Introduction to Geoprocessing Scripts Using Python

The ArcGIS geoprocessing framework includes a scripting environment, and Python is the scripting language included with ArcGIS. This course introduces the Python scripting syntax and shows how to use scripts to access and automate geoprocessing tasks. You will also work with ArcPy, an Esri-developed site package for Python that integrates Python scripts into ArcGIS Desktop.

Course Outline - Introduction to Geoprocessing Scripts Using Python

Audience

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

Goals

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

Prerequisites:

Completion of ArcGIS 2: Essentials Workflows or equivalent knowledge is required.

Completion of ArcGIS 1: Introduction to GIS is required

Completion of ArcGIS 3: GIS Workflows and Analysis or equivalent knowledge is required.

Cartographic planning process

Cartographic workflow
Defining map purpose, audience, and specifications

Python basics

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

Introducing ArcPy

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

Debugging scripts

Debugging workflow
Handling syntax errors

Using describe objects

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

Automating scripts with Python lists

List functions
Iterating through lists

Creating and updating data with cursor objects

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

Running scripts in ArcToolbox

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

Handling Python and ArcPy exceptions

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

Creating and updating geometry objects

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

Manipulating data schema and working with subsets of data

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

Automating map production with the ArcPy mapping module

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

ArcGIS 3: Performing Analysis

Introduction to Geoprocessing Scripts Using Python

Designing Maps with ArcGIS (10.7)

Editing Data with ArcGIS for Desktop (10.7)