fixing Broken Data Links

Introduction

Finding broken data sources in your map document and layer files

Getting ready

How to do it…

How it works…

There's more…

Fixing broken data sources with MapDocument.findAndReplaceWorkspacePaths()

Getting ready

How to do it…

How it works…

There's more…

Fixing broken data sources with MapDocument.replaceWorkspaces()

Getting ready

How to do it…

How it works…

Fixing individual Layer and Table objects with replaceDataSource()

Getting ready

How to do it…

How it works…

There's more…

Finding all broken data sources in all map documents in a folder

Getting ready

How to do it...

How it works...

5. Automating Map Production and Printing

Introduction

Creating a list of layout elements

Getting ready...

How to do it…

How it works…

Assigning a unique name to layout elements

Getting ready

How to do it…

How it works…

There's more…

Restricting the layout elements returned by ListLayoutElements()

Getting ready

How to do it…

How it works...

Updating layout element properties

Getting ready

How to do it…

How it works...

Getting a list of available printers

Getting ready

How to do it…

How it works...

Printing maps with PrintMap()

Getting ready

How to do it…

How it works...

Exporting a map to a PDF file

Getting ready

How to do it…

How it works…

Exporting a map to an image file

Getting ready

How to do it…

How it works…

Creating a map book with PDFDocumentCreate() and PDFDocumentOpen()

Getting ready

How to do it…

How it works...

There's more…

6. Executing Geoprocessing Tools from Scripts

Introduction

Finding geoprocessing tools

Getting ready

How to do it…

How it works…

Retrieving a toolbox alias

Getting ready

How to do it…

How it works…

Executing geoprocessing tools from a script

Getting ready

How to do it…

How it works…

There's more...

Using the output of a tool as an input to another tool

Getting ready

How to do it...

How it works...

Setting environment variables and examining tool messages

Getting ready

How to do it…

How it works…

7. Creating Custom Geoprocessing Tools

Introduction

Creating a custom geoprocessing tool

Getting ready

How to do it…

How it works…

There's more...

8. Querying and Selecting Data

Introduction

Constructing proper attribute query syntax

Getting ready

How to do it…

How it works…

Creating feature layers and table views

Getting ready

How to do it…

How it works...

There's more...

Selecting features and rows with the Select Layer by Attribute tool

Getting ready

How to do it…

How it works…

Selecting features with the Select by Location tool

Getting ready

How to do it…

How ...

Table of contents

• Programming ArcGIS 10.1 with Python Cookbook